1977 Ford Megastar - AllCarIndex

The Megastar, a Ford Motor Company design concept for a possible family car of the future, will be shown by Ford Division at major auto shows in the United States during the 1978 model year.

Designed by Ford's Ghia Operations in Turin, Italy, the Megastar's four-door wedge-shaped aluminum body is based on the European Granada and accommodates up to five people. It has independent front and rear suspension systems and is powered by a European three-liter Ford V-6 engine.

Eighty per cent of the car's front doors and 60 per cent of the rear doors are glass. A deep, wide-curved panoramic windshield is set at a low angle to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel economy. The rear window is the only glass section that can be opened and closed.

"By extending the front section of the car three feet ahead of the front axle, we achieved a particularly small frontal area as an additional aid to aerodynamics, performance and fuel economy," Filippo Sapino, Ghia's managing director, said.

"The Megastar also has a louvered air intake for the radiator which speeds air flow at low speeds and decreases it at high speeds, as well as an aerodynamic spoiler in the foam-filled, impact-absorbing front bumper."

Megastar's short, square tail section was designed for high-speed directional stability and fuel economy. The large rear bumper is foam-filled and impact-absorbing. Backup lights, directional indicators and brake lamp assemblies are combined in a single panel that extends across the rear of the car and occupies the entire area between the top of the bumper and the base of the rear window.

The car's eye-catching copper-tinted windshields and door glass complement Megastar's interior decor. Contoured front and rear seats, which incorporate head-restraint systems and inertia safety belts, are upholstered in a honey-colored velvet-like material. Dark brown leather is used on the heavily padded dash and door-trim panels. A thick dark brown cut-pile carpet covers the entire floor as well as the lower areas of the doors.

The luggage area is directly behind the rear seats and can be more than doubled when the rear seat is folded down. The rear window is top-hinged and supported in the "open" position by gas-filled struts for access to the luggage area.

Megastar is equipped with air conditioning, automatic transmission and power steering. A detachable fire extinguisher is built into its dash panel on the front-passenger side and a first aid kit is located in a recessed compartment in the cargo area.