Blast From the Past: GM’s “Ghost” Car Sells For $308,000

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GM’s “ghost” car, a Pontiac Deluxe Six, which was made in 1939 and exhibited in the New York’s World Fair in 1939-40 has been sold for $308,000. The car, whose entire body has been made in Plexiglas was the result of a collaboration between GM and chemical firm Rohm & Haas.

It was priced at $25,000, a huge sum in those days and was the first full-sized real, working condition, transparent car made in the U.S.  There was other prototype that was made later, but this one is the only surviving model today.

The car has held up pretty well for its age, although the fact that it has been driven for only 86 miles during its lifetime is certainly a factor. The car gets driven only when it is being taken to auto shows and other similar events. The car has changed a few hands in its history and was with its previous owner since the 1980s, who have declined to be identified.

  

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Plexiglas was invented by Rohm & Haas in 1933 and was later used in WW2 on military planes and after the war its use expanded in various items which are more familiar to us today.

The car has a metal structure underneath, which has been given a copper wash and has chrome plated hardware. The car carries a six-cylinder engine and also has a three-speed transmission , a coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.