Ford Gyron: The UFO on wheels that imagined the future

In the 1950s and 1960s, Ford was one of the most active carmakers when it came to conceptual design. Almost every year, the American brand presented prototypes with futuristic looks or advanced solutions. One such example is the Gyron, a strange two-wheeler that looks like a real UFO (or UAP if you prefer).

A laboratory on wheels (not too fast)

The idea for the concept was only launched for experimental purposes only. Ford had no intention of producing a production model, but only for marketing and aerodynamic research purposes. It was a kind of design experiment for a car that was sure to get noticed.

Ford Gyron Concept (1961)

Photo : Ford

The body is made of fibreglass and the car is powered by two wheels. The front wheel is manoeuvred using a knob on the console, while the rear wheel propels the Ford, thanks to a small electric motor, to a maximum speed of around 5 mph. When stationary, the Gyron is held in position by two side stabilisers and two small wheels.

An unfortunate history

The real special feature of the Gyron is the one that determines the very name of the car. The vehicle is kept in balance by a complex system of gyroscopes, and among other oddities, there is a mobile phone placed between the two seats in the passenger compartment.

Exhibited at the Detroit Auto Show in 1961, the Ford was displayed at Ford Rotunda, one of the most visited exhibition complexes in the United States at the time.

Unfortunately, the structure and design were destroyed by fire in 1962. As a result, all that remains of the Gyron are two non-functional prototypes produced in the early stages of development. The first was sold at auction in 2012 for around $40,000 (£32,000), while the second was recently exhibited at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

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