The Chrysler Atlantic was a retro concept car shown in 1995, designed by Bob Hubbach and built by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters in California. Inspired by the Bugatti Type 57S Atlantique and the Talbot-Lago T150 SS, it packed a 4.0-litre straight-eight assembled from two Dodge Neon four-cylinder engines and became one of Chrysler’s most popular show cars.
Chrysler Atlantic at a glance
| Type | retro concept car |
|---|---|
| Shown | 1995 |
| Designer | Bob Hubbach |
| Built by | Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, California |
| Inspiration | Bugatti Type 57S Atlantique, Talbot-Lago T150 SS |
| Engine | 4.0 L straight-eight from two Neon four-cylinders |
| Power | about 360 hp (268 kW) |
| Transmission | Chrysler 42LE transaxle, mounted at the rear |
| Wheelbase | 128 inches (3,251 mm) |
| Wheels | 21-inch front, 22-inch rear |
| Interior | Art Deco-style instruments |
This page is based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Chrysler Atlantic.
History of the Chrysler Atlantic
From a napkin sketch
The idea for the Atlantic began as a sketch on a napkin by Chrysler president Bob Lutz in early 1993, and the project also involved chief designer Tom Gale. The car was designed by Bob Hubbach and fabricated by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters in California, and was first shown in 1995.
Retro details
The Atlantic borrowed heavily from the opulent cars of the 1930s, above all the Bugatti Type 57S Atlantique, and its styling also drew on the Talbot-Lago T150 SS coupé of 1938, notably in the shape of the side windows and the curved boot. The most unusual retro touch was under the bonnet: a straight-eight of 4.0 litres built from two four-cylinder Dodge Neon engines in an S configuration, a layout rarely used in modern cars. The interior was finished with Art Deco-style gauges.
Engineering and legacy
The concept produced around 360 horsepower and used Chrysler’s 42LE transaxle, taken from the Chrysler LHS and mounted to the rear subframe; power reached it through a long torque tube hidden under a large tunnel in the interior. The car rode on a 128-inch wheelbase with 21-inch front wheels and 22-inch rear wheels, large for the time. It proved one of Chrysler’s most popular concept vehicles and still makes occasional public appearances, and its image has been used in advertising and on packaging for car-care products and accessories.
Design and features
- Straight-eight from two fours: a 4.0-litre S-configuration engine made from two Dodge Neon blocks.
- Rear transaxle: the 42LE unit from the LHS, driven through a torque tube under the cabin.
- 1930s inspiration: Bugatti Type 57S Atlantique and Talbot-Lago T150 SS styling cues.
- Art Deco interior: instruments styled after the period the car evokes.
- Show-car presence: 21- and 22-inch wheels on a 128-inch wheelbase.
Chrysler Atlantic versions
- Atlantic concept (1995): the single show car, with a 4.0-litre straight-eight and about 360 hp.
The Atlantic’s 42LE transaxle came from the Chrysler LHS, and its retro approach to design also shaped the later Chrysler 300 and PT Cruiser. More cars are in the Chrysler collection.
Video: Chrysler Atlantic concept car
Video by DtRockstar1 on YouTube.
Sources
- Chrysler Atlantic, English Wikipedia: design, engine, chassis, history
- Chrysler Atlantic, Wikimedia Commons: photographs
