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During the mid-50s, American Motors Corporation enlisted the services of industrial designer Richard Arbib to craft a visionary concept vehicle created on a 1955 Nash Metropolitan chassis. This led to the creation of the futuristic “Time and Space Car” known as the Astra-Gnome, which was assembled with lightning speed in just four months.
The Astra-Gnome, resembling the Jetsons style, aimed to provide a glimpse into what a futuristic time-traveling automobile might resemble in the year 2000. It included a “celestial time-zone clock allowing for flight-like navigation.” The car gained significant attention, gracing the cover of Newsweek on September 3, 1956 and taking the spotlight at the New York International Auto Show that same year.
Petersen Automotive Museum
Constructed from aluminum and chrome, the exterior of the Astra-Gnome features complete fender skirts that give a sense of a boat or hovercraft appearance. The back fins and taillights are designed in a distinctive 50s aesthetic (oh, how I long for those fins), with the bubbletop canopy being pillar-less, allowing the driver and passenger a panoramic 360-degree view. A whimsical gnome/astronaut emblem embellishes the hood.
Within the cockpit, the seats are clad in satiny blue and space-ace gray upholstery. The steering wheel is coated in chromed blue, featuring the same Astra-Gnome logo at its center. The knobs and gearshifter are transparent in blue. The oversized celestial clock is prominently displayed at eye level.
Prior to his creation of this eccentric masterpiece, Arbib had already established himself as a reputable designer. He had worked on concepts for General Motors, Ford, and Packard, and was behind the beautiful Packard Pan American, a design based on a modified Packard 250 convertible described by Hemmings as being “chopped, channeled and smoothed into a two-seat luxury roadster.” The Pan American served as the inspiration for the elegant Packard Caribbean, representing the brand’s final effort to stay afloat.
Apart from cars, Arbib also made his mark in other areas. He was the mind behind the asymmetrical Hamilton electric watch, now a sought-after collectible for vintage watch enthusiasts. Additionally, Arbib designed the sleek Century Coronado hardtop speedboat.
The Petersen Automotive Museum will unveil its “Eyes on the Road: Art of the Automotive Landscape” exhibition on March 30, showcasing this wonderfully peculiar space-age automobile. The Astra-Gnome will be prominently featured in the “vehicle concepts” category alongside other fascinating gems such as the 1934 Dymaxion, 1955 Ghia Gilda, and 1969 Chevrolet Astro III.
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