Results 1 to 1 of 1

Thread: Ford Techna Concept 1968

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    4,384

    Ford Techna Concept 1968

    The 1968 Ford Techna Was An Innovative Concept Car Design
    By Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher
    Throughout its history, the Ford Motor Company design studios have always introduced great looking concept cars to the public. The prototype models were often on display during the most exciting events, like Auto Shows or new car announcements.

    One of my favorite concept models from the Ford Motor Company archives was the early design of the 1962 Mustang I. Although not shown, it was a great looking design concept that led the way for future Mustang production models for many years.

    This is a story about a concept that you rarely hear about or see images of when it comes to Ford’s historic designs. The 1968 Ford Techna was a great looking concept model, offering many great engineering innovations and advanced body features. The concept was designed for Ford's engineering vice-president Harold C. McDonald.

    Some automotive historians have said that the 1968 Techna could be the first vehicle to describe the term “concept” published by an American automaker. A technical report paper for the SAE, the Society of Automotive Engineers also included the terms “Dream Car” or “Idea Car.” The Techna concept was created and designed to explore new approaches in engineering, including the areas of vehicle packaging and body construction. Ford Motor Company said, “The Techna is a functional engineering experimental car of the future, unveiled by Ford Motor Company. It features new ideals in safety, body and technology.”

    The model featured a revolutionary power-operated parallel-hinged door design which could open straight out from the body. Instead of lifting the entire hood when maintenance was needed, the consumer could lift the newly designed inspection hatch located on the hood to check the oil, coolant, transmission fluid or power steering. The entire front end-hood and fender design was all one unit. At the time, many consumers enjoyed the concept car’s styling, and the Techna became a big hit at the Detroit Auto Show.

    Ford's Techna was a fully running concept vehicle used for the company's engineering and testing process. During the late 1960s, Ford engineers drove the model around the Dearborn area, testing it’s many new and innovative gadgets. The Techna offered an energy-absorbing plastic rear bumper along with a great looking hidden headlamp design which many consumers admired. The front and rear suspension design was based on Ford's production Galaxie models.

    Another feature that the Techna concept model offered was the design of the brake and turn signal lamps, which were located in the rear window area, almost like today's automobile designs that have this feature on the vehicle's rear end.


    In conclusion, the Ford Techna concept model was featured in the August 1968 issue of Car Life magazine, and readers were invited to give their opinion on both the overall design and the advanced body features. Later, the model would be used in Ford's Autolite shock absorbers advertising campaign, featuring “When Ford built this car of tomorrow." Today, the model is a part of Ford's concept car history that will always be admired by automotive historians.

    Bibliography

    Janicki, Edward. “Cars Detroit Never Built 50 Years of American Experimental Cars.” Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., 1995.

    Davis, Michael W.R. “Mustang and the Pony Car Revolution.” Arcadia Publishing, 2014.

    Lamm, Michael & Holls, Dave. “A Century of Automotive Style 100 Years of American Car Design.” 1996-97.


    Source: https://www.motorcities.org
    Attached Images Attached Images

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. OSI-Ford 20M TS 1967-1968
    By Revo in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-18-2021, 06:39 AM
  2. Ford Torino (1st gen) 1968-1969
    By Ferrer in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-18-2020, 02:25 PM
  3. Ford Ranchero (4th gen) 1968-1969
    By Man of Steel in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-17-2020, 11:49 PM
  4. Ford F3L 1968-1969
    By Ferrer in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 12-20-2009, 12:23 PM
  5. 1968 Ford Mustang
    By koenigseggccx in forum General Automotive
    Replies: 43
    Last Post: 02-23-2008, 11:46 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •