Syd Mead and Fabulon

cretin90

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2021
Messages
70
Reaction score
117
Location
ventura
I apologize if this has been posted before. If some of you are not familiar with Syd Mead, yoiu are in for a treat. He was the greatest visual futurist of all time. All of his work was done by hand, and having spoken with him numerous times, it was clear that design elements were thought through. Very little was left to chance in Syd's mind.

"“The design is more organized than modern cars,” Mead says. “A lot of new cars look like they’re diving or in a permanent panic stop. Car designers worldwide tend to use a formulaic styling cue. If you took the badges off, you wouldn’t know who makes what.”"

His 1972 Chrysler Imperial was named "Fabulon", and did that ever fit. Syd passed away December 2019, and it's unknown what fate will befall Fabulon.
Take a look here:

The man who designs the future drives a ‘72 Chrysler Imperial | Hagerty Media

syd-mead(2)20180221182306.jpg


syd-mead(5)20180222195424.jpg
 
I'm sure that illustration was done long before he purchased the Imperial (2011)
Ah, that would make sense. I didn't realize he only purchased the Imperial in 2011. I'm sure you are right.

I figured he owned the Imperial for a long time, but that the picture was done before that. I searched online to see when Syd made the picture but couldn't find that info. My guess is it was done in the early or mid 60's when the Lincoln would have still been current.
 
Ah, that would make sense. I didn't realize he only purchased the Imperial in 2011. I'm sure you are right.

I figured he owned the Imperial for a long time, but that the picture was done before that. I searched online to see when Syd made the picture but couldn't find that info. My guess is it was done in the early or mid 60's when the Lincoln would have still been current.
I'll check my books and see if it is in one of them with a date.

Alan
 
Last edited:
Ah, that would make sense. I didn't realize he only purchased the Imperial in 2011. I'm sure you are right.

I figured he owned the Imperial for a long time, but that the picture was done before that. I searched online to see when Syd made the picture but couldn't find that info. My guess is it was done in the early or mid 60's when the Lincoln would have still been current.

Actually, if you read the article it also says he had one new. With sunroof and ABS. The Lincoln isn't exactly an ugly car, (same stylist) and for all we know, whomever commissioned the art was a Lincoln nut.
 
Back
Top