Transparent Pontiac Sells For Record Amount

On Saturday, July 30th, an unidentified car enthusiast paid $308,000 USD for a one-of-a-kind 1939 Pontiac Deluxe Six at a car auction, held in Michigan. Dubbed 'Ghost' car because of its transparent plexiglas exterior, it is the only see-through car known to exist.

The unusual car was built for the 1939 New York World Fair by car manufacturer General Motors in collaboration with Rohm and Haas who had just invented a revolutionary product called plexiglas.

It was the centerpiece of the manufacturer's 'Futurama' pavilion, which as the name indicates, provided visitors with a peak into the future. Besides the Pontiac, General Motors also showcased bendable glass, a flashlight that 'talked' when lit up and Frig-O-Therm, a device that cooked and froze food at the same time!

Following the fair, the custom Plexiglas Pontiac that cost $25,000USD, (A princely sum considering that the normal versions cost between $815-$1,000 USD) the car was displayed at various General Motor's dealerships and then loaned for a few years to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.

Sold to some Pontiac dealers in 1947, the car changed hands a number of times, until it landed up with its most recent owner in the early 1980's. Oddly enough, though the car has had numerous owners, it has rarely been driven - It's mileage gauge reads a mere 86 miles.

Hopefully, the new owner will take this three-speed transmission, six-cylinder engine beauty out a little more frequently, so that the rest of us can at least get a glimpse.

Resources: Dailymail.co.uk, conceptcarz.com, autoblog.com