Back in 1958, Ford, the big shot in the car world, dropped a bombshell with its nuclear-powered ride, the Nucleon. They were all about cruising into the future with atomic energy.
They figured that as tech got better, nuclear reactors would slim down, making it possible to toss a radioactive core into your car like it’s no big deal.
Check this out: the Nucleon could supposedly go 5,000 miles between pit stops. When it ran dry, you’d just roll up to a charging station instead of a gas pump.
Introducing the Nucleon
Ford even dreamed that these stations would be everywhere, just like your local corner store.
Fun fact—the Nucleon was a beast: 200.3 inches long, 77.4 inches wide, with a roof towering 41.4 inches high.
It took inspiration from nuclear subs. Inside, a nuclear reactor would cook up uranium pellets, heating water into steam. That steam would fire up turbines, cranking out power.
But here’s the kicker. Dr. L. Dale Thomas, from the University of Alabama, says managing all that radioactive juice was no walk in the park. Converting all that energy back and forth? Not as easy as it sounds.
So, as cool as it sounds, a mini nuke-mobile just wasn’t on the cards back in the ’50s. But hey, it’s still a rad piece of automotive history!
Imagine if you could hop into an eight-seater car that runs on both petrol and electricity, all wrapped up in a sleek fiberglass shell. That was the dream of a French car company called Compagnie Normande d’Etudes pour l’Application de Procedes Mecaniques, or just Compagnie Normande for short.
They cooked up this futuristic ride called the Arbel. It wasn’t your average car—it was a hybrid marvel way ahead of its time. With not one, not two, but four electric motors, this baby could zip around town without guzzling gas like your grandpa’s old truck.
And get this—the chassis was made of funky uneven tubing, which doubled as a fuel tank. Talk about innovative!
Aiming for the stars
But here’s where it gets really wild: Compagnie Normande had their sights set even higher. They thought, hey, why not slap a nuclear reactor in there and really take things to the next level? Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), that part of the plan never quite panned out.
Still, the Arbel remains a fascinating glimpse into what could have been—a cutting-edge car that was just a bit too ahead of its time.
So, picture this: it’s 1958, and you’re strolling through the Geneva Motor Show, checking out all the latest rides. Suddenly, you spot something that stops you in your tracks—a car called the ‘Symetric.’
This bad boy was unlike anything you’d ever seen before. It was supposed to be powered by a 40-KW nuclear thermal generator. Yep, you heard that right—nuclear power under the hood!
But here’s the kicker: the French authorities weren’t exactly thrilled about the idea. They put the brakes on the whole thing, and the Symetric never got the green light to hit the streets.
Do you know Simca Fulgur?
Imagine cruising around town in a nuclear-powered ride—sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, right? Well, for the Symetric, that dream never quite became a reality. But hey, at least it made waves at the Geneva Motor Show and gave everyone something to talk about!
Alright, check this out: ever heard of the Simca Fulgur? It was France’s take on the whole nuclear-powered car craze.
But get this—it wasn’t just any old car. Nope, it was straight out of a sci-fi flick. Picture this: not only did it have a nuclear engine under the hood, but it also rocked voice-controlled steering and radar guidance. Talk about futuristic!
Even though it had four wheels like your regular ride, rumor has it that it could balance on just two wheels. How cool is that?
Oh, and here’s the kicker: they thought you could control this thing from a tower. Imagine cruising down the highway while some operator up in a tower guides you along. Talk about next-level tech!
So, while the Simca Fulgur never quite made it onto the streets, it definitely turned heads with its wild concept and futuristic features.