#HTE

This 1966 Syd Mead Design for Ford Looks Like a Proto-Tesla-Cybertruck

Who knew? In the 1960s Syd Mead worked for Ford’s Advanced Styling Studio, and designed this then-unimaginable Ford Ranger II concept:

What’s crazy is that it could somehow transform from a single cab to a double cab, according to Ford’s press release of the time:

Ford Division’s Ranger II is an ultra-modern pickup truck with a custom designed passenger compartment. Seen as a two-seater vehicle in the above photo, the Ranger II converts into a four-passenger pickup (below) at the flick of a finger. The rear portion of the cab moves 18-inches into the bed of the truck while a roof section moves up into position and two additional bucket seats fall into place. The Ranger II’s ultra-streamlined windshield is made of specially tempered plastic-type glass. It also features high intensity headlights of rectangular design, extruded aluminum grille and walnut flooring in the cargo bed.

The vehicle was actually built (on a station wagon platform) and reportedly toured around for a couple of years. Needless to say, it never saw production. Since Tesla’s Cybertruck is going into production, you’ve got to wonder if Mead is sitting somewhere going “Really?!?”

via Kottke