Best ever concept cars: the 20 greatest wedges

This wasn’t just a single car, more like a series of experimental fantasy/tech wedges made in the late Sixties/early Seventies. The first used Wankel rotary engines and had revolutionary aero, gullwing doors and sophisticated (for the time) multi-link suspension, but they looked more like engineering prototypes than any kind of concept.  

Another Seventies canopy-bodied slice of simply fantastic angular perfection, the Ferrari 512S Modulo was a concept rolled out for the 1970 Geneva motor show based – unsurprisingly – on the contemporary V12 512/612 Can-Am. That means a fully working 550bhp mid-mounted V12 and 220mph capability, but styling that included four fared-in wheels, generous and interesting glasshouse, extremely low-slung stance and a front end you could slice vegetables with.

Again, one of the most famous and inspirational wedges, the Boomerang was one of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s finest early Seventies moments. The final functioning concept from the ’71 Turin motor show was based on a Maserati Bora, which meant a 4.7-litre 310bhp V8 in the middle, but it was the sharp creases, functioning aerodynamic shape and freshness of the surfacing that made for a showstopper. Fan of the ruler Giugiaro obviously thought so; the straight-edged ghost of the Boomerang can be seen in much of his later work, from the VW Golf MkI to the Lotus Esprit. 

A rebodied Bizzarrini P538S (5.3-litre V8) by Giugiaro in 1968, the Manta became a famous Kamm-tailed wedge. Still looks pretty today. 

It is 1970 and the time of the Tokyo motor show. Mazda unleashes the sub-1.0-litre Wankel, 247bhp RX-500, proving that the Japanese do wedges as well as the Italians... 

Gandini again, this time with an Alfa slice based on a ’68 33 Stradale with a 230bhp mid-mounted V8. Probably the most extreme example of pre-Countach wedginess. 

You thought Lagonda had cornered the market in straight-edge Astons? Well, 1979’s Bulldog by William Towns would beg to differ. It was allegedly capable of 237mph. 

A 1976 concept by Bertone for Alfa, again based on the 33 Stradale. Wedgy, like the Carabo, but with extra buttresses. Came with a 2.0-litre V8 and 230bhp, apparently. 

The XP-882 [aka the AeroVette] experimental concepts saw a mid-engined Vette become a reality. The programme was eventually cancelled by none other than John DeLorean. 

Late Sixties concept for Holden, the Hurricane featured a 249bhp high-compression V8 in the middle, rudimentary GPS, CCTV and aircon. It was also closely related to the... 

... 1970 SRV (styling research vehicle) – a Wayne Cherry/Chris Field chocktastic sort of adaptive-aero Le Mans road car. It’s also a four-door. Unusual for a wedge. 

Probably one of, if not the most famous wedge, the Stratos Zero has accounted for more cubic feet of designer inspiration headspace than pretty much any other car since. Hitting the Turin motor show in 1970 and preceding the Lancia Stratos HF prototypes by around a year, the Zero made its way as the crow flew from design house Bertone via the mind of straight-line obsessive Marcello Gandini, being both one of the shortest (it’s only just more than 3.5m long) and lowest (a knee-threatening 84cm high) concepts of the time. It’s since become more than just a car concept and more of a design icon – not bad for a little car with a Lancia Fulvia V4 stuck in the back.

Designed by Paul Bracq, the low-slung and edgy BMW E25 Turbo from ’72 was based on a 2002 chassis with a mid-mounted engine and 200bhp. Granddad M1, anyone? 

The Runabout is a Gandini design for Bertone shown at the ‘69 Turin motor show with a mid-mounted Fiat 128 engine and ‘box in the middle. It became the Fiat X1/9; shock! 

Probably one of Giugiaro’s most famous workups while at Italdesign, the 1972 M70 became the Lotus Esprit – and was itself heavily influenced by the Maserati Boomerang. 

It’s 1984, and Giorgetto Giugiaro is at it again with the Maya for Italdesign and Ford. Ford ordered three more prototypes after the pretty concept appeared, but the Maya never – quite – made it to production. 

Wedged rooflines never really took off, and the Citroen Karin happily shows why. Presented at the 1980 Paris motor show, it was designed by Trevor Fiore (also known as the slightly less exotic Trevor Frost in the UK and designer of the De Tomaso Vallelunga, Elva GT160 and Bond Equipe), and featured a central driving position flanked by a pair of passengers.  

Like many here, the Dome Zero Concept first appeared at a motor show – the 1978 Geneva Automobile – although the concept design was pretty much finalised by Japanese setsquare guru Minoru Hayashi in 1976. Powered by a 2.8-litre, 145bhp Nissan straight-six, the Dome production cars weighed under a tonne (920kg) but gained some hefty bumper protection (particularly for the US market).

A convertible wedge? Yes, the early Eighties brought us big hair, big ideas and the Athon, another Bertone concept for Lambo whose slick styling never made it to production. 

You can overdo the triangles: the 1995 Ford GT90 Concept got close. Unveiled at Detroit, it had a 720bhp quad-turbo V12. It was meant to celebrate the GT40. But with more angles.