Sometimes your wallet won’t stretch to purchasing your dream motor. But don’t worry too much, there are some cars that even the biggest bank balances can’t buy, the dream cars that will forever remain a dream. These are the concept cars that never go into production.
Sometimes your wallet won’t stretch to purchasing your dream motor. But don’t worry too much, there are some cars that even the biggest bank balances can’t buy, the dream cars that will forever remain a dream. These are the concept cars that never go into production.
Maserati Birdcage
During the 1950s the Maserati motor company produced a series of small racing cars aimed at competing in the bigger races of the time. These cars were produced using a latticework of chromium and molydenum steel tubing which was covered by a light sheet of metal. Nicknamed the ‘Birdcage’, these cars culminated in the most famous variant the Tipo 61. Sadly these lightweight Maserati’s didn’t win any prize races, but they did win the hearts of enthusiasts across the globe and the Birdcage concept has remained strongly connected with the Italian supercar company.
So when Maserati was celebrating their 75th anniversary the option of building an all-new Birdcage appealed to all. Carrozzeria Pininfarina were assigned to the project, with legendary Japanese designer Ken Okuyama handed the reigns of control. Okuyama had been a huge fan of Ferrari’s Modulo concept of the 1970s and with the Birdcage wanted to emulate some of the futuristic design qualities of Paulo Martin’s iconic design.
Speaking to Top Gear Magazine in 2005, Okuyama said: “The Modulo came out at the Geneva show exactly 35 years ago. I grew up with this car in my mind," says Okuyama. "When I first saw it I said, 'I want to be a car designer'. We hoped to get the same sort of impact with the Birdcage, without directly copying this car."
The resultant concept was a real eye-opener and a stunning tribute to both the classic birdcages of the 1950s whilst also giving a strong nod to the Modulo. The design featured a a huge Perspex canopy roof over the passenger compartment, low front and rear ends with virtually no fasciae.
Okuyama said: "A very large area is transparent. Design goes much further than skin deep. Just to look at the components of a Formula One car is quite fascinating. If we have a choice, we'd rather make each part beautifully. In this car the front and rear suspension push rods are visible and the entire engine unit with its carbon intake trumpets can be seen. The transparency is for functional reasons too; given the angle the driver sits at, the cockpit has to stretch so far toward the front of the car to allow him to see forwards."
The Birdcage was revealed at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, receiving rave reviews and despite the automotive press and designers the world over paying tribute, the new-look Birdcage remained a prototype and after a short world tour was retired to Pinifarina’s collection of spectacular vehicles.