Harley Earl Firebird III Movie / showing first ever on-board computers in cars

A significant number of tech savvy engineering firsts were introduced on these radical (Firebird I, II and III) experimental concept cars: This rare 1958 film, 12-min, details what would become standard equipment on literally hundreds of millions of cars in the future! For example, cruise-control, keyless entry, first-ever onboard computers, paper engine testing via digital computer technology (precursor to CAD which originally was an offshoot of GM Styling), automatic guidance system, twilight sentential., etc.
To peruse more scholarly info on these cars, go here:
www.carofthecentury.com/firebi...

[@georgeochoa3089]

Truly amazing technology that took decades to reach modern day machines...

[@Gioagla]

I m soo glad i ve found this vid ! i allways had a crush on these cars ,those periods when engenieers were real ...great machines

[@francolique]

wow! When thinking/engineering was from human brain instead of cumputer preset by programming... Thank you for sharing a rare piece of history and technology!

[@fourdoorglory5945]

My how far General Motors has fallen. The once mighty, largest corporation in the world is but a shadow of itself now. This film captured GM at its zenith. “Sadder still to watch it die than never to have known it.”

[@billoddiea]

Love to see how that hydraulically relayed steering kept up on a winding road

[@BB1951]

This man's voice cured my insomnia.

[@markstalman]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@MerleOberon]

I can't imagine being in that bubble top in 110 deg. Arizona sun.

[@Johans60]

i thought that the floating console was a unique volvo feature, but it isn't

[@edwardgeorge4881]

I think 'Oscar' died of a drug overdose: along wit GM. 🤪

[@borcklaser9234]

NANANANANANANANA BATMAAAAAN!!!

[@gustavefrankfurter6462]

Separate bubbles for driver and passenger? That would've prevented sex at the drive in movies!

[@johnjones393]

Peak GM before falling into complacency, irrelevance and eventual bankruptcy. But they did foreshadow a lot of technology that we have today so that's something. Too bad labor unions and massive egos at the corporate level wouldn't allow any of these technologies to flourish until recently. GM kept building the same old gas guzzlers and land yachts until Toyota eventually took them over with efficient cars with much better quality.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

"Does it comes in black?"

[@rickearl8018]

Hi Anibal, great question and we do have a pic of the full-size Firebird III in jet black. Send me your email and I'll shoot it out to you.

[@dunhillsupramk3]

a wire on the road?? so what would've happened if someone cut that wire???

[@robcat2075]

Aaiieeeeee....

[@robh6638]

Sonic key lol