See-through 1939 Pontiac Ghost Car fetches $308,000

The automotive world is full of wild concepts and off-the-wall designs, but rarely does a car from before World War II grab our attention for reasons that have nothing to do with its antique nature. This 1939 Pontiac is one such car. Nicknamed the "Ghost Car," its body panels are made entirely from Plexiglass, a material which was introduced in 1933, just 6 years prior to the vehicle's construction. 

The see-through car — which boasts the title of first transparent car built in America — hit the auction block in Michigan on Saturday. When the dust settled, the car landed a lofty final bid of $308,000. The Ghost Car has a long and storied history, originally debuting at the 1939 New York World's Fair. It was part of a General Motors exhibit titled Futurama (no, not that Futurama), and was designed to showcase the future of automotive engineering. 

It originally carried a construction cost of $25,000, which when adjusted for inflation tops $388,000. Surprisingly, the car still runs the same as it did over 70 years ago, yet boasts an odometer reading of just 86 miles. The 6-cylinder engine puts out 85 horsepower to a 3-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, as the Ghost Car was meant for show only, it lacks things like a proper VIN number, making registering it for use rather difficult.






[Image credit: RM Auctions]

[via Autoblog]

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