Aurora (1957 automobile) facts for kids
The Aurora was a very special American car. It was built by Father Alfred A. Juliano, a Catholic priest, between 1957 and 1958. Many people believe the Aurora was the very first "safety car" ever made. It was designed to protect people in accidents. The car was meant to have engines from Chrysler, Cadillac, or Lincoln, and be built on a Buick frame. However, only one prototype car was ever made. The company, Aurora Motor Company, went out of business soon after.
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The Priest Who Designed a Car
Father Juliano had studied art before he became a priest. He always loved car design. His family said he even won a scholarship from General Motors. This scholarship would have let him study with a famous car designer named Harley Earl. But it arrived after he had already become a priest. Even so, he kept his interest in cars. He also strongly believed that cars could be made much safer for everyone.
What Made the Aurora Special?
Father Juliano designed and built the Aurora himself. It was a large car, about 18 feet (5.5 meters) long. Its body was made of fiberglass. This material was chosen because it wouldn't dent, rust, or corrode easily. The car was designed for long trips on highways. It took two years to plan and three years to build.
The Aurora had many new safety features that were very unusual at the time. Some of these features are common in cars today.
- It had seatbelts to keep people secure.
- A roll cage made the car's structure stronger. This helped protect people in a rollover.
- The dashboard was padded to prevent injuries.
- It had side-impact bars to protect against crashes from the side.
- The steering column was designed to collapse. This prevented it from hurting the driver in a crash.
- The spare tire was placed under the front of the car. This helped absorb crash energy, like a cushion.
One very unique safety feature was the ability to swivel the seats. If a crash seemed about to happen, passengers could turn their seats to face backward. This was thought to be safer.
Why the Aurora Looked Different
The Aurora is often remembered for its very unusual look. Many people have called it one of the "ugliest" cars ever made. Its appearance was mainly due to its safety features.
- The car had a large, bulging windshield. This was designed to keep people's heads from hitting the glass in a crash. This was before airbags were invented.
- The front of the car looked like a big scoop. This was a large, foam-filled bumper. It was designed to scoop up air and even pedestrians without causing serious injury.
The car also had a tinted, clear plastic roof called an "astrodome." It had metal shades inside that could be adjusted. It even had special hydraulic jacks built into the frame. These could lift the car to help change a tire. The spare tire was under the front. It could be lowered to the ground without needing to be lifted by hand.
Challenges and Discovery
The prototype Aurora car had a fiberglass body over a wooden frame. It was built on the chassis of an old 1953 Buick. The car was not fully tested before its public unveiling in 1957. On its way to the press conference, it broke down 15 times! It had to be towed to seven different garages. This was mainly because the fuel system was clogged.
The car arrived hours late for its own debut. People were not impressed by its looks, its performance, or its high price. No one ordered the car.
The company ran into many problems. Father Juliano faced difficulties related to the company's finances. He had used a lot of his own money to fund the company. Eventually, he could no longer pay his debts. The prototype car was left at a repair shop because of unpaid bills. It changed hands several times. In 1967, it was left behind an auto body shop. Father Juliano passed away in 1989.
A New Life for the Aurora
In 1993, a car enthusiast from Britain named Andy Saunders discovered the Aurora. He saw a sketch of it in a book about "dream cars." He thought it was so unusual that he just had to own it. After searching for several years, he found the car. He bought it without even seeing it for $1,500 and had it shipped to Britain.
The car's fiberglass and wood structure had been badly damaged by being left outside. The inside and the plastic windshield were also in poor condition. Restoring the car was very difficult. There were not many documents or photos of the car. Father Juliano was no longer alive to help. Also, there were no replacement parts for such a unique prototype car.
However, the restoration was finished in 2005. The Aurora was shown to the public again at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Today, you can see this unique safety car on display at the Beaulieu Motor Museum.
