The 1964 Ford Aurora Was An Incredible Space Age Station Wagon Concept – SlashGear

For decades, station wagons from all automakers were essentially just large sedans with more cargo space, both mechanically and in general function. Ford wanted to change that with the Aurora concept. Ford’s director of styling at the time, Gene Bordinat said: “Of equal significance, it may foretell the day of station wagon designs with completely unique chassis components divorced from passenger car lines … It is a rolling laboratory of new ideas in styling and engineering for the future.”

In a brochure for the Aurora concept, Ford stated that the new space-age wagon featured no less than 23 unique features that set it apart from every other vehicle on the market. Those features included (but were not limited to): a wraparound windshield, electroluminescent lighting, a clamshell rear entry system, interior swivel chairs, and a polarizing sunroof. Strangely, the Aurora came equipped with a sound-isolated “children’s compartment” in the back where children were separated from the rest of the passengers by an interior power window.

The interior of the Aurora looked more like a living room than a traditional station wagon. The back seat was referred to as a sofa and looked the part. It also sported a “communications console” that tripled as a radio, television set, and refreshments cabinet. In addition to the stately interior, the Aurora had a yoke steering wheel not unlike the configuration that’s all the rage among EVs today.