Holden restores its futuristic 1969 Hurricane concept car

Holden, General Motors' Australian subsidiary, has resurrected its first-ever concept car: the 1969 Hurricane, packed with then-futuristic technology, some of which wouldn't make its way into production cars for more than a decade.

When it was first revealed, the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seat sports car showcased in-your-dreams innovations such as a rearview camera, a magnet-based navigation system, automatic air conditioning, electronic displays and a station-seeking radio.

Holden designers started restoring the Hurricane concept--code-named RD 001--in 2006, using as many of the original parts as possible.

"The Hurricane plays a crucial role in Holden's story . . . it was very important to bring RD 001 back to life," Holden creative manager Paul Clarke said. "It's been a challenging but incredibly rewarding process."

The 4.2-liter V8 powering the Hurricane served as a precursor to Holden's production version. It had a four-barrel carburetor and cranked out a then-impressive 262 hp.

The Hurricane concept stands just 38.9 inches high and has no conventional doors. A hydraulically powered canopy opens forward and up over the front wheels. Twin power-elevating seats rise up and scoot forward for occupants, and passengers are lowered to a reclining position before the roof closes over them.

The canopy, engine hood and body shell were finished in an aluminum-flake-based metallic orange paint.

Notable safety features in the Hurricane include a foam-lined fuel tank, a roll-over bar, digital instrument readouts, ignition safety locks, interior padding and a fire-warning system.

Now that it's completely restored, the 1969 Hurricane concept will be on display for the public at the Motorclassica car show in Melbourne on Oct. 21-23.

By Michelle Koueiter