[5] American Motors Corporation commissioned Richard Arbib, a leading industrial designer of the 1950s, to develop a futuristic concept car.
[1] Built in four months, the Astra-Gnome represented the work of product stylists to create "new and exciting shapes, textures and colors in a functional car.
"[2] Arbib had the wheels and tires hidden behind full fender skirts to achieve "a floating special quality" and to suggest a spacecraft or hovercraft.
[4] Numerous photos of the car with Arbib were often accompanied by attractive female models who explained to the media that the concept was never intended for production.
[13][11] The interior features bucket seats upholstered in blue and "space-age" gray upholstery with an integrated center console between them.
"[14] The acrylic glass bubble canopy also served as a sound chamber for the car's high fidelity radio and record player.