I had this as a Hot Wheels as a kid. Once I got over the space age appearance of it, I realized it would be like driving a sauna with that clear dome acting like a greenhouse.
Man, this iconic custom has been immortalized in Hot Wheels, 1/43rd diecast, and 1/25th scale plastic model kit form - that last one complete with a bespoke, bubble-top trailer. The AMT kit - both the actual car and its trailer - formed the basis for many, uncountable custom creations. It's influence cannot be understated! As for who stole this car, I have to wonder why? It would be like stealing a famous painting - who could the thief tell about their 'acquisition,' much less show it to . . . ? Here's hoping that it will be recovered. Thanks for sharing! 97th Like.
Maybe it was stolen because of jealousy, or I think it is more plausible that it was wanted to be bought, but the creator refused, maybe there were several entreaties to sell it, but after refusal it was stolen. Perhaps it is now in someone's collection or destroyed.
@@retrocarchannel That's a truly sobering thought. Still, I would think that if it was in some "oligarch's" secret, private automotive collection (shades of Ian Fleming) someone would have told the authorities and it would have been recovered by now. (Even "Bond Villains" like to show-off, after all.) I doubt it would have been destroyed outright. It's just too big. It's logistically possible to burn a oil-on-canvas masterpiece stolen from a museum in private, but destroying a two-ton automobile would be another matter entirely. I vaguely remember that Billy Gibbons' iconic ZZ Top Eliminator was briefly stolen and soon recovered because the thief realized after-the-fact that it was just too "hot" to keep. So there may be hope yet for the Silhouette. Does anyone know if a 'reward' or even amnesty were offered in an attempt to recover it?
Thank you for this video. I love this car! I had the HW die-cast and the model. (I hope someone out there is still producing it. It included not only the car, but also a bubble-top trailer you could build to display the completed car.) I remember the movie, as well, I just can never remember the title.
Hi Brady and Blue. No idea where you are at present, but it's Snowing at Lake Tahoe. First August snow since 2004. Time to get your Skis on? Cheers, Russ. UK
C’mon, internet sleuths! If anyone can find it, you can. And if you’re reading this and YOU have it, just drop it somewhere safe to be found and just walk away. I promise we won’t look for you.
What a story. But also very sad that the Silhouette’s fate remains unknown to this day since it was stolen. Considering that the car was stolen in Bakersfield, and it was more of an unvarnished patch of weeds than it is today, I’m afraid to say that the car was most likely gutted for its engine, chassis and steel that made up the bodywork. It’s possible that whoever stole the car or bought its pieces probably built the remains up into a *real* hot rod since customs like the Silhouette didn’t please everybody back in the day. Thanks for the video. And your channel is growing, so you must be doing something right. 🙂
Bubble, bubble, toil & trouble… How can a fella situated in sunny Cal-ay-forn-aye design a car with a transparent bubble hood? That‘s the stuff green-houses are made of. 😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣
I had a Silhouette Hot Wheels, the highlight of my collection😀
Me too!
And me! Still got it!!
That is a real hotwheels !
Still have mine! Plus my Beatnik Bandit and many more.
Had one, too. Kept it in my big, plastic big wheel carrier.
I had this as a Hot Wheels as a kid. Once I got over the space age appearance of it, I realized it would be like driving a sauna with that clear dome acting like a greenhouse.
My very first Hotwheels car!
Built this car in model form
AMT I believe..back ih 67😊
Alot of good parts in that kit, you can still get new ones today if you didnt know and want to build it again
I love this series! I had the scale model kit.
They had models and Hot Wheels back in the day. One of my favorites.
THANKS RETRO 🤗 for a great story on a GREAT car. Ahead of its time.💚💚💚
EXCRUCIATINGLY AWESOME YO!
I HAD THE MODEL KIT BACK IN THE DAY!🤔😂
Yeah, this car is buried deep in my psyche... Since I saw it in the '60's, It has been a favorite.
Man, this iconic custom has been immortalized in Hot Wheels, 1/43rd diecast, and 1/25th scale plastic model kit form - that last one complete with a bespoke, bubble-top trailer. The AMT kit - both the actual car and its trailer - formed the basis for many, uncountable custom creations. It's influence cannot be understated!
As for who stole this car, I have to wonder why? It would be like stealing a famous painting - who could the thief tell about their 'acquisition,' much less show it to . . . ?
Here's hoping that it will be recovered. Thanks for sharing!
97th Like.
Maybe it was stolen because of jealousy, or I think it is more plausible that it was wanted to be bought, but the creator refused, maybe there were several entreaties to sell it, but after refusal it was stolen. Perhaps it is now in someone's collection or destroyed.
@@retrocarchannel That's a truly sobering thought. Still, I would think that if it was in some "oligarch's" secret, private automotive collection (shades of Ian Fleming) someone would have told the authorities and it would have been recovered by now. (Even "Bond Villains" like to show-off, after all.)
I doubt it would have been destroyed outright. It's just too big. It's logistically possible to burn a oil-on-canvas masterpiece stolen from a museum in private, but destroying a two-ton automobile would be another matter entirely. I vaguely remember that Billy Gibbons' iconic ZZ Top Eliminator was briefly stolen and soon recovered because the thief realized after-the-fact that it was just too "hot" to keep. So there may be hope yet for the Silhouette.
Does anyone know if a 'reward' or even amnesty were offered in an attempt to recover it?
Thank you for this video. I love this car! I had the HW die-cast and the model. (I hope someone out there is still producing it. It included not only the car, but also a bubble-top trailer you could build to display the completed car.) I remember the movie, as well, I just can never remember the title.
Thank you very much.
Wow! This car is what folklore is made of! A great looking car and a fascinating story! I wonder what speeds she could attain?
Again an excellent video! I wonder how the informations have been collected. Thank you - dreaming for some minutes ;).
Thank you very much.
Beautiful car… it’s sad it was stolen.
Back looks better than the front , still very nice .
This looks like it's the inspiration for the 2000 Peugeot 607 Feline Concept Car
or part of the Homer
I probably have most of your guys hotwheels im my collection now lol, i have tons of these now
Darrell Starburg has a museum and he help develop this car it was at car show’s everywhere in the 1960s . Didn’t know it was stolen .
Hi Brady and Blue. No idea where you are at present, but it's Snowing at Lake Tahoe. First August snow since 2004. Time to get your Skis on? Cheers, Russ. UK
I had that as a Hot Wheel. Didn't know it was real.
C’mon, internet sleuths! If anyone can find it, you can. And if you’re reading this and YOU have it, just drop it somewhere safe to be found and just walk away. I promise we won’t look for you.
These "bubble tops" was so typical of the 60s futuristic cars! But not a very safe design and very warm in the summer, at least without any AC....
This car is over in Asia or possibly the Middle East in some Uber Rich's garage!
Maybe its hidden in some secret "stash" , next to James Deans' death car , & the "Captain America" chopper ..?
Jimmy Hoffa is driving it in Peru.
How did they keep the engine cool? Where did they put the radiator?
What a story. But also very sad that the Silhouette’s fate remains unknown to this day since it was stolen.
Considering that the car was stolen in Bakersfield, and it was more of an unvarnished patch of weeds than it is today, I’m afraid to say that the car was most likely gutted for its engine, chassis and steel that made up the bodywork. It’s possible that whoever stole the car or bought its pieces probably built the remains up into a *real* hot rod since customs like the Silhouette didn’t please everybody back in the day.
Thanks for the video. And your channel is growing, so you must be doing something right. 🙂
Thank you very much.
Guarantee it needed a/c to driven with the bubble top, but then again it’s a show car.
I don't get the wheel cutouts
Built the plastic scale model. Twice.
I got the model at a garage sale unbuilt. Can't decide which color to paint it.
Bubble, bubble, toil & trouble…
How can a fella situated in sunny Cal-ay-forn-aye design a car with a transparent bubble hood?
That‘s the stuff green-houses are made of. 😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣
Bill's wife hated driving it to the grocery store in summer. Little known fact.
My bet is the car is today in the collection of some despotic world leader or billionaire.
I hope they find the scumbag(s) who stole it.
Sitting in some rich criminals garage overseas somewhere...
Should have stayed lost.
Why?
@@BulldogGTX-i2f because I don't like it. They can go put it back where they found it. We will speak of it no more.
@@buckystarfinger2487 I will speak of it. I love the car.