That’s Edsel’s a 1958 Aero Cabana. Really.
[Found here. More info here.]
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UPDATE: Just found some pictures of the Aero Cabana in all it’s open glory. Apparently its use wasn’t limited to the Edsel Citation, but it is still a rarity. Despite its aerodynamic form, the Aero Cabana never quite *ahem* took off.
THE AERO CABANA
Very little is known about this pop-up design, but not because it lacks merit. In the twenties and thirties, many of the tent and trailer manufacturers began building prototypes after hours in small backyard shops in hopes of developing a sound manufacturable product. The Aero Cabana relied on a small number of parts, which, once assembled, created an aerodynamic form that easily mounted to an automobile’s roof gutters. This early–fifties design preceded the well-known Volkswagen pop-up roof tent.
Images courtesy of Phil Noyes.
