1st Experimental Safety Vehicle Built in Branford, Connecticut in 1957

1st Experimental Safety Vehicle Built in Branford, Connecticut in 1957
The Aurora: A Vision of Safety Wrapped in Controversy
In 1957, Branford, Connecticut, became the birthplace of one of the most ambitious yet controversial vehicles in automotive history - the Aurora. Conceived by Father Alfred Juliano, a Catholic priest with a passion for safety and design, the Aurora was intended to revolutionize the automotive industry by introducing unprecedented safety features. However, the vehicle's unconventional aesthetics and the troubled story behind its creation have made it a subject of both fascination and critique.
Design and Safety Features
The Aurora was built on a 1953 Buick frame, utilizing a combination of fiberglass and plywood for its body, aiming for durability and resistance to corrosion and dents. Its safety features were ahead of their time, including a built-in roll cage, seat belts, a padded dashboard, a collapsible steering wheel, side-impact bars, and even a novel concept where the seats could swivel to face backwards in anticipation of a collision. The vehicle's front end was designed to scoop up pedestrians in the event of an accident, a feature that, while well-intentioned, contributed to its unique and much-debated appearance.
The Journey and Aftermath
Father Juliano's dream faced numerous challenges, from mechanical failures during its unveiling in New York City to financial difficulties that led to bankruptcy and the eventual loss of the prototype. After changing hands several times, the Aurora was abandoned and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1993 by British car enthusiast Andy Saunders. Saunders undertook the daunting task of restoring the Aurora, a process complicated by the lack of documentation and original parts. Despite these obstacles, the restoration was completed in 2005, and the Aurora was presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, later finding a home at the Beaulieu Motor Museum in Hampshire, England.
Legacy
Despite its initial reception and the controversy surrounding its design, the Aurora holds a significant place in automotive history as arguably the first Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESV). Its creation underscores the importance of safety innovations in the automotive industry, even if its execution and aesthetics were not universally embraced.
#ClassicCars#carrestoration
Aurora automobile,Experimental Safety Vehicles,History of the automobile industry,Father Alfred Giuliano,Car Restoration,Beaulieu Car Museum,Goodwood Festival of Speed,Cars of the 1950s,Car Design,

[@JackF99]

Wow an actual human speaker instead of a robot! Thank you.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

This car was probably the first and only car he designed. It is remarkably innovative, with lots of features never considered before. Volvo usually gets credit for inventing seats belts.

[@ConcreteBombDeep]

I just want to see how the people catcher works.

[@Marc816]

It probably didn't!!!

[@ConcreteBombDeep]

@@Marc816 Maybe, I think the front end needs to be a little lower to work in all cases. If you were facing the car it would hit you in the shins and maybe drag you under it but if your back was too it I think it might work.

[@adp5R3x]

OMG ... that monstrosity is absolutely hideous ! What's Wrong with some people ?

[@Marc816]

The inventor of it, Father Alfred Juliano, had good intentions, but he knew nothing about automotive design.

[@adp5R3x]

... Yet , in some ways it's very intriguing