Though smartphones, wearable tech, and whatever AI monstrosities ChatGPT continues churning out may continually prove that the future is now, the future has been here for quite some time. Case in point? The retro-futuristic gadgets and spaces that dominated the '60s, '70s and '80s.
From sick concept cars to orb-like 8-track players, here are 20 old-school visions of the future that were ahead of the curve.
1
Flying Saucers
“Futuristic gas station in Kyiv, Ukraine, 1979.”
2
Behind the Wheel
“The Pontiac Club de Mer, The Jet Age-Inspired Concept Car 1956.”
3
Dome Sweet Dome
“Dad standing on a geodesic dome he made by hand 1972. Miss you, you nut!”
4
Stairway to Heaven
“Detroit Science Center - Designed by William Kessler and Associates (1979).”
5
Sweep It Up
“The 1963 Hoover Constellation car, used to advertise during the Tour de France.”
6
Turn it Up
“An image appearing in an ad for the Continental 2 Stereo Round.”
7
Club Classics
“Nightclub Il Grifoncino, 1968. Bozen, Italy. Interior design by Cesare Casati, Gino Marotta & Emmanuele Ponzio.”
8
Office Space
“Futuristic desk design - date and designer unknown.”
9
Riding On
A woman sits atop a Firebird IV Concept Car
10
Future Furnishings
“I know when I think of cutting-edge furniture design, I think of the global chemical & oil company, Amoco.”
11
Can Compute
“Sharp X1 (aka CZ-800C) (1982).”
12
Charging On
“Magazine scans of the Dodge Charger III concept car. 1968.”
13
Tunnel Vision
“This is the neon tunnel entrance to 127 John Street in July 1971 which was then an office building. Photo was taken by my father when he worked in the building.”
14
Future Calling
“Retro-future office from the 1964 World's Fair.”
15
Pondering The Orb
“Burger King and futuristic 8-track players (around 1974).”
16
Ticket to Ride
“Taking a tour of the brand new, ultra-futuristic Paris metro system. 1972.”
17
Model Behavior
“1966-My mom worked for the phone company and they had this magazine she modeled in. She’s the hottie with the beehive. I guess they were going for a futuristic look. It looks like she is holding a ray gun.”
18
All Aboard
“Ride the train! The ‘Mercury’ train 1936 (colorized).”
19
Cool Car
“My mom posing with a 'futuristic' car she and my grandparents came across when on vacation in Germany, summer of 1958.”
20
Conceptually Crazy
The all-white futuristic interior of a Toyota concept car.
