The Y-Job was GM's first concept car and an icon in the automotive industry. Constructed in 1938 under the direction of Harley Earl, GM's first design chief, the Y-Job made the rounds of the auto show circuit in 1939. The Y-Job had concealed headlights and an electric top that was concealed beneath a metal cover when closed. The car was solely created for the purpose of testing new ideas and was never considered for production.

While not at shows, and after its time in the spotlight, Earl regularly drove the low-slung two-seater on the streets of Detroit where its appearance often created quite a stir.

But, as it turns out, the Y-Job had a limited shelf life. The Y-Job's innovative styling and advanced features soon paled alongside even more futuristic products from GM's supercharged design staff. The Y-Job was eventually consigned to a warehouse, and later transferred to the Sloan Museum in Flint, Mich. There the Y-Job languished in dusty anonymity - until a burgeoning interest in Detroit's fanciful dream cars rescued the Y-Job and its descendants from obscurity.

As historians and enthusiasts began to appreciate the significance of these landmark vehicles, the Y-Job was returned to its former glory as the centerpiece of a concept car revival at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. In 1993, the Y-Job came home to the GM Design Center in Warren, Mich., where it now resides as an honored member of GM's heritage collection.

This car is powered by a Buick 320 cubic inch straight 8.