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Geneva Motor Show 1972 - new sports cars and innovative design studies

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Created on February 25, 2012

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

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150

Archiv

150

Maserati Boomerang at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - breathtaking wedge shape by master Giugiaro

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Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Impressions - View of the carpeted and cozy Hall 2

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Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Impressions - View of Hall 2 on a public day

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General plan of the Geneva Motor Show 1972

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Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Impressions - Federal President Dr. Nello Celio on his tour

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Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Impressions - Cibié stand at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show

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Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Impressions - Stand of Hallwag, publisher of Automobil Revue, at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show

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Autodynamics Deserter at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Buggy manufactured in Switzerland under American license

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Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - in contrast to the 1750, the 2000 has white dials and newly arranged additional instruments

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Alfa Romeo 33 3 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - reference to the prototype long-distance successes from 1971

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Alpine-Renault Formule Renault at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - affordable entry-level racing car

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AMC Gremlin X at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - small car now available with sporty, attractive X equipment

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AMC Javelin at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - with the exception of the new radiator grille, the four-seater coupé remains largely unchanged; the automatic transmission is also new

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Ansen Tri-Mil at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - special buggy from California

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Apal Jet at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - harmoniously designed and equipped with a roll bar by the Belgian manufacturer

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Audi 100 GL at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Interior with wood paneling and center console

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Apal Auki Buggy at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - next to it an Apal Buggy L (right) and an Apal Jet (in the background) - recreational vehicles and buggies were popular

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Autobianchi A 112 Abarth at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - more temperament thanks to the Abarth 'hairstyle'

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Bertone Shake at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the designer buggy is now in series production and is equipped with a Fiat 128 engine

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BMW-Alpina 2002 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - optimized cylinder head for use in touring car races

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BMW-Alpina 3.0 CSL at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - 240 km/h possible with a three-liter engine tuned to 250 hp

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BMW 1802 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Overhead camshaft on BMW engines

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BMW 2800 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - rear with horizontally arranged light units

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British Leyland Elektro at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - short and exemplary cleanly designed electric car from the British car manufacturer

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British Leyland Elektro at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - electric car designed by Michelotti

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Chevrolet Camaro SS 350 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - slight detail changes for 1972

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Chevrolet Corvette at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the only production sports car in the USA, now with independent rear suspension

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Citroën Camargue at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - compact coupé by Bertone based on the Citroën GS

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Citroën Camargue at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the Bertone coupé is convincing, but the girls are the crowning glory

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Citroën Camargue at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Rear view of the Bertone prototype based on the Citroën GS

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Citroën GS Break Conf. at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - deep loading area and thus particularly easily accessible luggage compartment

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Citroën GS at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Internationality is demonstrated with a colorfully painted vehicle

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Citroën GS at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the flags are a manifestation of the car industry's international dependence

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Citroën Mehari at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - at 8,315 francs, the cheapest leisure vehicle of its kind

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Citroën SM Coupé Frua at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Frua created a modern coupé on the shortened base of the Citroën SM

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Datsun 180 B at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - original styling for the Datsun

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Datsun 180 B at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - shows clear Crown styling elements on the side windows

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Datsun 180 at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - new station wagon from Nissan

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Datsun 240 C hardtop at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - American-style rear end

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De Tomaso Deauville at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - a large V8 engine with automatic transmission accelerates this elegant luxury sedan to 230 km/h

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De Tomaso Pantera 290 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - show novelty - 210 hp from the 3-liter V6 engine taken from the Capri

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De Tomaso Pantera (1972) - exhibited at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show

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Dino 246 GTS at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the open-top Dino celebrates its world premiere on the Pininfarina stand

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Dino 246 GTS at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the Targa version of the Dino 246 celebrates its world premiere on the Pininfarina stand

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Dodge Demon at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - built by AMAG in Switzerland, front section from the Dodge Dart, rear from the Plymouth Duster

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Ferrari BB Berlinetta Boxer at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - a beautiful Pininfarina creation already known from Turin

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Fiat 124 Abarth at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Premiere in Geneva - Pininfarina created the basis for rally sport

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Fiat 124 Abarth at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - rally version of the 124 convertible with fixed hardtop, downsized by 110 kg

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Fiat 127 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - spacious, spirited and reasonably priced at 7,400 francs

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Fiat 128 'Pulsar' Michelotti at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Coupé built by Giovanni Michelotti on a Giannini-tuned 128-series mechanics

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Fiat 128 'Star' Lombardi at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Fiat 128 derivative designed by Lombardi

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Fiat 128 Sport Coupé at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - some would have liked this rear end to be a little more elegant too

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Fiat 130 Coupé at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - elegant Pininfarina bodywork for the coupé version with V6 engine

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Fiat 500 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - with a list price of 5,150 francs probably the cheapest and, with a curb weight of 520 kg, also the lightest passenger car for four occupants

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Ford Granada GXL at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the overloaded rear end is criticized by design critics

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Ford Granada at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the Ford stand is dominated by the new Granada

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Ford Granada at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the new generation is shown for the first time in Geneva

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Ford Granada at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - just like its sister model Consul, the Granada is also available as a station wagon with two engines

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Ford Granada at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - compact body and modern chassis

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Ford LTD at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - exhaust detoxification 'made in USA'

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Ford Mustang Mach I at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - flat sloping rear of the Mustang

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Ford Torino at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - medium-sized, completely redesigned car

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GP Speed LDV at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - suitable as an effective advertising delivery vehicle thanks to its pickup shape - Bugg from an English manufacturer

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Intermeccanica Indra Diplomat at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - elegant coupé with Opel Diplomat technology

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Intermeccanica Indra at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the name varies, the mechanics come from the Opel Diplomat (V6) or from Chevrolet (5.4-liter V8)

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Intermeccanica Indra at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - a big V8 and a ravishing body, to be sold in Switzerland through the Opel dealer network

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Jensen Healey at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - World premiere of the indirect Austin Healey successor

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Jensen Healey at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - World premiere of the new small sports car

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Jensen-Healey (1972) - At the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - it looked good, the sports car

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Jensen Healey at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - two names - one concept - the affordable roadster celebrates its world premiere

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Jensen SP at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Interceptor III equipped with a 7.2-liter engine

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Karmann GF at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the German manufacturer offers the two buggy models GF and AHS Imp alongside VW convertibles and BMW coupés

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Lamborghini Urraco P 250 2+2 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - clear lines in the Bertone design of the small Lamborghini with 2.5-liter engine

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Lancia Fulvia Coupé 'Monte Carlo' at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - 1300 version based on the Monte Carlo with matt black hood

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Lawil at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Small car from Italy with two-cylinder engine for 4,500 francs

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Lincoln Continental Mk IV at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - luxury appointments, recessed instrument panel, lavishly upholstered seats

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Lincoln Continental Mk IV at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - recessed headlights on the Lincoln

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Lotus Europe Twin Cam at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - now equipped with Lotus twin-camshaft engine, Renault gearbox retained

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Maserati Boomerang at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the Giugiaro creation had already been shown in Turin; the engine from the Bora was installed for Geneva

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Maserati Boomerang at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Giugario concept car, now with engine and round instruments in the interior

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Maserati Bora at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the only mid-engined vehicle from the Modenese sports car manufacturer belonging to Citroën

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Maserati Quattroporte Frua at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the version by Piero Frua shown here is much cleaner in form than the Italian sedan that had already been built for years

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Mazda 818 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - similar in shape to the RX-3, but powered by a four-cylinder engine

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Mazda 818 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - now also available as a station wagon version, with 87 hp 1.3 liter engine

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Mazda 818 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - American-inspired design

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Mercedes-Benz 280 SE at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - continues to impress with the highest quality of workmanship

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SLC at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - elegant five-seater coupé with advanced safety features

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Mercedes-Benz 350 SLC at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - interior ventilation in the Mercedes Coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 600 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - with an unladen weight of 2,475 kg (DIN), it is probably the heaviest at this year's show

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Mini at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - wild beauty tries to breathe sex appeal into the small car

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Mirage Buggy at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - conventionally designed buggy from an Italian manufacturer

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Moonmobile at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the 'Lunar Roving Vehicle' is probably the most expensive, slowest and most environmentally friendly vehicle on the GM stand

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Monteverdi Berlinetta at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Coupé shown for the first time in Geneva is based on the 375 S, but equipped with a V8 Hemi

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Monteverdi Berlinetta at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - luxurious top-of-the-range vehicle 'made in Switzerland'

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Monteverdi Berlinetta at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - premiere of a new coupé with high engine power, increased safety and a redesigned face - the Monteverdi Hai is clearly visible behind it

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Monteverdi Berlinetta at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - nothing stylistically wrong here

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Morris Marina Coupé at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - available as a two-door fastback coupé or as a four-door notchback saloon

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Morris Marina at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - a somewhat 'staid citizen'

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NSU Ro 80 Pininfarina at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - imaginative sedan based on the Wankel NSU

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Ogle Sotheby Special Aston Martin at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the only non-Italian special body in Geneva in 1972

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Ogle Sotheby Special Aston Martin at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Steering wheel and dashboard of the converted Aston Martin

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Ogle Sotheby Special Aston Martin at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - to be offered as a production car in a year's time for 150,000 francs

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Ogle Sotheby Special Aston Martin at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - massive body with large glass dome, a small series is not ruled out

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Opel Commodore Coupé (1972) - at the Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Commodore GS Coupé (1972) - with front spoiler at the Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Commodore (1972) - at the Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Diplomat at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the interior of the Admiral and Diplomat models shows minor retouches

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Opel Rekord II Caravan at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - attractive yet practical station wagon shape

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Opel Rekord II Caravan at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - side view, left-front

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Opel Commodore GS Coupé (1972) - at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show in front of a "normal" Commodore Coupé

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Peugeot 504 Convertible at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - fewer and fewer convertibles are being built, the Peugeot is an exception

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Peugeot 504 Inj. at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - standard rev counter and four-speed gearbox with stick shift

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Peugeot 504 station wagon at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - presented a year ago, equipped with a rigid axle

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Plymouth Barracuda at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - greatly reduced engine range, convertible variant canceled

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Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - functional and elegant interior

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Pontiac GTO at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - sporty 'Intermediate' refined in detail

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Porsche 911 S at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - front spoiler - inspired by motor racing

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Porsche 917 LH at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Jo Siffert's car is probably the fastest at this show

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Puma 1600 GTS at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - plastic sports car on a Volkswagen platform from Brazil shown for the first time as a convertible

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Ranger 1900 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - twin headlights distinguish the GM product built in Antwerp from the Opel Rekord and Commodore

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Ranger Coupé at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - presented with flowers

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Renault 12 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the R12 was only subsequently converted into a station wagon

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Renault 15 TS at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - sporty front-wheel drive R15 and R17

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Renault 17 TL at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Side view of the Renault Coupé R17

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Renault 5 TL at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - elastic bumpers are intended to reduce the consequences of bumps on the R5

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Renault 5 TL at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - compact dimensions and front-wheel drive - the R5 is not yet available in Switzerland

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Renault 5 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model of the compact front-wheel-drive R5, whose export to Switzerland had not yet started at that time

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Renault 5 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model of the smart front-wheel drive R5

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Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - an electrically retractable roof makes this convertible bodyworked by Mulliner Park Ward a luxury vehicle

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Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupé at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - at 125,000 francs the most expensive production passenger car at the show

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Rover 3500 S at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - upright rear lights allow the tailgate to extend far downwards

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Saab 95 V4 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - additional bench seat and space for seven people in the Saab

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Seat 127 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - four-door small sedan

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Skoda 110 LS at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - with the more powerful engine of the 110 R coupé

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Sunbeam 1250 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - this affordable four-door car costs less than 8,000 francs

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Toyota Crown 2000 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the rear of the coupé version looks very long

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Toyota Crown 2000 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - could also be a little less pompous

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Toyota Crown at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Front, headlights

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Tyrrell 003 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Jackie Stewart's world champion car attracts the crowds

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Vauxhall at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Novelty on the turntable, complemented by flowers

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Vauxhall Ventora at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - GM European model, close to the Opel line

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Vauxhall Ventura at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - based on the products from Rüsselshausen

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Vauxhall Victor 2300 Estate at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - beautifully designed sports estate with 100 hp

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Vauxhall Viva 1800 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - larger engines and therefore more spirited

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Vauxhall VX 4 90 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - GM European car

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Volvo P 1800 ES at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - one of the few sports station wagons of the time, elegant and specially designed glass house

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Volvo P 1800 ES at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - new station wagon variant with generously glazed rear end

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VW 1302 S at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Volkswagen shows progress and continuity in chassis development - left 1302 S from 1971, right Type 11 from 1934

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VW at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the VW stand showcases the Beetle heritage together with the former world champion Ford-T

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Zagato Milanina Zagato at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Ultra-short and flat electric car from Zagato

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Summary

The 1972 Geneva Motor Show was characterized by fears of recession, although these were hardly noticeable at the event. A few world premieres - Dino 246 GTS, Jensen-Healey, Monteverdi Berlinetta - together with many improved vehicles in all price segments ensured a record number of visitors. This report shows many of the new and improved vehicles in 150 pictures and summarizes the main events of the 1972 show.

This article contains the following chapters

Further information
More temperament and luxury in small and mid-size cars
Broader range of estate cars
Little new in the upper and luxury classes
World firsts in the sports car segment
Innovative dream cars and special bodies
Clean exhaust fumes from the USA
Buggy and leisure vehicle
At the end of a long day

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

On the outward journey on March 9, 1972, the excited show visitor Konrad Zurmühle hums "Sacramento" by "Middle of the Road" or "Poppa Joe" by "The Sweet", both songs from the current "top 10" of the radio hit parade, perhaps remembering the last episode of the television series "Daktari" or "Skippy the Kangaroo" and hoping for many new products and exciting model changes. Well, let's face it, there were no real sensations at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show, but at least Konrad had the opportunity to inspect a number of new models that he had not yet seen on the road or in the brand showrooms - Opel Rekord II, Ford Granada, Renault R5 - and the designers and special coachbuilders had once again made every effort to present real innovations in Geneva in 1972. And because Konrad is also a bit of a sports car fan, he was delighted by the world premieres Jensen-Healey and Dino 246 GTS.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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