Mercury Astron Concept Car, New York Auto Show 1960s

This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1966, showcases the futuristic Mercury Astron concept car on display at the New York Auto Show. The archival image highlights the vehicle’s most radical feature: a large, sun-sensitive glass roof designed to darken automatically in bright sunlight. Derived from a Mercury Park Lane, the Astron also boasted a flexible glass backlight (rear window) that could retract into the roof, and “opera windows” in the C-pillars—a detail that would eventually become a staple of luxury American cars in the 1970s. The exterior is finished in a clean blue, accented by wider body-side trim and unique headlamp bezels that gave the front end a distinct identity from production models. In a precursor to modern safety lighting, the car’s taillamps were designed to change colors based on the driver’s actions: green for cruising, amber for coasting, and red for braking. While the original New York Coliseum has since been demolished and the Astron itself remains a rare piece of experimental automotive history, this factual record captures the era’s optimism regarding “smart” technology and glass-heavy design. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.