https://www.thedrive.com/news/33416/the-1986-oldsmobile-incas-had-the-wildest-dashboard-youve-never-seen Search for: [ ] The Drive Logo * News + Car Buying + Car Tech + Culture + Deals + News by Brand + Racing + Trucks + Watch This * Car Reviews * Features + The Drive Interviews + Project Car Diaries + Will It Dog? * The Garage + Accessories + Buy & Sell + Car Care + Car Parts + Cars 101 + Cleaning & Detailing + Gas & Oil + Maintenance & Repair + Tools + Tires * Merch The Drive Logo The Drive Logo * News + News by Brand + Car Tech + Culture + Deals + Racing + Trucks + Video Games + Watch This * Car Reviews * Features + The Drive Interviews + Project Car Diaries + Will It Dog? * The Garage + Accessories + Car Parts + Cars 101 + Cleaning & Detailing + Maintenance & Repair + Motorcycles + Tools + Tires Search for: [ ] * * * * * News Culture The 1986 Oldsmobile Incas Had The Wildest Dashboard You've Never Seen This Olds is straight out of Blade Runner. By Peter Holderith Posted on May 11, 2020 7:30 PM EDT 3 minute read 0 [oldsincasd] www.thedrive.com Plenty of automakers today release autonomous car concepts that look like an ultra-modern living room inside. The steering wheel isn't there, or it folds away, there's big touchscreens everywhere--you get the gist. But 34 years ago, at the height of wonderfully strange '80s design exercises, Italdesign really went for it in the Oldsmobile "Incas" concept with this Knight Rider-looking getup. It's definitely not your grandfather's Oldsmobile. Neither will it be your grandson's, sadly. The only control that hasn't been placed on the 'steering wheel' is the turn signal, the rather plain stalk protruding from the left side of the column. Literally everything else in the interior is a button on the steering wheel: HVAC, lights, audio, cruise and automatic transmission controls are all present. This is actually the only detailed image I could find of the Incas interface. If you're a dreamer like me, then really the only signal Oldsmobile didn't want to actually build this is the conspicuous lack of air vents; you'd probably want some A/C in this thing considering how hot glass canopy cars tend to get in the sun. message-editor%2F1589236369426-oldsincasdashbodyres.pngThe Incas had a yoke like an aircraft instead of a steering wheel, General Motors The dash display is almost completely digital--strangely, they left an extra analog speedometer and tachometer--and completely Eighties. The seven-segment speedometer appears to show the car going 62 km/h just sitting there for the photo shoot, so perhaps that needed a little work. The Oldsmobile Incas was bodied by Italdesign. Despite how impressive the concept may be, there's very little information about it. Many cite the Incas as having a "quad turbo four-cylinder", but it was more than likely equipped with a turbocharged version of Oldsmobile's 'Quad 4' engine (out back, of course). It's said to make 230 horsepower and power all four wheels. message-editor%2F1589235298989-oldsincasfrontview.pngThe Oldsmobile Incas from the front, General Motors message-editor%2F1589236054084-oldsincasrearview.pngThe rear-mounted Turbocharged Quad-4, General Motors The doors out back opened pelican-style like a Tesla Model X's, but the fronts were far less conventional. The entire front windshield and doors pivoted up to allow the driver and passenger's entry. I think one of the only other concept cars to have this would be the Lancia Stratos Zero. Italians must have some special sauce when it comes to coming up with funny new kinds of doors. Unfortunately for us, Oldsmobile never went ahead and produced the Incas. They made a slew of other wild concept cars as well, but none of those saw the light of day either before Olds went out of business in 2004. GM doesn't sound keen on reviving the brand considering it recently sold off the last Oldsmobile ever made to clear some space in its heritage collection. But we'll always have the Incas and its lucid dream of a future without conventional steering wheels. message-editor%2F1589237054461-oldsincasdoorsopen.pngThe Incas with all of its doors open, General Motors Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com Share * * * * Peter Holderith Avatar Peter Holderith Contributor Peter Holderith is a former staff writer for The Drive. He enjoys covering the regular news cycle, writing reviews, and hunting down long features on obscure pieces of automotive history. * * Latest in Culture Honda S2000 watch close up You Can't Have a Honda S2000, But You Can Wear One on Your Wrist You Can't Have a Honda S2000, But You Can Wear One on Your Wrist By Beverly Braga Aug 11 10:48 AM EDT 4WD vs AWD? National Park Service Will Send You a Letter If You Don't Know the Difference 4WD vs AWD? National Park Service Will Send You a Letter If You Don't Know the Difference 4WD vs AWD? National Park Service Will Send You a Letter If You Don't Know the Difference By Nico DeMattia Aug 8 4:00 PM EDT More in Culture Is this AMC Matador Really Worth $250,000? Is this AMC Matador Really Worth $250,000? Is this AMC Matador Really Worth $250,000? By Joe D'Allegro Dec 2 5:21 PM EST Rusty Wallace's Custom 1966 El Camino Pickup Is Going to Auction Rusty Wallace's Custom 1966 El Camino Pickup Is Going to Auction Rusty Wallace's Custom 1966 El Camino Pickup Is Going to Auction By Brian Beers Dec 4 2:20 PM EST Meet Arie Luyendyk, Race Car Driver, and the next Bachelor Meet Arie Luyendyk, Race Car Driver, and the next Bachelor Meet Arie Luyendyk, Race Car Driver, and the next Bachelor By Hayley Lind Nov 30 5:57 PM EST Ultra-Rare Bizzarrini for Sale, Just in Time for the Holidays. Ultra-Rare Bizzarrini for Sale, Just in Time for the Holidays. Ultra-Rare Bizzarrini for Sale, Just in Time for the Holidays. By Joe D'Allegro Dec 19 6:51 PM EST This Sunbeam Tiger GT for Sale is One of 15 This Sunbeam Tiger GT for Sale is One of 15 This Sunbeam Tiger GT for Sale is One of 15 By Chris Constantine Nov 24 9:04 AM EST Russell Westbrook Debuts Car-Themed Clothing Line Russell Westbrook Debuts Car-Themed Clothing Line Russell Westbrook Debuts Car-Themed Clothing Line By Hayley Lind Apr 1 8:57 PM EDT Fox News Host Judge Jeanine Pirro Charged With Driving 119 MPH in New York Fox News Host Judge Jeanine Pirro Charged With Driving 119 MPH in New York Fox News Host Judge Jeanine Pirro Charged With Driving 119 MPH in New York By Kyle Cheromcha Nov 21 10:16 AM EST Internet's Everyman Bill Caswell Is Selling His Baja Pig Internet's Everyman Bill Caswell Is Selling His Baja Pig Internet's Everyman Bill Caswell Is Selling His Baja Pig By Danny Korecki Mar 15 3:00 PM EDT SEE MORE More in News You've Never Seen a Big Rig Like This You've Never Seen a Big Rig Like This You've Never Seen a Big Rig Like This By Evan Yates Nov 8 11:27 PM EST Textron's VTOL X5-55 Drone is Agile, Modular, Quickly Switches From Vertical to Horizontal Flight Textron's VTOL X5-55 Drone is Agile, Modular, Quickly Switches From Vertical to Horizontal Flight Textron's VTOL X5-55 Drone is Agile, Modular, Quickly Switches From Vertical to Horizontal Flight By Marco Margaritoff May 16 9:28 AM EDT Small, Manually Operated Drone Services are Being Squashed by Big Business Small, Manually Operated Drone Services are Being Squashed by Big Business Small, Manually Operated Drone Services are Being Squashed by Big Business By Marco Margaritoff May 29 11:32 AM EDT Toyota Patents Off-the-Wall Telescoping Tail Feature Toyota Patents Off-the-Wall Telescoping Tail Feature Toyota Patents Off-the-Wall Telescoping Tail Feature By Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech May 16 5:03 PM EDT Rodents Are Feasting On Newer Cars' Soy-Based Wiring Insulation Rodents Are Feasting On Newer Cars' Soy-Based Wiring Insulation Rodents Are Feasting On Newer Cars' Soy-Based Wiring Insulation By Justin Hughes May 16 9:10 AM EDT FlixBus Brings Its Uber-Style Bus Service to The U.S. FlixBus Brings Its Uber-Style Bus Service to The U.S. FlixBus Brings Its Uber-Style Bus Service to The U.S. By Stephen Edelstein May 15 1:00 PM EDT Uber Drops Mandatory Arbitration for Sexual Assault Claims Uber Drops Mandatory Arbitration for Sexual Assault Claims Uber Drops Mandatory Arbitration for Sexual Assault Claims By Stephen Edelstein May 16 5:06 PM EDT Apple's California Self-Driving Car Test Fleet Continues to Grow Apple's California Self-Driving Car Test Fleet Continues to Grow Apple's California Self-Driving Car Test Fleet Continues to Grow By Stephen Edelstein May 16 5:07 PM EDT SEE MORE [Logo_TD_svg_38b8b2-1] NEWSLETTER SIGNUP The chronicle of car culture, delivered to your inbox. Sign Up By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. * News + News by Brand + Car Tech + Culture + Deals + Racing + Trucks + Video Games + Watch This * Car Reviews + The Drive Awards * Features + The Drive Interviews + Will It Dog? + Project Car Diaries * The Garage + Accessories + Car Parts + Cars 101 + Cleaning & Detailing + Maintenance & Repair + Motorcycles + Tools + Tires * More + The Drive Team + RV Rentals + Contact Us + Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions + Sitemap FOLLOW US * * * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER(S) (c) 2024 Recurrent Ventures. All Rights Reserved. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Some benefits of our Car Shopping program may not be available in your area. Please see terms for details.