1958 Sir Vival World's Strangest Concept Car

1 1958 Sir Vival (Survival) is the name of this prototype car. An Adventure in Safe Motoring. Designed and created by Walter Jerome, Engineer, over a 10-year period.

2 Jerome built a raised turret for driver’s maximum visibility with a 360-degree wrap-around screen that rotates past squeegees to wipe the window clean.

3 Walter Jerome created the Sir Vival from a 1948 Hudson using a heavily modified 1948 Hudson sedan as the rear section.

4 Concerned with head-on collisions, Jerome split his car in two. The front section would absorb collisions, leaving the driver and passenger cabin secure.

5 The Sir Vival was years ahead of its time with seat belts, a roll cage, sliding side doors, rubber bumpers and side lights.

6 The Wrap-around rubber bumpers protected the bodywork in slow speed collisions. He ignored the fact that his car’s awkward separation necessitated atrocious handling.

7 Jerome termed his car a “revolutionary vehicle” due to anxiety about 1950s Detroit's lack of concern for safety and focus on planned obsolescence.

8 In the end, Jerome failed to advance auto safety, but his segmented sedan might easily qualify as the world’s strangest car.

9 According to the marketing pamphlet written by Jerome entitled Sir Vival, his car was an “Adventure in Safe Motoring”.

10 Jerome had fancy two-color sales brochures printed that extolled its virtues.

11 A green Sir Vival appeared on the cover of Mechanix Illustrated magazine in April 1959. The car was painted several different colors throughout the years.

12 The Sir Vival appeared on magazine covers with pictures and descriptions of all the safety features inside.

13 Walter Jerome is pictured with his 1958 Sir Vival. He intended to produce 10 to 12 cars a year at a retail price of $10,000. This was a very high price tag in 1958. He was only able to produce the prototype because funding dried up.

14 The Sir Vival received publicity in Life magazine and automotive publications such as Mechanix Illustrated and Motor Trend magazines.

15 NYC World's Fair 1964 Brochure.

16 Sir Vival 1964 World's Fair Brochure.

17 This articulation separates the driver and passengers from the engine and aids in impact deflection during a collision.

18 The Sir Vival hasn't been operational since showing at the 1964 World's Fair in NYC. The one prototype remains the only version ever produced.

19 After Jerome's death in the early 1970s, the Moore family owners of Bellingham Automotive Sales in Massachusetts took possession of the car. The eccentric Sir Vival turned out to be a survivor after all.

20 A little worse for wear it remained in the care of Bellingham Automotive Sales, Massachusetts. With that business shutting down owner Ed Moore sold the car in 2022 to Lane Motor Museum, Nashville, TN which plans to restore it.

21 Despite the press and the showings at high-profile venues, Jerome never garnered the funding needed to manufacture a production Sir Vival.