Flying Cars: The Extraordinary History of Cars Designed for Tomorrow's World

Patrick J. Gyger is a Swiss historian and writer. From 1999 to 2010 he was the director of Maison d'Ailleurs, a Swiss museum housing one of the world's largest collections of literature relating to science fiction, utopia and extraordinary journeys. He is now director of Le Lieu Unique, a national cultural centre in Nantes, France.

Waldo Waterman's various car/aeroplane designs of the 1930s: 'Whatsit', 'Arrowbile' and 'Aerobile'. The Roadable Airplane built by Theodore P. Hall in 1939. The Convair Model 103 developed in 1944 by William B. Stout and George G. Spratt, and the Model 118 that followed post-war. The Southern Aircraft Corporation's Aerocar of 1946. Robert Fulton's Airphibian, which was advertised with the slogan: 'From aircraft to car - and vice versa - in seven minutes!' The Aerocar, designed by Moulton Taylor in 1950: 'First in autonautics - the car with the built-in freeway!' Frenchman Robert Lebouder's transformation of a Vespa 400 into the Autoplane, which he homologated in 1976 and used principally for travelling off on his summer holidays. Paul Moller's Skycar design of the 1990s, with vertical take-off capability. The Volante, first flown in 2003 by K.P. Rice. Fictional flying cars aren't forgotten: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Joe 90, Harry Potter, Flubber.