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The 1992 Pontiac Salsa concept vehicle was designed in GM’s Advanced Concept Center in Southern California. This vehicle transformed from an all-weather, five-seat hatchback to a five-seat convertible or a two-seat panel delivery truck. Each module has several potential spin-offs.
This version featured seating for five. The removable folding canvas roof was composed of a front targa section and a rear segment with bows. The rear seat folded forward in conjunction with the convertible, and the sliding rear cargo drawer pulled out and dropped down. The overall effect was that of an open, two-passenger mini-pickup.
An alternative to a small sedan, a two-passenger station wagon emerged when the rear seat folded down. Many items could be loaded into the rear cargo bay when the drawer was opened, and the hatch was left up. With the hard targa segment of the roof removed, open-air motoring could be enjoyed.
Popular with California hot rodders and light commercial utility users alike, the panel delivery offered great opportunities for customizing to one’s tastes and needs. This module used a conventional liftgate, as opposed to the pullout drawer.
In any configuration, Salsa featured the maneuverability of a sports car and the roominess of a full-size sedan due to its rear seat positioned between the rear wheels. As a result, the back seat room equaled a typical full-size sedan, even though Salsa was nearly 60 inches shorter.
Source: history.gmheritagecenter.com
Images: GM; Concept Car Central; Coconv Photostream
