Ford Motor Company's experimental car, the X-100, was conceived and built by the Ford Engineering Staff at Dearborn, Michigan.

The X-100 is a laboratory on wheels for testing new engineering features.

It is a two-door convertible, seats five passengers, has a 123-inch wheelbase and weighs 5,900 pounds. The car has 665 pounds of electrical equipment connected by eight miles of wiring.

The X-lOO's over-all length is 220.9 inches, its height 56.9 inches and its maximum width 81.25 inches. The car contains more than 50 basic automotive innovations. It first was exhibited as a styling model called the 195X. Subsequently its mechanical features were designed and now have been installed to make it a fully operating test car.

Its black steel and aluminum body has a revolutionary sliding roof panel of transparent, non-glare heatproof plastic over the driver's compartment. The panel can be retracted under the stationary roof section either by an instrument panel switch or by added pressure on a push button which opens the car door.

If the sliding roof is open when the car is unattended, the first drop of rain actuates a "rain cell," or moisture-sensitive electrical switch, on the roof, and panel and windows close automatically.

The special, high-compression, overhead valve engine has an entirely new intake manifold-carburetor system. There is the equivalent of twelve single venturi carburetors.

At low speeds the engine operates on two venturis of a centrally located four venturi carburetor. At medium speeds two additional venturis are brought into operation. For full throttle high speed operation all of the carburetors are brought into use thereby providing all the air and fuel that the engine needs for its high output of 300 horsepower.

The X-lOO's transmission has an electrically operated gear selector. Independent front and rear suspension assure exceptional roadability. The car is equipped with power steering and power braking, including an electric power-assisted hand brake. Front wheel brakes are cooled by thermostatically controlled blowers when their temperature exceeds 150 degrees.

Front seats are adjustable six ways — up-down, forward-backward, and tilt front and back. The seats are equipped with disappearing-type nylon web safety belts. Electric seat warmers counteract the "cold feel" of the thick, black-and-white leather upholstery in winter.

The power operated hood and rear deck lids are opened, closed, locked and unlocked by switches on the instrument panel. Each wheel has a built-in electrically operated jack. Push buttons have replaced door handles.

Other accessories include a dictaphone, radio-telephone, electric shaver, and a 10-tube signal-seeking radio with separate controls for front and rear seat passengers. There is a soft horn for city traffic and a louder one for country driving.

Four windshield wiper blades are arranged for over-lapping action. The massive front bumper-grille combination also serves as headlight housing. Similar rear bumpers provide ports for the engine's dual exhaust system.

The X-lOO's 12-volt ignition system powers 24 electrical motors, 44 electronic tubes, 50 light bulbs, 92 control switches, 29 solenoids, 53 relays, 23 circuit breakers and 10 fuses.

The "car of the future” has a built-in battery charger. It serves to maintain battery charge when the automobile's electric devices are being demonstrated while the engine is not running.

The chassis frame is of special construction for maximum rigidity, with new type body mountings. To hold down weight in body structure, more than 300 pieces of aluminum and other light metals were substituted for heavier traditional counterparts. The substitutions have reduced "lazy weight" in the car body by 250 pounds.

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The X-100 Is an experimental car, testing new design and engineering features which may become available in production automobiles built by Ford Motor Company. It is not a prototype of a new Lincoln Continental, and the company does not plan to produce it for sale to the public.

Its most revolutionary feature is the sliding transparent non-glare plastic roof over the driver's compartment. This canopy is actuated in three ways. It can be rolled forward or backward by an instrument panel switch. If closed, it can be rolled back by pressure on the door latch button. (The electrical system of this button is adjusted so that the canopy does not automatically open when the door is opened, but only if extra pressure is applied to the button.)

If the roof is open when the car is parked and unattended, the canopy and windows will close in event of rain when a moisture-sensitive electrical device on the top of the car starts the roof's motors.

The special high-compression overhead valve engine delivers 300 hp.

The outstanding feature of the engine is an induction system which is entirely new, including a 12 Venturi carburetor system. When in city traffic the engine operates on two Venturi, when on the highway it operates on four Venturi, but for all-out operation it automatically converts to a full racing manifold with a carburetor Venturi for each cylinder.

Power transmission is through a newly developed automatic transmission, with electrically operated gear selector.

The car features independent front and rear suspension for best possible ride and roadability and minimum car height.

Because of the extreme curvature of the double Solex windshield, four windshield wipers are used. The rear window also has a wiper.

The car is equipped with power steering.

It has power brakes, including an electrically power-assisted emergency hand brake. Front wheel brakes are cooled with automatic thermostatically controlled blowers when their temperature goes above 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Two front power seats each provide six-way adjustment, up-down, forward-backward, tilt front and back. Front seats are equipped with disappearing-type safety belts»

There are built-in electrically operated jacks for each wheel.

Hood H.ni^ rear deck lids are electrically opened and closed.

Extensive use of light metals (aluminum and magnesium alloys) is made throughout the car's body and engine. There are approximately 300 light metal parts.

It is equipped with a 12-volt electrical system, powering 2k electrical motors, 44 electronic tubes, 50 light bulbs, 92 control switches, 29 solenoids,

53 relays, 23 circuit breakers and 10 fuses. There is a built-in battery charger (used when the engine is not running, but electrically operated devices on the car are being demonstrated). Approximately eight miles of electrical wiring are contained in the car.

It contains dictaphone, ship-to-shore type telephone, electric shaver, a signal-seeking radio with separate controls for front and rear seat passengers.

It seats five comfortably (two in front, three in rear), and is considered a convertible because its top opens. The rear portion of the top and rear window remain in fixed position.

Dimensions are:    Over-all length 220.9 inches

Wheelbase 123 Inches Height 56.9 inches

Width 81,25 Inches (maximum)

Front and rear tread 59»5 inches

Curb weight 5,900 pounds, including 665 pounds of electrical equipment

The car hears no resemblance to the original Lincoln Continental.