Daewoo Musiro Concept

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In the 1980s, International Automotive Design (IAD as it was better known) was at the pinnacle of its success, with a highly skilled workforce of 800 manning 23 sites across Worthing where, shrouded in secrecy, they designed cars of the future for manufacturers around the globe.

Much of the business came from emerging markets in Asia and the Far East where fledgling manufacturers had spotted the insatiable Western demand for cars and wanted a slice of the action. Aware of the indifference (derision, even) with which their early efforts were greeted, they turned to design agencies like IAD to help fast track their products onto the wish lists of European buyers.

A particularly determined newcomer was Daewoo, a South Korean outfit which had started off as a bulk textile company in the late 1960s and by the 1980s had grown into a vast industrial conglomerate making everything from petrochemicals and cement to helicopters and oil rigs.

Daewoo bought IAD lock, stock and barrel in 1993 and soon cars with names like Lanos, Nubira, Matiz and Leganza began to be seen on British streets.

This car, the Musiro, was specially created for the 2000 British Motor Show to showcase Daewoo’s vision of the Versatile Sports Car, a sort of Audi TT/MPV crossover with a 150bhp 2-litre transverse straight-six engine and a remote control power-operated folding roof.

Sounds pretty standard stuff until you read the ingenious design work that went into making the roof and boot sections disappear into a bulkhead behind the rear seat in a way that left the load swallowing and passenger carrying capability unimpeded.

The interior used translucent materials to create the illusion of a much more spacious car, with seats that seemed to float above the floor and a paddle shift gearbox that meant a fax machine (remember those?), a phone and a drinks cooler could go between the front seats.

Of course, being a concept car it is a million miles away from being usable, having no engine, no steering mechanism and no opening panels, just indented swage lines for panel gaps. However, it does have funky electric lights, has yellow tinted windows and it looks great – what’s not to like?

Supplied with a detailed design rationale running into many pages, it would make a great talking point in any ‘man cave’ or car collection and, despite the thousands of pounds and man hours that it cost Daewoo to create, it is being offered here at no reserve. Find another one!