I’ve been waiting for a while now to see an actual Cybertruck in person, and today it finally happened! I wanted to share with you my spontaneous, initial reactions; because when you see something this radically new for the first time, you will never see it the same way again!
I have been “car spotting” for decades now, and this is easily the most radical looking new vehicle I’ve ever seen! As we all know, seeing a car in person is quite a different experience from seeing a picture.
First of all, even though this mass of metal has four wheels, it really doesn’t look like a “car” or a “truck”. And it’s BIG–223.7″ long! (ED: it’s 10″ shorter than a Ford F150 crew cab with 6.5′ bed) That’s just shy of the biggest land yachts of the late ’50s. The sharp angles and flat surfaces of stainless steel make it look like a piece of industrial equipment–kind of like a smoothed-over Hummer. It has no face–just a panel of what looks like gold anodized aluminum. The flat windshield is steeply raked, and the huge single windshield wiper rests at the A pillar, not at the cowl. There are no door handles–I wouldn’t even know how to get in! I once called the 1962 Dodge Dart a “complex modern art masterpiece” and so is the Cybertruck–but in a different way. The Dart is Salvador Dalí and bebop jazz; the Cybertruck is brutalist, minimalist Cubism.
Rear view: Not much personality. Looks like someone’s hauling an office filing cabinet turned sideways. This vehicle is so new it still has a temporary New Jersey license tag.
And yet, the stainless steel finish is already stained! According to what I’ve read, this is a common problem. I also see some warping where the bed cover rubber seal meets the body.
Remember those 1970s dish soap commercials? “Look! I can see myself!” Well, sort of . . .
I tried to take an interior shot, but there was too much reflection. The small squarish-oblong steering wheel looks like it was lifted from one of those toy pedal fire trucks. (Or maybe a ’61 Plymouth Fury?)
Here’s an interior photo from the internet. There are no traditional gauges in front of you; the 4-wheel steering is “drive by wire” with no mechanical connection to the wheels. The whole atmosphere gives off a Star Trek vibe. I would probably need driving lessons before taking a Cybertruck out on the road. At least I can recognize the gas and brake pedals. (I should say “accelerator pedal”–the Cybertruck runs on electricity, not gasoline.) It probably cruises down the road in eerie silence, like the starship Enterprise hurtling through outer space.
After checking out the Cybertruck, I walked back to my 1959 Chevrolet. Chevy’s far-out Jet Age design really wowed people when it was introduced in October of 1958. Mechanix Illustrated’s Tom McCahill described it as “styling as wild as you’ve ever seen . . . pure Louis Armstrong: ‘Gone, man–gone!’ . . . Spaceship 1989!” Could it be that people’s first reactions to the ’59 Chevy were like my reactions to the Cybertruck? Is this the future? It turned out that the radical Chevy design only lasted two years–after that, conformity and rationality became the new standard.
View of a Cybertruck through the windshield of a 1959 Chevrolet (how unlikely is that?) Two clashing visions of the future.
The stainless steel body of the Cybertruck glistens in the mid-afternoon sun. MAD magazine’s 1958 auto prophecy has come true: “Eventually we will have chrome cars–then they’ll introduce paint trim!”
Notice how the styling of the Cybertruck seems to relate to the architecture of the office building in the background?
When I was a kid, Matchbox and Hot Wheels put out fantasy vehicles that looked way out and strange. That’s what the Cybertruck reminds me of. So to me it makes sense that kids who have now grown up would want a car (truck) that looks like the cool toys they remember. It seems that the Cybertruck’s appeal is not really based on functionality (how many owners actually plan to haul stuff with one?) It’s more about “image” and looking hip and cool. And automotive history is full of cars that were successful just for that reason. (ED: the Cybertruck is currently the best selling EV pickup and the #5 best selling EV overall).
More CC reading:
Tesla’s Cybertruck: Did I Just Dream That? (Styling Analysis by PN)
What’s This Tesla Cybertruck Doing At The Gas Pumps?
I would like to know how you put something in the bed near the front. Bed seems too long to reach in from the back, and the sides seem too high.
It’ll be interesting to see if these maintain current popularity or fizzle out after everyone who wants on and has the means gets one. The first one I saw was on a neighbors car carrier parked overnight. Rough character who I don’t really know. He put a barrier accross his lot for the occasion with a sign that read, “Yes it’s a tesla. Stay thr F<%$ off my property". Rather wisely I think, I refrained from close up pictures. I've seen several since including a co-workers with a matt black wrap. I thought I'd hate these but I don't. Whatever part of me is still a budding 8 year old car crazy kid reacts to these by thinking " cool!". Not something I'd own but fun to look at. Maybe I'll pick up the Matchbox version.
I was on the pre-order list but cancelled. But I did get the Matchbox version 😀.
Was this music playing..
When you first saw Cyber Truck? 😀
Yeah–and I had the same facial expression as Clint!
I’d take the Chev (if it was available that is). No thanks for the tank.
The interior view from the driver’s seat, with its sloping windshield and long dashboard resembles the interior view of the GM dust buster mini vans.
DMC DeLoreans also suffered from that kind of marking on the stainless steel.
I had a friend who worked in an appliance store whose job it was to clean all the Stainless Steel appliances with baby oil daily.
The last car to be finished in Stainless Steel – the DeLorean was a great film star, not a successful car.
A Cybertruck can be polished to a mirror-shine, although this may cause visibility and safety issues:
I’ve seen quite a few Cybertrucks, including an auto carrier half full of them yesterday, and they still elicit the same “okay, whatever” reaction.
That said, I did see a blue one in downtown Tampa back in June. That one left more of an impression on me – it does help to tone down the bizarre.
A pedestrian stands no chance against those sharp points. Even bumping against it in a tight parking space could be dangerous. Where are the insurers and feds?
The’59 Chev looked sharp but all the angles were rounded.
I’ve seen several Cybertrucks so far – but it’s the first time I saw one that sticks in my mind. My wife and I were sitting on our porch, and my wife said that some “real boxy” car drove by that looked weird. I hadn’t seen it, so I had no idea what the car was, but a few minutes later it drove by again, and was a Cybertruck. The term boxy wouldn’t jump to my mind when describing this car, but I can understand why she used the term. The next time or two I saw a Cybertruck, I took a picture of it, but they’ve actually become a bit numerous now.
This isn’t my kind of vehicle, but I appreciate a new take on an old idea.
Too bad you couldn’t get a picture of your Chevy and the Cybertruck next to each other. Two futuristic designs right next to each other would make for a great shot.
And regarding your comment about the cool toys that people remember: the Cybertruck is begging to be made into a Matchbox car (probably has been already, but this is a design that would look great in miniature).
Believe it or not, the dark-colored car next to the Chevy is also a Tesla, but a less radically styled model!
SHOP CLASS MADE THE CYBERTRUCK BODY ON A BENDING BRAKE.
Actually, many of the body panels are fabricated on press brakes using air bending. The jury’s out but tooling is cheap and can be added as needed to increase production rates at fairly low cost and lead time compared to stamping dies. One thing Tesla really understands is manufacturing.
John Delorean designed it for Logan’s Run was my impression. And the driver sits about as far toward the rear as that era’s 78 Eldorado.
I’m not going to lie… It looks homemade. It does, however, make me wonder what it would take to retrofit cameras in the back of a 1971 – ’73 Mustang SportsRoof. This thing must rely completely on cameras for rear vision.
Every time I see one, it reminds me of the toolbox trays we made in junior high school metal shop.
The Tampa Bay area is lousy with these things. Curmudgeonly though I might be, I think they’re a blight on the landscape, but progress of course can’t be stopped. I see almost as many Rivian pickups though, and don’t find them offensive at all. F150 Lightning sightings are fewer than either of the newcomers, oddly enough.
Agree on the Rivian. Looks similar to the Honda Ridgeline with a Daddy Warbucks face….
My first real-world sighting of one of these was when I was with a friend who is also into automotive design. It appeared at the crest of a hill and proceeded to come our direction; my friend asked me “What do you think?”. It honestly left a different impression than what photos up to that point had led me to believe, and after a momentary pause, my honest reply was “It looks like a garden shed…”.
Actually, I think the Cybertruck resembles the self-replicating cars that take over the world in the prophetic 1964 cartoon “Automania 2000”.
Houston is full of CTs…in fact I parked next to one this morning on my Starbuck’s run.
Personally, I find them hideous; the design is jarring to say the least. Other vehicles through the decades that have triggered me include the Triumph TR-7/8, the GM Dustbusters, the Nissan Juke, the Infiniti FX30*, and the Pontiac Aztec.
The CTs are stacking up like cordwood at the Tesla distribution center near the house. Well over 100 sitting in a field waiting to be adopted (along with hundreds of other Tesla models…Elon has a problem on his hands…). I think at this moment the “gotta-haves” got theirs and now it’s conquest sales. Not sure that’s going to happen quickly.
* This design actually grew on me to where I appreciate it these days. The others not so much.
I can see your point on all but the TR7 and FX35/45 – those I rather like. And as a 10 year old I built models of the TR7 and I didn’t build models of anything I hated. In fact within eyesight on my mantel right now is a PINTO WAGON that I built about 40 years ago, recently unearthed out of my parent’s basement. I sneak stuff like that up onto the mantel until she notices 8^D
As an aside to the Sitemasters, thanks for fixing whatever with my account such that my posts show up again 🙂
I see your point on both…it was just at the time, the designs were pretty radical for my moderate tastes. The FX has really grown on me…
I’m not a fan of the overall product, but I like the stainless steel body. I look forward to the day I see one body swapped onto an old diesel truck chassis. That’d be fun.
I’m always surprised at the perception that these are huge. Sure, in absolute terms they ain’t small but when you see you on the freeway in a sea of crew cab HD Rams and SuperDuties it doesn’t look big at all. I’ve seen several in matte black wrap, which doesn’t appeal to me at all, and a bright red one that looked good. Interestingly, I’m currently traveling in New Mexico near Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs and the EV population on the roads seems very high, but I haven’t seen one CT yet in this state.
Thanks for the even-handed post and the comparison with the ‘59 Chevy is priceless. Too bad yours isn’t an El Camino.
I did not see my first Cybertruck in the wild until last week. Then the CC effect kicked in and I saw another two days later. The first had the standard stainless steel finish and was on the road. The second had a matte black finish (a wrap perhaps?) and was parked in a neighborhood driveway with three gentlemen gazing into the frunk.
Why did it take this long for me to see a Cybertruck in San Antonio, Texas; a city of approximately one million inhabitants? My best guess is this is F150 (really more F250 now), Silverado, Tundra, and to a lesser extent, Ram and Titan country.
If I initially encounter 10 pickup trucks after leaving my house at least three will be Fords and at least two will be Chevys. Tundras are also very popular here, maybe because they are assembled just south of town.
I have seen a few Rivians over the past year or so. Ironically, the first Rivian I saw was on the highway immediately in front of the big Tesla facility just outside of Austin, Texas.
YUK! There is one in our neighborhood that I see parked in the owner’s driveway, on local streets, and at his job. Not my type of transportation. May the users of these be happy!
Now: MORE IMPORTANT. Today is “International Talk Like a Pirate Day.” so. AAARRGGH, ye landlubbers! Look it up on the internet and do not be ashamed for calling people scalawags, landlubbers, wenches or whatever and likening them to swill.
Yours in Mirth (and my girth) – Tom
Stupid looking vehicle.
Agreed, it’s just ridiculous. I’ve heard people call it the Deplorean LOL
I’ve seen several, about half wrapped in matte black, and I think I know why- the SS panels on most I see do not match panel to panel, like on silver cars with a shoddy repair to one door. A lovely look for something you just spent 100 Grand on.
And I am an EV lover – we are on our 3rd. Just less than zero interest in one of these goofy things.
I can’t imagine this shape is very good for either aerodynamics or packaging efficiency. The rear seat looks hard to enter and exit with the low, sloped roof.
Most pickup trucks split their sales between commercial users and private buyers. Will this sell as a work truck? (Probably a moot point – I don’t think these are being cross-shopped with F-150s by most shoppers, not even the Lightning).
I expected these to sell well for the first year or two, but once they’re more common and no longer turn heads, will sales collapse? That’s the usual unusual-car pattern (see: AMC Pacer).
I have yet to see one, even though I stopped by a Tesla store to look for one.
I see vehicle carriers loaded with these in Los Angeles, I can’t see it as any sort of truck for actual carrying but if you’ve got the $ to burn and like it, why not ? .
That’s America in a nutshell .
-Nate
(ED: the Cybertruck is currently the best selling EV pickup and the #5 best selling EV overall).*
*only in the USA.
These are not sold in foreign markets, are they? Not sure where they’re even legal, outside of the US.
Deliveries to Canada and Mexico are imminent or have already started. Not likely in Europe, due to regulations. I would not be surprised to see them in the Middle East. China?
I saw my first “in person” at a tractor show a couple weekends ago. It was quite jarring as it ambled up the hill between the old pickups and the steam traction engine in the foreground. The “styling” does nothing for me (spoken as a retired industrial designer).
Saw my second a couple days ago – it was painted black.
“As we all know, seeing a car in person is quite a different experience from seeing a picture.”
^^^Very true. I live close enough to affluence to have seen a few Cybertrucks, just as there are plenty of older/classic/experimental cars that I’ve never seen “in person”—and would really like to someday.
I don’t know what tops the list, but I’d love to see the Lincoln Futura (pre-Batmobile) and other FoMoCo one-offs from the 1950s, a Continental Mark II, etc. Even better, a day’s time travel to appreciate their impact _when_ they appeared, rather than with 2024 eyes.
🤮💩🤢
“Between the idea and the reality/ Between the motion and the act/ Falls the shadow” said TS Eliot (albeit in a very different context): it has long been clear that the genius of Musk is that he escapes that shadow, and makes the unlikely become actual. And, as from the first Model S, there seems to be no argument that this truck itself works, and very well at that.
It’s also long been clear, through repellant public statements and actions, that that genius is narrow (if spectacular), and it is very hard not to see the puerility of the truck’s appearance as anything other than a manifestation of the internal vacancy of a naked emperor amongst his sycophantic bros.
These do nothing for me, “brutalist” is the appropriate label. I originally thought that they were just a marketing ploy to stir up and maintain interest until the ‘real” model was ready. I don’t know how well they will function as a real working truck, most truck buyers like functionality, that’s why the Lincoln Blackwood failed. I see lots of Rivians and Lightnings on the road, I prefer the Lightning, the Rivian’s oval headlights give it a cartoon like appearance.
These will sell until they don’t. The Mustang Mach E is a perfectly good EV, but I don’t see that many on the road. I read that sales aren’t that strong.
I don’t have a personal animosity towards EVs, my Son and his Wife have a Tesla and a VW ID4 (?). I Don’t like the restricted ranges that they have for cross country travel, but I imagine that they are fine around metropolitan areas. Since these are new cars, they are expensive, and I just don’t drive that much anymore, since I’m retired.The savings over gas prices would never be amortized.
I’ve seen a few in person, but while the Boston area seems to have a disproportionate number of early adopters of unusual vehicles (Lucids, Rivians, and plain old Teslas when they were initially introduced), the same hasn’t seemed quite true of the Cybertruck. I’m not sure if this speaks to their overall rarity or what.
What I have seen a lot of are all of the videos and articles about how much people hate them, and at a basic level, I would probably agree with much in those…up until the point where I ultimately say “Who cares?”. If you have the money and want to spend it on that thing for whatever reason (and there are many many reasons offered in the various articles and videos) have at it. If these really were the harbingers of some kind of serious design trend, yeah, I might be concerned (fwiw). But something that looks like it was drawn by a 10 year old boy on the margins of his notebook in class, making “vrooom vrooom” sounds under his breath when he should have been paying attention to something else? Yeah, fine. I really don’t think that they’re going to sell a million of them. And I don’t think they intend to either. It seems to me that the intent behind the Cybertruck is specifically to be polarizing. And at least in that regard, they succeeded.
As to any kind of bigger trend, all I can say is that once I start to see women in any number driving them, I may be a bit more concerned.
Maybe is a visual perception thing, but I have seen several in person and they look exceptionally wide, and also very long. I agree that there are some huge monster Ford/Chevy/Ram lifted 4×4 pickups that are slightly bigger, but the Cybertrucks I’ve seen look just as oversized and ungainly. The CT seems like a fad that will run its course and be out of style/fashion within a couple of years just like the VW “New” Beetle and old Chrysler/Plymouth PT Cruisers.
I find it amusing; both the actual vehicle to look as well as the immense polarized reactions it generates.
Wow, 42 comments already. Well not surprised as it does GRAB your attention. I have seen maybe five of them and this is close to their prime breeding grounds. Not quite Santa Clara but definitely the bedroom community for many who work there. There is one that is always tooling around Danville. Front looks like it was cribbed from Battlestar Galactica.
Now imagine a red light moving back and forth in that front black slit.
The first one I saw was in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in late June while we were stopped in traffic . It’s pictured below (my wife was able to get a good shot while I was driving).
I think it’s hideous, not too surprising given that I’m a fan of voluptuous curves like those found on the 1965 GM large cars, 1968 Jaguar XJ6, and for that matter, the Tesla Model S.
There are now a fair number of CyberTrucks in Charlottesville, Virginia where I live.
Stainless steel is commonly used to form the guards on food processing equipment. Other metals would be problematic in the washdown environment of processing plants.
Relief ridges to add strength must be avoided on machine guards to prevent water pooling that creates microbiological risk. Not a problem for machines as there is robust under guarding framing and weight is considered an advantage to a point in most production equipment.
By contrast, eliminating weight is an important design consideration for vehicles. The microbiological threat of water pooling is not. There is probably sufficient supporting structure under the sheet metal to avoid the need for ridges. Even so, lack of relief ridges wastes the strength potential of all those stainless steel panels.
Wouldn’t be the first time styling took precedence over function. I wonder if it will work out any better for Tesla then it did for GM’s ’59 Chevy.
Re: Wouldn’t be the first time styling took precedence over function. I am having a hard time bringing to mind a single car built after 1940 or so where styling did not take precedence over function. (Just remembered the 1949 Plymouth featured the other day and it sold poorly.)
CC Fan – I was trying to think of one. Even the 1959 Mini, Citroen 2CV and Renault 4L were styled after a fashion and all sold well for a long time.
The only vehicle I can think of without styling is the Citroen H van, which is barely post 1940 and sold well. The CT reminds me a bit of the H van with it’s sharp corners.
Form obliterates function. Absolutely absurd.
If nothing else, Musk is a huge gambler, and whether the CT flat-stealth-panel-styling dice come up seven or snake-eyes is the big question. I definitely fall into the not feeling it category but who knows? Maybe when (and if) the price drops down to mere mortal levels, things will be different.
Reminds me of the game-changing, melted-jellybean-in-the-rain 1983 Thunderbird, and that one panned out okay in the long run, pretty much changing automotive styling over the entire industry to this day.
To me, the Cybertruck looks like a big refrigerator.
And from the rear, some kind of dumpster. 😉
To say this vehicle is polarizing is an understatement. Your statement that the Cybertruck is brutalist minimalist cubism is spot on. Personally, it reminds me of the minimalist piece of sculpture by Tony Smith which was simply a huge flat black cube titled “Die!”
Haven’t seen one yet, being in Canada & all. I too appreciate the “Brutalist” description which makes perfect sense.
I find the visuals simultaneously intriguing and uninspired. Don’t understand all the hate, if you don’t like it don’t buy it seems sufficient.