The Last of Disneyland Autopia?

Autopia at Disneyland has been through a number of iterations since it first debuted on the opening day of Disneyland in 1955.  Shown here is card E-4 from the late 1950's or early 1960's.  The car on the card is a "Mark V" Autopia car.  Mark I thru IV didn't last long as these Mark V cars came out in 1959.

Perhaps part of the reason that the earlier cars didn't last too long is that the roadway didn't have the center guide rail that can be seen on this card...but instead the bumpered cars were free to roam around the road.  Definitely a lot more fun, but it must have been brutal on the cars!

The obvious enhancement to Autopia would be to have electric or hybrid cars.  After all, the original point of Tomorrowland was to showcase modern technology, but with a twist of the fantastic.  In the mean time though, I would enjoy this ride while you can.  With the opening of Cars Land Radiator Springs Racers at Disney's California Adventure in June, it's not hard to imagine that this original may be dismantled and replaced by something new.

Until next time...