The exterior steering wheel on this Gordon Murray concept car is brilliant.

      Petersen Automotive Museum via YouTube

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      The Gordon Murray Special Vehicles S1 LM is an exquisite piece of art. I don't mind if some people view it as a lackluster remake or if none of the five units produced are likely to spend more than 10 minutes on a racetrack, even though it draws on the legacy of a vehicle that triumphed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is beautiful and fits perfectly in a museum exhibit. In fact, one on show at the renowned Petersen Museum features a unique addition specifically for that purpose.

      On the exterior, the S1 LM showcased in this video appears to be a fully functional car, and its 1990s charm complements the sophisticated jazz music. However, this particular chassis is reportedly designed solely for exhibition, which prompted GMA to implement a clever solution for display purposes. As you watch the S1's team of handlers transport it off the trailer and into the museum, you’ll see a person maneuvering it from the rear, steering with what resembles a toy controller for a PlayStation 2, navigating through the openings of the supercar’s partially exposed rear section.

      This steering wheel seems to control the front wheels, as one of the clips indicates, despite being located at the back. This setup makes sense; if you consider a concept car that is not only non-operational but also has an unapproachable interior, a system like this would be necessary for movement. It's uncertain if this S1 is just a shell or if there’s more happening below the surface, but it's not typical to find such a feature on a race-ready vehicle, where any extra weight is impractical.

      That being said, I believe this is a brilliant solution for a display model or a rare and pricey car that 1) is not designed to be particularly lightweight and 2) will probably spend its days under bright lights. Nowadays, one could even consider steer-by-wire technology rather than complicated linkages extending to an axle. Perhaps that seems excessive, but when you're investing millions to create a car just for you, it's certainly reasonable to make such a request.

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