Ford's Nucleon looks and sounds like a vehicle ripped straight outta "The Jetsons." Despite having only 24 episodes, the cartoon set in 2062 became an endearingly iconic piece of Americana.

In 1958, Ford showed the world a car like it had never seen before, one powered by a small nuclear reactor. The Ford Nucleon, as it was christened, was envisioned as a car capable of driving more ...