Secret Project Becomes Legend.(Escape Roads)

Byline: BROOKS BRIERLEY

Few prototypes have had so obvious an influence on automotive styling as John DeLorean's 1964 proposal of an eye-catching Pontiac roadster. The concept foretells both Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Corvette styling.

The Banshee's understated, beautifully proportioned look requires spelling Classic with a capital C. Sitting on a 90-inch wheelbase, the Banshee is four inches shorter than an MG TD. The lines and textures in the grille, the shapely wheel openings in the fiberglass body, and the frameless top of the windshield all leave a lasting impression. Yet this design took several years to become mainstream thinking at General Motors; Pontiac's earliest production use of it was louvered taillights in the GTO.

Today the 42-year-old Banshee seems almost contemporary, and could pass for the latest retro design. It feels like a production car; the plain black dash-with chrome-edged circular gauges and a rectangular radio borrowed from the Tempest- is well finished and user-friendly. A walnut-rimmed steering wheel offers a surprisingly subtle contrast to the black surfaces and sparse chrome hardware. The wheel's two thick aluminum spokes are tapered like airplane wings (drilled with various-sized holes for added effect), and there is a big red emblem in the center. The two leather buckets are comfortable for tall people. The seats do not travel, but the pedals are adjustable.

The Banshee does not have working headlights-the pods in the fender are empty. Another interesting feature is the rear deck, which opens up to release or swallow the top. However, using the key in the lock at the back of the car only opens the trunk lid section of the rear deck.

Collector Joe Bortz, the Banshee's owner, is particularly fond of the car. "It always starts right up,'' he says. When Bortz bought the Banshee, he wasn't sure if its high-performance engine was a hopped- up 1964 powerplant or an advanced 1965 design. The exterior dimensions of ...