Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
“Retrofuturism”: 30 Predictions From Past Generations That Were Either A Hit Or A Miss
Interview With Expert
Human beings are always looking ahead. Whether it’s trying to determine what the weather will look like next Sunday or imagining what capabilities cell phones will have in 20 years, we love predicting the future. And while our assumptions about what’s to come aren’t always accurate, they definitely are entertaining!
We’ve taken a trip to the RetroFuturism subreddit and gathered some of our favorite images from the group that might simultaneously transport you to the past and future. Enjoy scrolling through these depictions of what people several decades ago imagined our lives to be like, and keep reading to find a conversation with Tiffany Wilson of The Retrofuturist!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Sublime 1969 Blaupunkt Pop 70 Sound System
RELATED:
#2
I Feel Like This Fits Here
#3
Facetime In The 1930s
#4
1958 Golden Sahara II W/ Goodyear Illuminated Neothane Glow Tires
#5
Wallpaper Found Under 3 Layers Of Other Wallpaper
#7
'ship's Cat' By Keith Spangle
#8
Television Newspaper - Some Day You May Be Able To Receive The Front Page Of Your Morning Newspaper This Way
#9
James Bond Receives A "Text" Via His Smartwatch In The Spy Who Loved Me
Sweet Fanny Adams 2 years ago (edited)
The Seiko 0674 5009 Quartz LC, model number DK001. From the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved me. The late 1960's, early 1970's was when quartz regulated movement watches really took off. Far more affordable than mechanical watches at the time prompting swiss watch makers to panic. I prefer quartz regulated watches, digital and analogue, compared to mechanical watches as they are more affordable both in price of watch and price and ease of maintenance. Just pop in a new battery once in a while.
#10
Gas Station In Germany 1958
Eugene the Jeep 2 years ago
Gas stations in the 50s had some wild designs. Now they're mainly just functional.
#12
Cosplay Metropolis
#13
What Nissan Thought Would Be The Future Of The Automotive Industry Shown In The Nrv-II Concept Car(1982). Pretty Damn Accurate
#14
Vintage Retro Computer Alien Design 1955, By Panalina
UKGrandad 2 years ago
I wish more people understood that 'vintage' and 'retro' are different things. Vintage things are actually from a specific period or time whereas retro relates to new items made to look like they come from an earlier period. A 1930s Bush radio is vintage: a DAB radio made to resemble a 1930s Bush radio is retro.
#15
Can't Say She Wasn't Right (1982)
#16
Beautifully Styled Gas Station In Slovakia
Emma London 2 years ago
I love the mushroom pylon shapes, they are iconic retro constructions.
#17
Monument To The Conquerors Of Space, Moscow, Russia (1964)
#18
Information Desk Inside The Twa Terminal, Circa 1962
#19
Statue Of Yuri Gagarin In Moscow, Completed In 1980
#20
We Really Messed Up
#21
Interior Of The A 1985 Nissan 300zx
#22
My Grandfather Was An Artist For General Motors From 1950's To 1980's, Here Are Some Of His Concepts For Cars Of The Future
M O'Connell 2 years ago
The funny thing is I've actually put a deposit down on something very similar to the second and third ones up there.
#23
1955 Ford Beatnik Bubble
#24
Retro Futuristic Living Room I Painted
#25
The Toronto Reference Library
#26
Habitable Space Station
#27
This "Convenient" Kitchen From '74
Elizabeth Elliot 2 years ago
OMG I remember this in a magazine at the time and thinking how cool it looked!
#28
Receptionist Waits At Her Desk. General Motors Technical Center, 1965
#29
A Vestige Of The Past
Amanda Rose 2 years ago (edited)
Observation tower in Nassau, Bahamas if I remember correctly.
#30
The Communist Party Headquarters In Paris (Architect: Oscar Niemeyer)
#31
New York Central Streamliner “ Mercury “ 1936
#32
The Future We Were Promised
#33
Himiko, Tokyo's Futuristic And Manga-Like Ferry Boat
#34
1940s Vision Of Food Delivery Future
#35
Mcdonald’s In Roswell, Nm
Amanda Rose 2 years ago
I used to live very close to Roswell (I was in Artesia). I got a good chuckle out of this McDonald's every time I had to drive past it. Roswell has really cashed in on the whole UFO thing. Even the street lamps have alien eyes painted on them.
#36
Trans-Atlantic Cable Car Retro-Future Concept By Gian Andri Bezzola
#37
The Motorola Aura Really Feels Like The Retrofuturism Dream Phone
#38
Self Driving Cars Of The Future, Circa 1960
#39
Look Who Pulled Up Next To Me At A Red Light Last Night
#40
The Bright Side Of Atomic Energy
#41
A Vision Of Future Computing By Robert Tinney In 1981
#42
Citroen's Vision Of The Future Of Cars In 1980
#43
Concept "Superplane"
#44
Interplanetary Tourism Posters/Ads
#45
The Fuji TV Headquarters In Japan
#46
Monsanto House Of The Future 1957
#47
😍🌹😐
#48
Lancia Stratos Zero, 1970
#49
We All Live In A Yellow Airplane
#50
Bob Must Have Slack!
#51
The Nuclear-Powered Bullet Train From The 1970's Series "Supertrain"
geezeronthehill 2 years ago
Looks as though they would have to lay down new track to run it on because that isn't standard gauge.
#52
Space Resort
#53
Sanae Iv, South African Antarctic Base (Built In 1997)
#54
1980s Soviet Laptop Prototype
#55
1984 Smart Watch
Claudio Toshio 2 years ago (edited)
The Predator watch : https://futurelawyer.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8345170df69e20240a4a3d7e4200b-450wi
#56
Worst Space Suit Design Ever?
Nacho Man Sandy Ravage 2 years ago
Anyone else giggle at the One-Eyed Monsters of Mars or was it just me??
#57
From The Paper Age To The Digital Age (Andy Zito ‘85)
#58
Pixar's Wall-E Had Some Great Retrofuturistic Style Posters For Its Promotional Content
#59
VR In 1989
#60
Old Diving Suits Are So Cool
#61
Kuba Komet, Futuristic Home Entertainment Center From West Germany, Late 50's
#62
(Soviet Modernism) The Georgian Ministry Of Highway Construction In Tbilisi, Georgia. Built In 1975
#63
This Was An Actual Space Suit Grumman Aircraft Corp Tried To Sell Nasa In 1962
Ban-One 2 years ago
Almost like in RocketMan (1997) with Harland Williams: MV5BMzUzOD...5a7f10.jpg 
#64
I Was Told This Belongs Here. The Rocketeer Pack And Helmet I Built
#65
Old Twa Terminal At Jfk
#66
Obviously Their Second Car
#67
Aston Martin Bulldog Concept (1980). Cybertruck Anyone?
Ban-One 2 years ago
I always like the Bulldog. The style, the name. Looks cool imo, some other view here: Bulldog-Po...c2ea95.jpg 
#68
Nailed It
#69
1985 Subaru Xt Coupe Dash
#70
The Missle, Time Magazine, January 1956
#71
This 14” TV From 2000 Was Sold Only In Japan And Included A Built-In Sega Dreamcast Console
#72
The Unfinished Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea, Designed In 1987
#73
This Traffic Control Cabin Seems Oddly Futuristic. 1970s, Chernivtsi
#74
Nuke-Proof Underground City Below Manhattan, 1969 (Oscar Newman)
Mustafa Kiziroğlu 2 years ago
I love it when architects just draw their dreams and leave the rest to engineers. "Nope, none of my concern."
#75
I Got A Tattoo Inspired By Danny Haas’ Retro Rocket Ships
#76
Time, 1968, Race For The Moon Cover Art
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
notice the subtle cold war vibe of the commie left foot of the russian going forward and the american with his right foot forward....
#77
Steering Wheel/Dashboard For The 1986 Oldsmobile Inca Concept Car
#78
As Someone Who Lived In A Post-Socialist Country This Is Highly Disturbing
Amanda Rose 2 years ago
Well, it is depicting the Soviet Union. I see a banner with CCCP on it.
#79
Virtual Reality, 90's Perspective
#80
1985 Future "Ender's Game" By John Harris
#81
Transhumanism (With Added Sixth Finger). Oil By Me
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Daniela Lavanza 2 years ago
Nice Pics. The fun part is that people always imagined the future with huge scientific breakthrough but the design and fashion of their own time. :-)
Jessica Shookhoff 2 years ago
This was so great! Fits really well with the Fall Out Series that Prime just dropped the other week (which is fantastic btw).
KimB 2 years ago
Ah good I was wondering how the series is the game is great too :)
Load More Replies...
Daniela Lavanza 2 years ago
Nice Pics. The fun part is that people always imagined the future with huge scientific breakthrough but the design and fashion of their own time. :-)
Jessica Shookhoff 2 years ago
This was so great! Fits really well with the Fall Out Series that Prime just dropped the other week (which is fantastic btw).
KimB 2 years ago
Ah good I was wondering how the series is the game is great too :)
Load More Replies...
Related on Bored Panda
