predicta. chalet.

Telstar has been making noise recently with their Predicta TV line, and deservedly so. I'm in love with the in-development Chalet model, which is described as "a tribute to the great American Icon, the Drive-In Theater." What's particularly cool about the Chalet is that the 18" color picture tube can be tilted up and down, and also turned right or left, so you can make sure the screen is just-so for any seat in the house.

classic. lines.
These new Predicta TVs are based on the original Philco Predicta, manufactured from 1958-1960. Those are collector's items now, which is to say hard to find, expensive, and difficult to maintain. The new Predictas come with modern electronic guts, so they retain the classic lines of the original but not the classic problems.

size. no. hdtv.
Although the new Predictas will work with modern day equipment like satellite TV and VCRs (mercifully they have remotes, too), there isn't an HDTV model at the moment, and the sizes are limited to 18" and 24". So if you've had your eye on a 42" flat panel display, I doubt you'll find these sets compelling.

price
The Predicta Web site doesn't list prices, but does say the new TVs cost less than the 1958 version (indexed for inflation). It also says they are "not priced with the cheapest TVs you can find." It further says they are "priced to be comparable with the average high-end TV you would find in your local TV store." In other words, you need to have been putting aside money since 1958 if you want one.

(Note: See comment below for pricing info from a reader.)