The Jalopy Journal

**Jive-Bomber** · 05-24-2011, 09:51 AM

I was cleaning up my office the other day and forgot that I have this complete, spiral bound copy of the mid 50s General Motors Styling Staff handbook "Styling- The Look of Things". I scanned a few pages for you to enjoy, including a comparison that ...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

1950ChevySuburban · 05-24-2011, 10:16 AM

Pretty cool stuff, nice to see what the stylists were thinking.

65PANELRAT · 05-24-2011, 10:19 AM

Great info. Thanx. Here's some more.

http://www.55classicchevy.com/

**MisterMilko13** · 05-24-2011, 10:27 AM

This is super neat. I love the even the aesthetics of the pages describing the aesthetics.

Is this something for the design department, or something a dealer would receive?

Mr. Sinister · 05-24-2011, 10:44 AM

Obviously I'm partial, but 55 was such a great year for the auto industry as a whole.

Gahrajmahal · 05-24-2011, 10:50 AM

Thanks for posting this, GM would do well to reread this book to create a decent new car design.

tommy · 05-24-2011, 10:55 AM

I keep hoping that they will find the movie put out by the GM styling studio that our industrial arts teacher showed us about that time. It might have been 58 59.

I have an issue of Hotrod from Aug 1951 that has an ink stamp on the cover that says property of the General Motors styling studio. They were paying attention to us back then.

8-9-duck · 05-24-2011, 10:57 AM

i've got a funny tast in my mouth (i think it is my foot) i sense someone coming FAST behind me! why does a 56chevy and a 56ford share the same profile ? HEY,i gotta go----------------

flamingokid · 05-24-2011, 11:38 AM

I do believe that 55 was a pivotal styling year for GM and Ford.56 years later,they still turn heads.

**Model A John** · 05-24-2011, 12:09 PM

Makes me wonder what ever happened to people's sense of style. Now we mostly have jelly bean cars. No wonder the cars of the 50's are such head turners these days.

tommy · 05-24-2011, 12:14 PM

twochops · 05-24-2011, 01:26 PM

When I showed my chopped 57 Buick at the EyesOn Design show
(at the Edsel Ford House,Grosse Pointe Michigan)
They gave me this poster.The photo was taken on 5-19-1955.
Two years before the 57 was built.
TwoChops
LEFT CLICK TO ENLARGE

Revoh · 05-24-2011, 01:38 PM

That's great! Thanks for posting.

mgbtc · 05-24-2011, 02:04 PM

Great stuff. I will always love the fifties.

schwerko · 05-24-2011, 03:39 PM

Super cool!

Django · 05-24-2011, 03:52 PM

That. Was. Awesome. !!

Very cool to see some of the thought process.

Johnnyzoom · 05-24-2011, 04:00 PM

Thanks for posting, I like the quiz part. My new favorite term: informal symmetry.

Fopelaez · 05-24-2011, 05:37 PM

Cool to see the "why" of things as mouldings and what were designers thinking. Obviously something to consider when customizing and being period correct. Never thought this existed, thanks for sharing.

Chebby belair · 05-24-2011, 05:48 PM

Neato!

autobilly · 05-24-2011, 07:25 PM

Jay, I really dig this post, what a cool book! I'm at work now and only had a quick look, but will take time at home to read it properly.

05-24-2011, 09:51 AM	#1
Jive-Bomber Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Moraga, Ca Posts: 2,419	GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 I was cleaning up my office the other day and forgot that I have this complete, spiral bound copy of the mid 50s General Motors Styling Staff handbook "Styling- The Look of Things". I scanned a few pages for you to enjoy, including a comparison that ... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

05-24-2011, 10:16 AM	#2
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Pretty cool stuff, nice to see what the stylists were thinking. __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

05-24-2011, 10:19 AM	#3
65PANELRAT Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 784	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Great info. Thanx. Here's some more. http://www.55classicchevy.com/ __________________ I don't own No New Crap!

05-24-2011, 10:27 AM	#4
MisterMilko13 Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 59	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 This is super neat. I love the even the aesthetics of the pages describing the aesthetics. Is this something for the design department, or something a dealer would receive? __________________ _______ Fresh56.blogspot.com AndrewMilko.blogspot.com

05-24-2011, 10:44 AM	#5
Mr. Sinister Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Fair Hill, MD. Posts: 876	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Obviously I'm partial, but 55 was such a great year for the auto industry as a whole. __________________ Bill - 55 Chevy 210 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xth2oTXLk1Q&feature=plcp Broken Rods CC

05-24-2011, 10:50 AM	#6
Gahrajmahal Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 219	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Thanks for posting this, GM would do well to reread this book to create a decent new car design.

05-24-2011, 10:55 AM	#7
tommy Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Davidsonville, Md. Posts: 14,038	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 I keep hoping that they will find the movie put out by the GM styling studio that our industrial arts teacher showed us about that time. It might have been 58 59. I have an issue of Hotrod from Aug 1951 that has an ink stamp on the cover that says property of the General Motors styling studio. They were paying attention to us back then. __________________ Quote...You are hereby Knighted...'Sir Asseth of Hole' Tommy... 3W Larry. Quote...It's called "HOT RODDING", not paint by numbers....Fab32 Last edited by tommy; 05-24-2011 at 11:06 AM.

05-24-2011, 10:57 AM	#8
8-9-duck Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: west michigan Posts: 63	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 i've got a funny tast in my mouth (i think it is my foot) i sense someone coming FAST behind me! why does a 56chevy and a 56ford share the same profile ? HEY,i gotta go---------------- __________________ i went home and i missed it !

05-24-2011, 11:38 AM	#9
flamingokid Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Olathe,Kansas Posts: 1,051	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 I do believe that 55 was a pivotal styling year for GM and Ford.56 years later,they still turn heads.

05-24-2011, 12:09 PM	#10
Model A John Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: wichita ks Posts: 1,392	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Makes me wonder what ever happened to people's sense of style. Now we mostly have jelly bean cars. No wonder the cars of the 50's are such head turners these days.

05-24-2011, 12:14 PM	#11
tommy Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Davidsonville, Md. Posts: 14,038	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 __________________ Quote...You are hereby Knighted...'Sir Asseth of Hole' Tommy... 3W Larry. Quote...It's called "HOT RODDING", not paint by numbers....Fab32

05-24-2011, 01:26 PM	#12
twochops Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Scotts Mi.-Venice-Fl. Posts: 1,482	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 When I showed my chopped 57 Buick at the EyesOn Design show (at the Edsel Ford House,Grosse Pointe Michigan) They gave me this poster.The photo was taken on 5-19-1955. Two years before the 57 was built. TwoChops LEFT CLICK TO ENLARGE Attached Thumbnails __________________ I TOLD YOU A MILLION TIMES NOT TO EXAGGERERATE

05-24-2011, 01:38 PM	#13
Revoh Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: They've got some crazy little women there. Posts: 460	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 That's great! Thanks for posting. __________________ Click here for old car history, show coverage, and more! Hover Motor Company

05-24-2011, 02:04 PM	#14
mgbtc Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Glendora, Ca. Posts: 81	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Great stuff. I will always love the fifties.

05-24-2011, 03:39 PM	#15
schwerko Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: bristol ct Posts: 145	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Super cool!

05-24-2011, 03:52 PM	#16
Django Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Forest Park IL Posts: 10,122	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 That. Was. Awesome. !! Very cool to see some of the thought process. __________________ Hot Rod Hucksters . Hunnert Car Heads Up June 7-8, 2013 . Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle and Victory Speed Equipment . Django Studios

05-24-2011, 04:00 PM	#17
Johnnyzoom Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 322	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Thanks for posting, I like the quiz part. My new favorite term: informal symmetry.

05-24-2011, 05:37 PM	#18
Fopelaez Grenade Inspector Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mexico City Posts: 225	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Cool to see the "why" of things as mouldings and what were designers thinking. Obviously something to consider when customizing and being period correct. Never thought this existed, thanks for sharing.

05-24-2011, 05:48 PM	#19
Chebby belair Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 764	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Neato! __________________ Drink it like ya stole it.

05-24-2011, 07:25 PM	#20
autobilly Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tweed, Australia Posts: 2,524	Re: GM's Styling - The Look of Things 1955 Jay, I really dig this post, what a cool book! I'm at work now and only had a quick look, but will take time at home to read it properly. __________________ RETRO Spec. (tive) -Getting to where you're going by knowing where you've come from.

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