While posting the Jetaway cartoon, I also came across this safety film also produced by John Sutherland. ‘Your Safety First’ was a 1956 promotional film made for Automobile Manufacturers of America. Set in the “far off” year 2000, we see their cool inventions like the dinner table cleaner, virtual reality TV, and the “desktop” computer…
The [...]
Art & Inspiration
1956 CAR-toon: Your Safety First
“Jetaway: Gear of the Year” 1956 Cartoon
Alright, so in hindsight, the GM dual coupling Jetaway Hydramatic may have proved to be a slightly overcomplex beast (especially when they needed a rebuild), but it was big news when Oldsmobile introduced the smoother shifting 4 speed automatic in their 1956 Olds Super 88 and 98 models. This dealer sales film was meant to [...]
The Ghia IXG Dragster: American designer in Italy
The 1960 “International Experimental Ghia” was a enclosed body dragster designed by Tom Tjaarda working at the Turin, Italy Ghia studio. You can see the Stingray-ish styling cues of the horizontal sharp line going down the body, and the humps at each wheel. Obviously its front engine and has a center seat canopy behind the [...]
1955 Oldsmobile Delta Concept
This is one 50s GM dream car that is often overlooked in the books, but its one of my favorites. The ‘55 Delta concept was a hardtop coupe that stood just fifty-three inches high, mounted on a 120 inch wheelbase, from what was most likely a modified production 88 chassis. Like many GM dream [...]
1951 Delahaye Roadster
Here’s the last of my featured cars from the Mullin Collection, which leans towards the Coachcraft factory custom side of things, rather than the racing world. This Type 235 Roadster was first show at the ‘51 Paris Auto Salon as a last ditch hope for Delahaye to survive the post war car market. The coach [...]
1923 Voisin C6
Continuing with the Mullin Museum’s race car collection, I stumbled upon the weirdest one of them all down at the end of isle. I hope this one provides some inspiration for hot rod cues. I dig the dash panel, massive shift linkage, and huge disk wheels. I’m also thinking they beat Chrysler to the square [...]
1960’s Show Rod Postcards
I’ve never felt an allegiance to the 1960’s era show rods. Sure there are one or two that I can appreciate, but for the most part they just aren’t my thing. I’m a “function creates form” kind of guy and feel like the opposite approach leads to cliche – form leads to theme which leads [...]
Talbot Lago T26C Grand Prix Racer
As promised, I wanted to share a few of the amazing Mullin Museum cars, just for design and style inspiration. This French Blue beauty is one of the fabled T26C Factory Works Team racer that placed in the Grand Prix of Europe 1950, and the German, Albi and Belgium GP’s in 1951. In her final [...]
Michelin Challenge Design
It was exciting enough to receive a personal invitation to the Michelin Challenge Design reception, right along with key Automotive Designers from the major SoCal design studios. Then I found out it was going to be hosted at the Mullin Automotive Museum. Formerly Otis Chandler’s museum, the Mullin has been completely (and beautifully) redesigned [...]
Little “T” and a Big “A”
Couldn’t resist snapping some shots of the latest car in the stable. My dad just came out to visit from Kansas City and brought a blast from the past with him: A Mini-Kars Inc. ‘Tin Lizzie’. He was at a local auction about a month ago and couldn’t believe his eyes when he spotted the [...]
