There are lots of examples here of the later "teardrop" style of Art Deco. The earlier "geometric" style is rarer; the above Ruxton being the closest: There were some weirder paint jobs that were more definifive early 'Deco. I suppose the geometric bit was harder to pull off, so that a lot of the early experiments were rather awkward in a way. They appeal to me for the same reason. Here's an example, on a 4½-litre Bentley: http://www.vintagebentleys.org/_display_large_p.php
The link isn´t working for me Dawie. I can´t see your pics at the top of the page either, unfortunately. I like your illustrations.
Try this one: http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/uu5443.php. Scroll down to the black-and-white photo and click on it. That site is rather protective of its photos; can't right-click on them. I'll see if I can edit my prior post with a better source for the drawings. They seem to be invisible if they're sourced from within jalopyjournal.com.
I'm into Deco style too, although I didn't know it untill we bought the first Spartan trailer, a '48 Manor, several years ago. Then, I started to learn a little about the Art Deco movement, and realized that is what I love about the cars. We have a '48 Pontiac convert, a '48 Diamond T 201 pickup, the '51 Pontiac wagon, a stylized '36 Ford "speedster", and replaced the '48 Spartan Manor with a '46 Manor, mainly for it's more stylish front window treatment. While our Pontiacs are late in the Deco design era, especially the '51 (it has lots of WWII aircraft influences, but is still Deco underneath all that), I appreciate the lines of the cars more knowing a little about the design influence behind them. It's funny how that trailer opened my eyes to an entire new appreciation for style, in cars, architecture, and industrial design. It's everywhere, or was, but there are many examples of it yet, and lots of the old still around to use and enjoy! Brian
No Lincoln Zephyrs yet???especially 37 to 39 3 window coupes..Im a huge ART DECO fan too....cant get enuff
I like my 47 Chevy had a big argument with the shop over putting the bumper splash pans back. I think they defined the cars looks. I love the dash and have made sure accentuate some of the design cues. I am presently looking for the right 35-42 car love the Graham Sharknose & Airflows.
Here are some photos of the Art Deco Roadster I'm building. All from scratch, aluminum body, hot inline 6, 5 speed. I've been working on the frame and should get back to the skin next month.
=================================== I agree with you on the Graham Sharknose and on the Airlows. Too bad more people didn't think the same way too when these car were new as both designs where sales disaster and early finished off their respective companies! Here's a rare beast - a 1934 Imperial 'Airflow' Mart3406 ===========================================
Seen at a show recently. Bugatti/Batmobile - probably the oldest car I´ve seen with curved side glass. It was huge. and a Stromlinien "Autobahn" Adler... Adler details...
The irony of course is that when Art Deco was in full swing during the 30's, the early moderns HATED it. To them, it took the visual sound bites of what modernism stood for, made it a decorative art, and applied it to selling crap sans any of the social value. But that's part of the reason why AD stood the test of time, it was so easily applied to selling cars; I'd argue that by the mid 60's the influence Deco had in the automotive industry was effectively over. And from a visual standpoint muscle cars had more in common with rods and customs in the sense that it was largely about letting the body lines speak for themselves, less irrelevant clutter. Anyway, it's all interesting.
1934 MvQuay-Norris Ford V8 Streamliner You wanna' see "Art Deco??? How about this for a radically redesigned and "Art Deco to the max" 1934 Ford??!! Auto parts manufacturer McQuay-Norris built two of these test and show cars in 1934, using - at time - brand new '34 Ford V8 frames, engines and running gear and then had two of these 'ultra-streamlined' steel and aluminum, 'Buck Rodgers spaceship-like' bodies built for them! Mart3406 ---------------------- http://autotimemachine.blogsome.com/2008/05/20/mcquay-norris-streamliner/ The Auto Time Machine May 20, 2008 McQuay Norris Streamliner You think youve seen all the strange cars in the world, think again. Several of these bizarre vehicles were built a long time ago, and today, their value increases as we count the days that passes by. Speaking of rare and expensive vehicles, have you heard about a vehicle called McQuay Norris Streamliner? I dont think so The six McQuay-Norris Streamliners was produced in 1934 and was built to be driven by McQuay-Norris engine component sales representatives. McQuay-Norris used the Streamliners as test-beds for new engine parts as well as advertising the company, and for this function the interior was fixed with many dials and instruments to observe performance and engine condition. The McQuay-Norris Streamliners chassis and running gear were based on a Ford V8, and the aerodynamic bodywork was made from steel and aluminium attached to a wooden frame. The curved windows were made from Plexiglas. Here are some extra facts about McQuay Norris Streamliner according to Trombinoscar.com: The McQuay Norris Streamliner is an important piece of automotive history. The car was one of six such cars builtby McQuay-Norris, a St. Louis based manufacturer of internal engine and chassis components. The cars were built using a 1934 Ford chassis and running gear and the highly advanced streamlined body design was constructed of steel and aluminum over a wood framework. The aircraft inspired windshield and canopy design was constructed of Plexiglas.The cars were built to be used by McQuay Norris representatives for promotional purposes but more importantly they used as test cars and as such they were equipped with a multitude of gauges mounted to the dash to monitor the performance of various components. It is one of 2 such cars known to exist and the only one that is restored. It was restored in 1990 and became part of the Hemmings Motor News collection until purchased from them. =============================================
1948 Buick Streamliner by Norman E. Timbs http://www.supercars.net/cars/4688.html http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178451 http://www.thecoolist.com/1948-buick-streamliner-by-norman-e-timbs/
Inspiring work on this 30's Henderson custom job http://www.bikeexif.com/art-deco-custom-motorcycle Mike
------------------------------ When the 'Sharknose-style' Grahans came out in 1938, the styling of these "Spirit of Motion" cars, as Graham called them - was extremely controversial and new-car buyers generally stayed away from Graham showrooms in droves. So much so, that the car's styling almost killed and some say did kill, the company's automotive division. But they're certainly considered cool and desirable - and even beautiful now- at least by some. Like them or not though, one thing for certain, they're definitely classic American "Art Deco". Mart306 ========================
How about a streamlined 'Art Deco' Dodge tow truck from 1938??!! I took this picture from post on the HAMB thread "Photos taken before WW2 - history in black and white" (www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5501092&highlight=tow+truck#post5501092 ) and cleaned then it up and re-sized it a bit to post here. Mart3406 ==============================
A short article from the June 1935 issue of "Modern Mechanics And Inventions" magazine on a 'futuristic' Art Deco bus made for the 1935 Paramount movie "Stolen Harmony" Now that I've seen pics of this thing, I WANT one!!!! Mart3406 ==========================
I've liked '30's Art Deco cars since I was a kid, but they are probably more like Industrial or Streamline Moderne. My history of art teacher corrected me when I did a project involving streamlined cars. Chrome, stainless, plastics [which were new then], parallel lines imparting motion, symmetry, minimalism, seem natural for automobile styling, even if the cars weren't really aerodynamic.
1937 Reo "Speedtanker" www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5529549&postcount=7660 Mart3406 ================================
BTT, Would love to see some Art Deco styling ideas, will be doing the interior of my '33 Plymouth in this style.
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