Think On It

A splendor we once knew

August 18th, 2007

This is an advertisement in a magazine from 1937. I don’t care how much you pay for it, I have not seen a car this beautiful in the past thirty years. Where did we go wrong?

Entry Filed under: Fashion, Beauty

3 Comments Add your own

1. Robert | August 18th, 2007 at 7:50 pm

My father used to own a classic Vauxhall - closest pic here - http://www.madle.org/vaux25gy39.JPG

It never ran but he did get the bodywork done on it - red body with black fenders - was a real beauty.

I do wonder why we sacrificed the style inherent in the classic cars for what we have today. I know there is all the talk about aerodynamics, energy efficiency, etc but surely it is possible to combine the best of both worlds?
2. admin | August 19th, 2007 at 9:04 am

It’s my impression that we somehow slipped into the people’s box from the people’s car… VW. Those elongated rounded lines look aerodynamic to me, an amateur.

Look how successful the Chrysler car is that is inspired by the Thirties. And it drives badly and is expensive.

That Vauxhall is a honey. If you swept back the windscreen and lowered the roof, it would still be gorgeous and also aerodynamic! It’s my theory that if Fiat made something inspired by this they wouldn’t be broke. What did I love the most in the Thirties Bertie Wooster films and Lord Wimsey mysteries? The roadsters!
3. eg | August 20th, 2007 at 2:03 pm

I’m guessing the gas mileage wasn’t so great. But then again, mileage isn’t everything. Pretty cars!