There is a sound reason why a '32 Ford looks "faster" than a Model T from only a few years earlier: Streamlining. An attempt at an aerodynamically efficient design to lessen wind resistance, with the often pleasant side effect of a car that looks gra... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Keep in mind when Mitchell tried it people said the designer must have been drunk, resulting in the model being called The Drunken Mitchell. Things don't always go over as well as some think they will.
Interesting subject and cool video, Jive-Bomber. Here's a few pictures of early attempts at streamline design, some more successful than others. Seems like streamline design found it's way into everything from Gran Prix race cars, to trains, boats, planes, motorcycles, trucks, etc
I sure liked streamlining back when they did it by eye....the Lincoln Zephyr is a great example. This modern **** done in the wind tunnel makes for some ugly cars.
i honestly dont understand why highways are so slow here. you drive the 55 speed limit here in IL and you nearly get ran over! this isnt 1955 anymore, they need to up the speed to about 80 or 90 at least. left speed lanes, no one under 60 can get in them. people will drive at the speed they feel comfortable.
Too often automotive writers confuse streamline moderne with art deco. Streamlining was far more influential from about 1932 onwards than deco ever was. Basically a lead sled chop and channel job was enhancing streamlining. In a way so too was stripping the fenders, using filled hood side panels, and a DuVal on a deuce. '30's streamlining is just plain cool.
This (out of print) book is a killer Streamline design resource as well- I just didn't have time to scan any of the pages:
hey, I don't know 'bout the " Drunken Mitchell'' , but in '29 or'30 Buick came out with a bit of a design blunder that became to be known, via the public, as the " Pregnant Buick". This came about when Harley Earl wanted a different design for that years Buick, one that did away with the beltline moulding/swageline, and belled out the body below the beltline. This resulted in a kinda squashed look to the design, hence the pregers moniker. " All great truth begin as blasphemies "
Excellent video! I like how he keeps saying "modern motor car." And the elevated super highway! Damn, that's cool. BeatnikPirate, what is that on the left picture in your post? Now that is stream lined art deco beauty.
Taking it to the extreme with Streamline Elegance. Talbot-Lago and Delahaye extravaganza from the late 1930s.
I've heard of the pregnant Buick, although I don't really know what it looks like. I don't think Mitchell was working at GM early enough to have influenced the '30 Buick, and I still don't know what George was referring to as a streamlined "Drunken Mitchell".
I believe that it's a concept drawing by Bill Mitchell who was Design Chief for G.M. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mitchell
Quote from Jive Bomber's post: " Streamlining. An attempt at an aerodynamically efficient design to lessen wind resistance, with the often pleasant side effect of a car that looks graceful and dynamic when its sitting still. This pre-war pursuit of cheating the wind for greater speed is what eventually gave hot rods the dropped axle, the channeled body and the chopped top. Streamlining was Style and Purpose, Form and Function. " Here are some examples from 1930/31. Grandfathers of the hot rods and customs we love today?
Hey, As I understand it, the "Drunken Mitchel'' had nothing to do with Bill Mitchell or General Motors, but refered to the Mitchell automobile of the 20's. The 1920 Mitchell had a tilted radiator core and shell to create a faux streamlined look, and much like the Chrysler Airflow some fourteen years later, wasn't a sales sucess. " Meanwhyle, back aboard The Tainted Pork "
Can't talk about streamlining without mentioning the Kalakala, the world's first streamlined vehicle! http://www.kalakala.org/ Here's a wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Kalakala
^^First streamlined VESSEL, maybe; there were certainly some streamlined vehicles before the Kalakala. Count Ricotti's Alfa from 1913, for example:
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