History Pre-Streamline Art Deco coachwork

1924 Hispano Suiza H6 Tulipwood Torpedo by Nieuport - I looked over this car closely when the docent of the Blackhawk Museum kindly allowed me inside the roped off area. The story is that a German bomb dropped right through the middle of the car when it was stored in London during WW II, but fortunately the bomb was a dud and did not explode. it still caused extensive damage to the Hispano though. The extensive use of copper plating is a notable feature of this car....

 

Wills St. Claire Town Car....

 

That is a 1930 Franklin. That car looks similar to the Franklin Pirate, which was an open car with a flared lower body to conceal the running boards inside the doors. Franklins were mostly conservative cars. The Franklin Dietrich speedster was a four-door sedan.

 

Here's our '31 Dietrich Club Sedan

 

A Brewster Ford

 

a '20s vintage Rolls we worked on for a friend.

 

No information on this Rolls Royce except that it was photographed at Beaulieu in 2005:

The colour scheme does suggest American coachwork (and hence a Springfield chassis?) Light fenders on a dark body was a bit of a high-design affectation in the US at one point in the '20s: very cool if done right.

 

Not pre streamline, but the detailing on these Darl Mat Peugeots is worth a look I think.

 

The graphic quality is indeed much closer to the spirit of early Deco. I love the Viking shields

 

Seen at Amelia Isl. 2013... worthy? Gary

 

What in the hell is this? I wanna see more of it!

 

I don't know does this qualify as Pre-Streamline Art Deco?

 

Neither pre-streamline nor really particularly Art Deco, but extremely cool. I'd also like to see more.

Flipper, I can see the connection with your Jag-based build. Hopefully it doesn't spark a radical rethink! I know how easy that can be

 

It is a Jag... 1936 SS100 according to the sign and one of the best looking cars I've ever seen. Gary

 

For you art decoists, here's a puzzler. the Petersen Museum has a very nice Bugatti 57C black two seat roadster given to the Shah of Iran when he was a prince in 1949 by the country of France. It was sold in '59 for $275 and I think it's worth about $10 million now. My question is: has anyone seen a picture of it when it was new, like a picture with the Shah because I am wondering where the front and rear spats came from since I have a picture of it in Holland without the front and rear wheelwell covers. I previously thought since it stole the design of the 1939 Figoni et Falaschi Delahaye that it copied the wheel coverings as well but it could have been the English restorer added those decades later.

 

Dunno, but it looks good either with or without the skirts, in my opinion.

When I get it, I'll probably run it both ways!

 

Do you have any photographs of the car in its earlier configuration? I had a quick look but couldn't find any.

I did find this, though:

Coachwork by Worblaufen; rather similar to one we've had on here before.

 

Thats a rebody on a 20hp (english) chassis, ive seen it recently its one of the few rebodies that actually capture the "awkwardness" of original coach work very well

 

The horizontal radiator slats ought to have been a clue. It does seem to be a very period-aware interpretation if it is a recent body.

 

here are a few i worked on over the years

Bugatti Type 46 body by Veth & Zoon of Arnhem 1929


The Interior is pretty Art Deco


A slightly later 37 Bentley 4 1/4 by parkward, it always took the British a while to catch up


A Very British take on Art Deco , typically understated
1929 HJ Mulliner "Weymann" bodied Phantom 2


A Very Art Deco colour scheme and style Vanden Plas Derby Bentley 4 1/4

 

Talking of Jaguar - the word Jaguar was first used as a model name of the Swallow Sidecar Co (SS) in 1935 - how about the Grey Lady SS100 coupe? A little late in the period as this was the 1938 Earl's Court show car, but as KFC says the Brits were late in the game. Still questionable as a pre Streamline Moderne as it has rounded shapes but I find a blend of softened geometric in there somewhere - oh alright, I wanted to post it anyway because I love this car! Available for purchase right now - get out your wallet$$$....

 

Saw this very car at Retromobile many years ago - it looked like it had been driven out of the showroom the day before. Stunning car with incredible presence.

 

Wow! Thank you all. This would be at the top of the list for 'stickies of the century'. The pics and info here blows my mind. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

Next to the red head living up the street here is what knocks my socks off the most. 1936 Mercedes 540k yes its blown.



The last one sold at auction for $11,770,00.00 yes 11 mil plus.

 

A 1930 Bugatti T50 with body by Million Guiet....

 

Here a Million Guiet bodied Panhard - they really seem to be right on with the Pre Streamline Moderne Art Deco coachwork....

 

1930 Delage D8 by Million Guiet - how cool is this....

 

This Bugatti just gets me - pure hot rod!

 

That´s crazy! Never seen that one before.

 

That appears to be the same design as the body on the Talbot you posted in post 61. I've seen it on Bugattis, but was first aware of it as fitted to a special short-chassis 1930 28/30hp Minerva. The car was used on a sort of factory publicity run from Ostend to Marseille and back.

It was very much the inspiration for a design I drew for a stretched '29 A, which I call the Blue Suitcase: