These photos actually date from a car show I attended in 1982, but for the sake of the series, let's just call it 1980! This is the famous "checkmark" side trim from the 1956 Ford Sunliner convertible. My parent's was pink and black so I colorized this photo to match. All images clickable to enlarge.
I've been fascinated with Studebaker, Raymond Loewy and Virgil Exner since I was a child. I've been studying the history of cars since I learned how to read.
An early post-war Oldsmobile, a 1947. The downward turning chrome grille bars formed a frown, but I've always thought they were very artistically styled. Notice how the turn signals are beautifully incorporated into the bumper guards.
I don't think anyone will need a genie or three guesses to figure out which car is hiding under this cover.
The twin-cowled fully instrumented dashboard of the first Corvette series, the '53-'55 models. Symmetry ruled the day.
The Super Deluxe script nameplate on the front of a 1941 Ford. The angled chrome letters are a perfectly placed accent.
This simple italicized nameplate appears on the equally simple slab sides of the 1958-60 Rambler American.
A detail shot of part of the dashboard of a late 1920s Packard. Quality, always!
- For the first six installments of these car show photos, you may click on "Car shows" in the list of Labels on the right side of this blog, or you may simply click here.
I'LL TAKE THE CARS OF YESTERDAY OVER THE CARS OF TODAY.
ReplyDeleteLONGJOHNS ON THE WAY CASEY.
GRANNY
I've always loved the font that Nash used. Does it have a name? It's very evocative of its time and Nash's place in the world!
ReplyDeleteAnd speaking of fonts and logos, what could be more elegant than that Studebaker S?
My brother had a 55 Sunliner, red and white, nosed and decked. I prefer the 56 -- it looked more substantial and had more gravitas.
That Corvette dashboard is so cool -- it reminds me of a motor boat. And if I recall correctly, the sound of the Blue Flame six with triple carbs and PowerGlide was very much like the burbling of an inboard marine engine.
One of those elegant touches that GM styling did were those turn signals in the bumperettes. The father of a grammar school friend (and the proprietor of the local Shell station) had a 47 series 78 (B body) 4-door in tan and brown (a very popular combo) and I always admired it. He drove it until traded for a 56 Buick.
Thank you for all these pictures -- I'm really enjoying them and the memories they call up!
Paul, NYC
Paul, I'm guessing Nash drew their own fonts, but it's very similar to one I use occasionally called "Frigidaire." I guess it's supposed to be evocative of those classic Fiftes refrigerator scripts. The letters are mostly attached when you typeset them. I like the '56 Fords a bit more than the '55s too, one of those relatively rare cases when the facelift was better than the original.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that font should be called "Kelvinator" if it's based on the Nash font!
ReplyDeletePaul, NYC
Good one! I'll probably call it that from now on!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Granny in the respect that parts and metal quality have gone down the drain insofar as describing the quality of modern cars These classics, although mass produced have a certain individuality about them and character that don't come with your average 2011 Chevy or Ford, even 7 series.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the only car maker that comes close to any 50's era car might be a Morgan, bring back the craftsmanship to the American car industry, please!