STYLING OF CARS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 20

STYLING OF CARS

THE STREAMLINE VOGUE

A POPULAR DEMAND

Streamlining of cars is considered by the president of one of America's big manufacturing concerns to be a concession to a popular demand and not something that emanates from the industry itself. He admits the artistic but denies that there is any practical value in such design. He says:— "Commercially and artistically I approve of so-called streamline design in cars, but from a practical standpoint I do not. "Apart from artistic considerations, streamlining of motor-cars has little practical virtue. Here is a case of a

[mode which has found lively accep'tancs with the public—not only in [ automobiles but in many other articles ■ —that, as regards automobiles certainly, may not give the consumer a better product. Except at high speeds there is no appreciable gain from streamlining. • "A car which slopes back and downi ward and trails off into- nothing does not allow interior space to be used to best; advantage for either passenger or luggage carrying. The front windshield, if it is sloping, makes vision more difficult than a vertical windo\y. Small sloping rear windows reduce vision in back and increase the difficulty of backing. "Of course, every automobile builder knews he could build a better car from these aspects by simply making higher roofs, squaring off the headroo:n somewhat so as to permit better utilisation of space for passengers and luggage, and by building vertical rear and front windows. Also, cars would probably be slightly less costly to build and would cost less to the consumer. But the modern automobile is made as it is, entirely as a concession to style tendencies, because the public approve —hive widely signified their approval And, mind you, I take off my hat to our industry for its alertness in new styling."