But the Rootes Group was still British-owned in 1955 when its new Sunbeam Rapier line featuring an American look was introduced. Perhaps they thought Americans were style-leaders where passenger (not sports) cars were concerned, and they wanted Sunbeams to look "progressive" and not English-dowdy. Whatever the motivation, Rootes contracted with Raymond Loewy's industrial design firm to do the Rapier's styling, as mentioned here. At that time, Loewy's sensational 1953 Studebaker Starliner/Starlight coupé had appeared, perhaps influencing his selection by Rootes.
What I don't know is whether Rootes requested a Studebaker-like theme or if that type of style was what Loewy's group decided to do on their own. Regardless, the design was accepted by Rootes management. The result was an attractive hardtop convertible -- an American body type -- featuring American styling that in turn was probably influenced by the Italians.
Initial-series Rapiers were produced 1955-58, and facelifted versions continued through 1967, according to the Wikipedia link above. That source reports 68,809 Rapiers built on the Loewy design, or about 4,600 per year on average. Those production numbers are not large, but apparently were enough to keep the design in production while undergoing four facelifts. Admittedly, only the first facelift was significant.
Images of first-generation Rapiers along with 1953 Studebaker Starliner coupés are shown below. Photos are of cars publicized for sale.
Between this site and Curbside Classic plus the internet/Wikipedia I keep filling my brain with more thoughts and information about car history. And I thought it was kind of at capacity already.
ReplyDeleteThe Series II Rapier (1958) also happens to echo the Hawkization of the original Loewy coupe, with a radiator style grille stuck in between two minigrilles (on the Studebaker these were shortened versions of the split grilles so that they only had to change the hood for the "radiator") plus fins added on. I wonder if the fins were just welded onto the old fenders or what? The Hawk fins were crude fiberglass add-ons.
A close inspection of photos of finned Rapiers shows that there is enough chrome on the outer side to cover any seams, but not on the inner side. Maybe they bothered to fill and grind the inner side if the fins were add-ons, since the production was so low. And it was British cars in the fifties - sixties.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad about how what was essentially poor management including plant and labor management policies that killed the native British car industry. Kind of like the US independents in the fifties. Looking at various British cars from the pre to postwar period on all those British shows on PBS I've come to appreciate the really beautiful and interesting if often old fashioned styling of many of those cars. When I was a kid I thought the rarely seen in the US British and German Fords and also Fiats were pretty cool. Probably almost all were brought back by a few of the very large numbers of American troops in Europe.
Even the 1965 Series 5 Rapiers continued the 1949 Ford style external chrome trunk hinges.
ReplyDeleteThe best views are front/rear quarter. From the side straight on, it's a bit dumpy -- cute, but rather squatty.
ReplyDelete