"Airline" Bodied Triumph Gloria

Non- wind tunnel tested "streamlining" began to appear on automobile bodies during the 1930s.  (Since the early 1920s there had been a few essentially experimental cars whose body shapes were derived from wind tunnel test.)  The advent of the Great Depression of the 1930s spurred car makers to become more innovative than normal in order to sell cars, and adding streamline-appearing details became a fad, then a fashion until the 1980s when the need for improved fuel efficiency resulted in actual wind tunnel testing of most designs.

Often, front ends of cars were little changed, the somewhat faux-streamlining taking the form of rounded fenders and curved aft rooflines.  This was the case in England, where in the mid-1930s a number of low-production coupés were given this treatment.  This body style was known there as "Airline."

Airline styling is the subject of the book "Art Deco and British Car Design: The Airline Cars of the 1930s" by Barrie Down, Amazon link here.  I strongly object to the use of the term "Art Deco" in the title, as that usually refers to ornamentation and decoration rather than form.  (Yes, I know there are small sculptures of gazelles and even female dancers that might be so-classified.  But I draw the line at car shapes.)  However, aside from grinding my teeth every time "Art Deco" was used, I found the book both interesting and useful.

One example was the Triumph Gloria "Flow-free" that was first shown at the 1934 London Motor Show.  The designer was Walter Belgrove.  Due to a Lufwaffe bombing raid on Coventry, company records dealing with the Flow-free were destroyed.  Barrie Down notes that about 22 might have been built, and none are known to survive.

What exists today is a car based on a 1938 Triumph Vitesse chassis.  It seems that 50 Flow-free bodies were contracted, and one not used by Triumph was put on a 1931 4.5 lire Bentley.  This required some re-shaping.  In 1994 the Bentley's owner decided to restore it to its original condition, so the Flow-free body became surplus.  Restorer Rob Green brought the body, restored it to the original shape and put it on the Vitesse, and that is what is shown below.  I have no information on original sources for the colored photos.

Gallery

Two views of the Free-flow displayed in 1934.  It has a trim, nicely proportioned appearance.  But the most interesting details are obscured.

I might be mistaken, but his seems to be from a brochure or other promotional item.  The centerline crease running down the top to the faux- boat tail is revealed.

Here is the "restored" Triumph Flow-free.

Side view.  The rear fender profile and its wheel opening do not relate well towards the upper-left as seen here.  But there's no such problem on the 1934 show car.

This is the interesting part of the design with its boat-tail shaping and central crease.  The backlight windows are large for the mid-30s, and are deeply inset because their glass is flat and the roof is curved.  Note the cut-line for the trunk lid. Well done, Walter Belgrove!