Amos Northup Designs

In February 1937 Amos Northup, a leading stylist from the mid-1920s to mid-1930s, slipped on ice, fell, and died two days later.  He was 47 years old.  Had that accident not happened, he might easily have been designing automobiles as late as the mid-1950s, probably at a major carmaker rather than for a bodymaker, as those firms were extinct by that time.  Some background is here.

Michael Lamm and Dave Holls on page 77 of their classic book "A Century of Automotive Style" note of Northup: "Designers called him a designer's designer, and he had more impact on the [automobile] industry than he's ever been given credit for." 

Given the time of his career -- the years when professional styling was taking hold and the beginnings of the transition from boxy cars with distinctly separate features to more integrated shapes -- it today can be difficult to appreciate what Northup wrought.  In this post, "Styling Transition: Amos Northup's 1931 REO Line" I compare his 1931 design to the firm's 1930 models.  Differences might not seem great to us, but at the time they were significant.

Below are some, not all, of Northup's designs.  Unless noted, color photos are of cars listed for sale.

Gallery

Mid-1920s Wills Sainte Claire, body by Leon Rubay, Amos Northup stylist

1929 Hupmobile
Northup styled the 1928 Hupp: this 1929 model is essentially the same.  He also had a hand in the Raymond Loewy 1932 and 1934 Hupp designs due to his work at Murray.  Although the general appearance is 1920s, Northup's design is tidier than most.

1930 Willys Knight 66B, photo via Willys Overland Knight Registry
Northup's touch is mostly seen forward of the cowling.

1931 Reo Royale
One of his noteworthy designs.  The rounded body edges, slanted windshield and V'd grille were coming into play with the 1929 Cord, but Northup used them elegantly here, helping to set the trend to streamlining.

1932 Graham Blue Streak (1933 model shown here)
This car is posed in front of the home of Amos Northup (photo via Historic Vehicle Association).  The front fender valances were innovative.

1933 Willys 77
A short car, Northup having to make its front end as trendy as he could.  The curved hoodline and partly integrated headlights were advanced features.

1938 Willys 37
This is Northup's 1937 Willys redesign.  Note the thrusting hood-grille prow.

1938 Graham "Sharknose"
Northup died before the design was finalized, though his concept is largely intact, especially the thrusting hood-grille prow carryover from the '37 Willys.