Monday, October 14, 2024

1995 Chevrolet Lumina: Character Line Continuations

Stylists can tie a design together using interrupted lines.  That is, a chrome strip, sheetmetal crease, or other such detail continued following a space.   Another approach is to have the feature continued without interruptions other than gaps created by wheel openings.  That was the strategy used on the 1995 Chevrolet 4-door Limina and its related 2-door Monte Carlo.

I wrote about the 1995 Lumina here, but in reference to details in the area of its C-pillar.   The Wikipedia entry on that Lumina generation is here.

Images below are from Chevrolet.

Gallery

The Lumina's front is rounded in conformity with aerodynamic requirements related to fuel usage efficiency.  Those extensive character lines are mostly abaft of the front wheel opening, though a slightly curved start of one can be seen on the fender near the headlight.  Note that the upper edge of the bumper is aligned with the rub strip  partway up the car's side.

The rub strip line is continued by indentation created by the upper portion of the rear bumper cladding.  Rather subtle, not a true continuation feature, though it works visually.  The character line along the lower side is continued along the rear bumper impact panel.

The features noted for the previous image can be seen from this perspective.

They are seen better here, along with another subtlety.  That is a fold across the taillight glass that continues the high side character line around the rear end in the form of crease just below the upper edge of the dark segment on the trunk lid.

Although I find these details interesting from a technical styling perspective, my overall impression is that the design is too "busy."  Nowadays, many designs are even more busy and, worse yet, too lacking in continuations tying elements together visually.

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