Consider the late 1930s American situation. The Great Depression of the '30s stimulated visual innovation as a means of attracting buyers. Then there was the concept of "streamlining" -- actual or simulated improved aerodynamic efficiency of body shapes. This interacted with improvements in sheet metal stamping technology so that rounded body surfaces could be mass-produced. So American cars of that era tended to have rounded, sometimes lumpy appearances.
Once a production body shape was established, stylists then had to come up with largely decorative items such as grille shapes and details. Often, such details were similar for competing brands (as is true today).
Today's post deals with what I consider a curious trim similarity found on cars from five different companies for the 1937 model year. Then for 1938, two more companies' cars used the same idea.
Especially interesting, there was no 1936 American car with that feature. A quick look at '36 French designs revealed the same thing, though I can't rule out an example from another country or a custom body that might have inspired it.
From what I've read about the American car industry, a source of that similarity might have been stylists changing jobs and passing along information. Or it might have been information leaked by parts suppliers.
And it's quite possible that the idea occurred because the 1936 fad for "fencer's mask grilles" led some stylists to the idea that such grilles could be closely linked to the nearby hood sides.
Let's take a look.
Here the chrome strips along the side of the hood overlap the top of the grille itself. Visually, this is the sort of thing I was discussing above, even though the streaks are not strictly grille bar extensions.
Again, the grille itself isn't quite involved, though the visual concept is there.
DeSoto's hood streaks do seem to be grille bar extensions. However, the top of the actual grille opening is probably around the "O" of the "DESOTO" on the vertical grille divider.
DeSoto the following model year.
A bit hard to see in this photo, but streaks extend from the grille bar zone.
A small car with small grille-hood streaks.
A borderline case. The upper grille framing is extended along the hood, but not as chrome strips.
For 1938, we see those streaks on the redesigned Graham.
Also on the entry-level Fords. Though no chrome here for that low-priced car.
2 comments:
Most interesting.
Thanks!
Years ago there was a black 1937 DeSoto four door with a For Sale sign on it in Berkeley. I thought the Art Deco "whiskers" were really cool. I called and they said it was off sale because of some engine problem. I may have dodged a bullet there, or rather it dodged me.
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