Around the mid-1930s, American carmakers launched new designs incorporating (in most cases) all-steel tops and all-steel framing. And where these features were not in place, competing designs had similar appearances to those that did.
Presented below are views of 1938 models that had bulbous kinds of bodies with windows that featured noticeably rounded framing. An important reason for this kind of styling had to do with sheet metal stamping and automobile glass forming states of the art in those days. And of course, there was a fashion component, where other brands made use of style-leader General Motors cues.
I selected the 1938 model year because most mid-priced brands were using such styling at the time -- just before GM redesigned some models for 1939 in a less-rounded manner. By "mid-level," I used 1938 Oldsmobile list prices for four-door touring sedans as benchmarks -- $995 for the Six, and $1107 for the Eight. Competing sedans had list prices within about ten percent of that range.
Brands are pictured below in alphabetical order. Photos are of cars listed for sale.
General Motors designs were transitioning to classic 1941-vintage styling. Here we see the front fender beginning to assume the later "suitcase" form (a more vertical after end).
Chrysler Corporation styling for 1938 was more rounded than the norm. Even the grille framing is curved. Note the flat, one-piece windshield and how high the roofline is relative to the its upper framing.
The hood is pretty rounded, though the grille is not.
Packard retained its traditional lean hood-grille theme, even though the rest of the car was pretty rounded.
The hood is rather rounded, as are the grille bars (in plan-view).
Another rounded snout. But note the angular headlight housings sunken into the fenders -- a gathering American styling trend. Also, unlike the other cars shown here, there are no air outlets on the side of the engine compartment -- a step into the styling future.
