Curves of Steel
20th Century Automobile Designs… Works of Art
Phoenix Art Museum
By: Cathy Droz for Izmos Magazine
San Francisco, California
April 2007
The name ‘Curves of Steel’ sounds like it could be the title of a movie depicting the lives of artistic welders in the steel towns of Pennsylvania, or a documentary on the beauty of Marilyn Monroe’s rubenesque figure. However, Curves of Steel is a one time, one city, 60-day art exhibit currently residing at the Phoenix Art Museum in Arizona. It is the first auto exhibit in an art museum to explore the impact and influence of streamlining on American and European automotive design in the 20th century. It contains twenty-two of the finest, and most rare collector cars ever to appear in one exhibit, and all are on loan from their proud owners.
Streamlining is an expression of architecture and cultural design, combined with aerodynamic science. The museum assembled a collection of some of the great chassis and designs that pioneered the science of airflow and aerodynamics. Streamlining came from aerodynamic studies seeking to improve the speed of ships and airplanes. Streamlining is characterized by smooth, curvilinear shapes idealized in the teardrop form. During the Great Depression and the strains of an impending war, the sleek, futuristic look of streamlined design represented an optimistic future of science and technology. Coincidentally, the look of the designs became equally important to its physical ability to reduce drag and improve efficiency. The same sentiment of optimism were felt by the builders of clipper ships and fast yachts. It was a romantic notion that the world was ready to embrace.
Although the collection consists of 22 beautiful vehicles that adorn the floors of the Phoenix Art Museum, I have chosen four that caught my eye and caused my imagination to kick into overdrive. I was able to visualize myself in each vehicle, to see what I was wearing; where I was going, and how privileged I felt to be a part of the journey of a new era.
1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
The Type 57 S Atlantic took the stand at the Paris Salon in l936, where it was one of the most expensive cars in the show at approximately $9,400. The design evolved from the l933 Type 57 S (stood for surbaisse, or “lowered”) chassis that featured a lower center of gravity allowing efficient aerodynamic design and excellent handling. The unique riveted fender and roofline derived from Jean Bugatti’s experimentation with the Aerolithe model that debuted in l935. The Aerolithe prototype was fabricated out of Elektron, a magnesium alloy with one-third the weight of aluminum; it is highly flammable and therefore impossible to weld, requiring rivets instead. The Atlantic was fabricated from aluminum, but retained this design element. Combined with extremely reduced body integrated window contours, the Atlantic looked like nothing else on the road. Bugatti has elite name recognition. His talent and branding has surely exceeded his automotive design expectations. For example, a Bugatti Blue Cigar Ashtray sells for $1,499.00 and the latest Bugatti watch over $200,000.
1939 Delahaye Type 165
The l939 World’s Fair in New York “Building the World of Tomorrow with the Tools of Today” fit perfectly with France’s automotive contribution of the Delahaye Type 165. Its beauty consisted of a cabriolet body by coachbuilder Joseph Figoni. With its enclosed fenders, roll-down windshield and disappearing top, the body curved fluidly. Coachbuilders worked separately from car manufacturers, responding to the needs of the client for specific chassis profiles. A coachbuilder like Figoni began as a sculptor creating Marquette’s (models) in clay or wood, and then progressed to wire or metal shapes to be translated into a full-size wooden frame. The metal panels ultimately dressed the wood frame giving it curves of steel. Figoni was known for his use of brilliant colors, like the brilliant red displayed in the museum. He also worked with top fashion designers to collaborate on couture gowns to complement his automobile designs. Advertisements of the era often portrayed women driving these sleek and fast cars. In my opinion the beautiful curves of a woman can be compared to the curves Figoni molded to make the Delahaye so appealing to both genders.
Tucker ‘48
This Tucker ’48 was intended to be the car of the future. The Tucker Torpedo (later known as the Tucker’48) was the vision of business entrepreneur Preston Tucker. That vision described a vehicle as follows: with headlamps that followed the direction in which the car turned; fully independent suspension; a rear mounted engine; capable of high speed; superior safety. Tucker engaged a series of automotive designers to realize this vision. While aerodynamic efficiency did not motivate its design, the Tucker’s shape performed well in wind tunnel tests and achieved the streamlined aesthetics important to public perception of a vehicle. Unfortunately Tucker’s vision never made it beyond 51 cars. His company was shut down in l948 by the Security and Exchange Commission, pending an investigation in which he was acquitted. By the time he was exonerated, he had lost his company. Preston Tucker’s vision is immortalized in the l988 feature film, Tucker: The Man and His Dream. There were 51 autos built, and 47 still survive. The original projected price was $2,450 but today the current value is from about ¼ million to ½ million dollars.
1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt
It must be my love of convertibles that drew me to the Chrysler Thunderbolt.
The Chrysler Thunderbolt debuted as a limited production “concept” car at the l940 New York National Auto Show. Only five Thunderbolts were produced and toured before being released for private sale. The concept that this car claimed was an aerodynamic “envelope” body with concealed headlamps and an electrically retractable steel top and skirted wheels to reduce drag. With its super-clean lines, the Thunderbolt expresses the pinnacle of streamline design in American cars. Pushbuttons operated the doors (there were no door “handles”) and it even sported hydraulic power windows. Today there are 4 known Thunderbolts still surviving. One of them is on display at the Walter P. Chrysler museum in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Each Thunderbolt was manufactured with a unique color scheme and no two were alike. The cost in l941 was $8,250.00
To me, automobiles of the 30’s and even today are works of art. I must say however the French were a bit more inspired with the introduction of curves and steel. You can see why the global auctions each year such as the Barrett Jackson attract collectors, historians, and romantics all willing to bid for and own a piece of history, a piece of automotive art.
The following vehicles are displayed at the Phoenix Museum, and to be fair to all the wonderful designers, manufacturers, and owners I would like to list them all.
1934 Chrysler Imperial Airflow, 1935 Aubrun 851 Speedster, 1936 Stout Scarab, 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe, 1936 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Coupe, l937 Cord 812 Sportsman, 1937 Delahaye 145 “Million Franc Prize” Grand Prix race car, 1937 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H-6c Xenia by Saoutchik, 1938 Embiricos Bentley, 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C “Teardrop” Figoni et Falaschi coupe, l938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, 1938 Darracq-Talbot Lago T-150 c by Figoni et Falaschi, 1938 Delage D8-120 S Pourtout Areo Coupe, 1939 Delahaye 165 Cabroilet by Figoni et Falaschi, 1939 Lincoln Zephyr, 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt, 1948 Tatra T87, 1948 Tucker, 1952 SoCal Belly Tank, 1957 Ferrari 625/250 Testa Rossa TRC, 1986 Oldsmobile Aerotech, 1994 McLaren F1.
Teen Driving Restrictions
By Bill Zervakos
We all know that teenagers are some of the most dangerous, and at risk drivers on the road, and in an effort to combat those dangers, a Senate Panel in Arizona approved a 6 month curfew and passenger restrictions. Teen drivers would have restrictions on when they could drive and how many passengers they could carry under a bill that won easy passage in its first outing in the state Senate.
Instead of giving teens carte blanche when they get their driver's license, they would face an overnight curfew on driving. According to an article in the Arizona Republic by Mary Jo Pitzl, they would also be limited to one passenger under the age of 18, unless those passengers are brothers or sisters. The Teenage Driver Safety Act has drawn strong support from police and safety groups, who note that Arizona is one of only five states without a "graduated" driver's license for teens.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Barbara Leff, R-Paradise Valley, said the bill is designed to cut down on potentially dangerous distractions that come with a car loaded with teens. Dale Norris, executive director of the Arizona Police Association was quoted as saying, “It makes sense to give the least-experienced drivers a phased-in process for gaining road experience.”
As you would expect, most teenagers are not thrilled with these restrictions, but if you like I, have seen some of the video of teenagers driving on TV newsmagazines, you know that it’s important to somehow help youngsters gain the maturity and experience needed to drive on today’s highways.
Cydney DeModica, Community Relations for MVD in Arizona is attending a Safety Council seminar in Tucson in February and we’ll have comments from her on our radio show and more in the article after talking with her.
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