American Concept Cars – Part Two

[Full Canvas]

In June I posted the beginnings of this thread with some Chrysler concept cars. Maybe a random few of the Cadillac cars will offer a more solid obvious styling link to the cars being driven by the forum members today. The 1965 XP-840 El Dorado in the last two panels appears to be the four-wheeled prototype of our (then) yet-to-be stealth fighters.

1946 Cadillac Interceptor - Which headlamp treatment do you prefer?

1953 Cadillac Ghia at Stillwater Cove (Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance)

1954 Cadillac El Camino

1954 Cadillac Park Avenue

1954 Cadillac Pininfarina Cabriolet at Stillwater Cove (Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance)

1955 Cadillac La Salle II

1955 Cadillac Starlight

1957 Cadillac Bill Frick Special

1958 Cadillac Cyclone

1961 Cadillac Pininfarina Jaqueline

1965 Cadillac XP-840 El Dorado

1965 Cadillac XP-840 El Dorado

____________________________________

 

[VMan]

The Cadillac Ghia is beautiful.

Some of the others are pretty wild as well.

 

[Nantucket Red]

I agree, the Ghia is gorgeous.

The Cyclone looks like it was inspired by Jane Russel.

The 1965 Cadillac XP-840 El Dorado looks like some of the more fanciful Hot Wheels designs of the late 60s.

 

[chrysalid]

again agreed on the ghia, but don't you think it would look better with unembellished flanks? i also love the starlight, spare in comparison and with a lovely delicate looking roof.

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by chrysalid

again agreed on the ghia, but don't you think it would look better with unembellished flanks? i also love the starlight, spare in comparison and with a lovely delicate looking roof.

I do. Still, it's hard to believe it's a cadillac.

 

[LabelKing]

It would be a shame to compare these cars with the concept cars coming out today, which all look similar and are probably cheaply made.

Certainly, they would have technology, and resources to manufacture some very avant-garde concepts today but all they come out with are either bizzare looking hybrid-bastards or jellybeans.

 

[caelte]

Originally Posted by chrysalid

again agreed on the ghia, but don't you think it would look better with unembellished flanks? i also love the starlight, spare in comparison and with a lovely delicate looking roof.

I like it.
It's the element that makes the car.
Nice choices Full Canvas. I've never seen the XP-840.

 

[chrysalid]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

It would be a shame to compare these cars with the concept cars coming out today, which all look similar and are probably cheaply made.

Certainly, they would have technology, and resources to manufacture some very avant-garde concepts today but all they come out with are either bizzare looking hybrid-bastards or jellybeans.

I certainly disagree:

The Brera Concept. I read somewhere that Giugiaro used at as a daily driver for a time. The production model hasn't quite lived up to expectations but the look of the original is fantastic. It also boasts a beautiful bespoke interior:

The Maserati Birdcage Concept. Again this was a runner, albeit a tentative one, as proved at the goodwood festival of speed. Is this what you mean by avant garde?

Back to America and we have the Cadillac 16 Concept, A cathedral of a car and thematically in keeping with the original cars posted in this thread:

 

[johnapril]

 

[caelte]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

It would be a shame to compare these cars with the concept cars coming out today, which all look similar and are probably cheaply made.

Certainly, they would have technology, and resources to manufacture some very avant-garde concepts today but all they come out with are either bizzare looking hybrid-bastards or jellybeans.

Mille Miglia

 

[Lamo]

Originally Posted by chrysalid

I certainly disagree:


The Maserati Birdcage Concept. Again this was a runner, albeit a tentative one, as proved at the goodwood festival of speed. Is this what you mean by avant garde?

the birdcage is certainly one of the most stunning design ever. the detailing on it is impeccable.

labelking, sorry, but i don't think you know what you're talking about. The simple reality being that if anything, modern cars can be accused of being too conservative. Yes, a lot of cars are ungainly(exceedingly high beltlines, awkwardly placed pillar) but there's quite a few gems out there. I know Aston Martin has it's detractors and so does Ian Callum/Fisker, but the Aston Martin Vantage has perhaps the most perfect proportions ever in a sports coupe. The upcoming R8, while having a somewhat awkward silhouette, is one of the most innovative designs in the past 20 or so years. There are countless cars like the Volkswagen R, Citroen Metisse, Volvo C30 that meld both classic and futuristic themes nearly flawlessly. Again, your tastes might not lean toward current automobiles but they certainly hold more value than you think. Reverence for the past can only go so far.

 

[muelleran]

Rinspeed in Switzerland are always working on new ideas. Some of them I find quite interesting, although their emphasis is not on style:

http://www.rinspeed.com/pages/content/frames_e.htm

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Lamo

the birdcage is certainly one of the most stunning design ever. the detailing on it is impeccable. labelking, sorry, but i don't think you know what you're talking about. The simple reality being that if anything, modern cars can be accused of being too conservative. Yes, a lot of cars are ungainly(exceedingly high beltlines, awkwardly placed pillar) but there's quite a few gems out there. I know Aston Martin has it's detractors and so does Ian Callum/Fisker, but the Aston Martin Vantage has perhaps the most perfect proportions ever in a sports coupe. The upcoming R8, while having a somewhat awkward silhouette, is one of the most innovative designs in the past 20 or so years. There are countless cars like the Volkswagen R, Citroen Metisse, Volvo C30 that meld both classic and futuristic themes nearly flawlessly. Again, your tastes might not lean toward current automobiles but they certainly hold more value than you think. Reverence for the past can only go so far.
Of course, modern cars are too conservative especially the production models. The last truly avant-garde car was still probably the Citroen DS. Or perhaps:

The Vantage seems simply a modern interpretation of the old DB4. Personally, what gripes me are the mostly homogenous jellybean shapes of the cars. Also, the interiors are usually very similar looking, despite proclamations of luxury and "progress". Indeed, Lexus has a self parallel parking feature for their LS saloons. And it has something like an 8-speed automatic; what Lexus customer is going to use an 8-speed automatic? They are probably mostly Asian housewives and prosperous accountants. As for the BMW, it is indeed very striking but moreso due to its butched up "retro" look. It would be like taking a Leica Screwmount camera and remaking it in a larger size in something like titanium--interesting and fun but not too innovative.

 

[Renault78law]

The El Camino looks like the car that Homer designed for his rich brother.

 

[LabelKing]

Look at the superior lines of this Lancia Appia bodied by Zagato; it's very pure: