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Behold- the most gorgeous cars of the Art Deco era…

The Art Deco movement influenced design and marketing in many different industries in the 1930s, and the motor industry was no exception. During the 1930s, when most folks couldn’t even afford to put food on the table, upscale car makers turned out luxury vehicles with incredible features. Some of these features, like front-wheel drive and electric wipers, were ahead of their time. Most of all, a huge leap forward in style. Aerodynamics, Streamlining, and Art Deco all collided into beautiful sheetmetal shapes. War was looming, but Europe was having an influence on our designers as well, with rolling sculptures from Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Talbot, and Delahaye making headlines and turning heads around the world.

After 1929, the American automobile industry, suffered a hard blow because of the economical depression which started with the crash on Wall Street in October 1929. The years 1931 and 1932 were very hard for the American automobile industry. There were not so many 1930s cars sales as during the 1920s, because of the depression, but the face lift, styling and design of a car was a very important invention to attract new buyers. The gloomy (chromed) and streamline styled cars were very typical for the end of the 1930s. The American automobile changed during the Thirties. The automobile changed from the traditional four-square styling that prevailed into the early Thirties, towards a streamlined (Tear-drop shaped) car at the end of the Thirties. The Thirties are in fact the decade that largely established the shape of cars we know today. A comparison of the typical 1930 model (T-Ford model) with its 1939 descendant provides dramatic proof of how complete the transformation was on the Ford 1930s cars.

The greatest impact of the streamlined designs was in fact that the 1930’s cars became eye catchers. Automobiles of the 1930s became to look like art. Most cars were build on a simple, high, carriage-like chassis rolling on wood-spoke wheels and solid tires. From 1932 on, American cars changed.

1939 ZIS-101 Sport coupe. source
1939 ZIS-101 Sport coupe. source

 

Sadly, most people know next to nothing about the 1935 Voisin C28 Aerosport other than the painfully obvious: it looks fantastic. As much a design study as it is a glimpse into the future, the C28 Aerosport was nonetheless actually built and driven. source
Sadly, most people know next to nothing about the 1935 Voisin C28 Aerosport other than the painfully obvious: it looks fantastic. As much a design study as it is a glimpse into the future, the C28 Aerosport was nonetheless actually built and driven. source

 

1938 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Xenia. This breathtaking work of art was conceptualized by Andre Dubonnet, heir to the Dubonnet aperitif business, successful race . source
1938 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Xenia. This breathtaking work of art was conceptualized by Andre Dubonnet, heir to the Dubonnet aperitif business, successful race . source

 

1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster. source
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster. source

 

1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupé. source
1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupé. source

 

 

1939 Duesenburg Coupe Simone Midnight Ghost...words would just be an understatement. source
1939 Duesenburg Coupe Simone Midnight Ghost…words would just be an understatement. source

 

925 Rolls Royce Phantom. source
925 Rolls Royce Phantom. source

 

1932 Auburn - V12 Boattail Speedster. source
1932 Auburn – V12 Boattail Speedster. source

 

1938 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic Coupe. source
1938 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic Coupe. source

 

Diana Dors' stunning 1949 Delahaye Type 175 Roadster: Considered by some to be the most beautiful car in the world. source
Diana Dors’ stunning 1949 Delahaye Type 175 Roadster: Considered by some to be the most beautiful car in the world. source

 

1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Figoni et Falaschi Coupe. source
1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Figoni et Falaschi Coupe. source

 

1936 Delahaye Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company. The company lasted until 1954. source
1936 Delahaye Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company. The company lasted until 1954. source

 

Bugatti Atlantique coupe, 1939.. Amazing lines, great sense of motion even when standing still. source
Bugatti Atlantique coupe, 1939.. Amazing lines, great sense of motion even when standing still. source
1937 Foose Custom Studebaker Convertible. source
1937 Foose Custom Studebaker Convertible. source

 

Avions Voisin C25 Aerodyne 1935. source
Avions Voisin C25 Aerodyne 1935. source

 

1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. source
1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. source

 

1936 Delahaye Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company. The company lasted until 1954. source
1936 Delahaye Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company. The company lasted until 1954. source

Nick Knight

Nick Knight is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News