I do not. General Motors was heavily involved with Mr. Hall, albeit, under the radar, so I don't know where the actual wheels were mfg.
love these 'in progress' shots of the clay models being developed Ford GT here from Form Trends Image Unavailable, Please Login
Let's say, they have their own appeal, target group marketing. People with bad taste can also have some money to buy Nissan/Infiniti cars, yet they might blame the quality less those with the taste. Nissan's design school was very creative before Renault era, especially in the 70-90s. It was like GM in Japan in terms of creativity. They also collaborated with many european design studios and designers when they started. I should mention, I mean the design challenge "within Japan", i.e. on RHD vehicles for Japanese markets. Since we had a lot of RHD cars imported from Japan in the 80s-90s, people appreciate their domestic market cars and styles. Maybe, I should also mention I have few of those RHD, which you had as LHD US Market versions - Datsun 240Z and Toyota Celica Supra (1982-1985). My Datsun 240Z is actually a very early october '69 US-market car, however, it then went to Britain and was transformed into RHD with all-new OE parts, since the sales quote for 1970 was only 1 single car for the whole GB market. (Few years later it got 3 webers, rollcage, some stuff and became a roadgoing racecar of the very limited series.) Too much about it, here's the development process. I must admit being 6.2f tall I fit in the car perfectly! Which is rare for a Japanese car. This happens when you take ergonomics in the account. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGG0XpIJLFE[/ame]
Regarding "outstanding achievements in design" of the Japanese car manufacturers, they started with the Lexus crusading stunt on the US market with its first luxury coupe. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a4-odN2oIU[/ame] I was laughing extremely after he introduced "the shape" at 3:20 and "the method" few seconds later. The video is quite funny since even Japanese from Toyota in Japan weren't sure this thing is "gonna make it". Although SC400 shape was trendy for 1991, it's neither beautiful nor ages too bad.
Great video. I knew Dennis Campbell before he wound up at Toyota. Very talented designer. I distinctly remember when that Lexus came out and they were talking about developing the forms with plaster & balloons. We had a good laugh
It's quite sad I couldn't find anything about the development of the 1981-1985 Celicas. All I know is that they were done at Calty, not in Japan. They've got quite remarkable rear quarter panels! Distinctive and pure. Image Unavailable, Please Login
surprisingly enough I could not find any articles from Car Styling that featured the '81 Celicas other than the commentary in the photo from Oct '81 Car Styling Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
John, this book looks like a compehensive book on japanese car design. The comments are true, but very odd to read! Out of a little more modern japanese cars, I've recently found 90s RX-7 very interesting in design. I know it's a old car nowadays, everybody knows it, but there is something interesting. Overall the design is very good and timeless, maybe, the rear was left a little unfinished, so they blacked out some parts. The thing for me are the doors. They are thin, extremely thin! But the sideline looks wide from all points of view. The door line and the curve of the door makes the effect. Traditionally, some development vids. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSFjkao9Pjw[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbidPEaxq_s[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JeEDuRxChs[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Nsy5R1Xnw[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSprlHNqxvE[/ame]
Yes, to this day, those Mazdas are still cool. Very simple design execution. Well packaged, fun cars.
Hard to believe this debuted in 1954 & still looks cool......way ahead of it's time Image Unavailable, Please Login
My guess would be Halibrand. At the time, there were few companies in the world who had the capability.
was talking to several of my Corvette designer friends and was told that the Chaparral type wheel was being used on all the '60's Corvette mockups in the studios during the '60's. BBS were my favorite wheels during the '80's and I would use them on many of my full-size airbrush renderings. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Actually, RX-7 on the track is even quicker than the famed NSX. Somehow it's got so much grip, so eventually it will win every RX-7 vs. NSX test I've seen, though it may lose the acceleration battle. Quite clear example of a very good chassis!
The rounded RX7 was from the Irvine studio. I remember being told it was Chin that was responsible for the design. Mark would know in detail.
More from the Auto Design website......... Still surprised no one has taken up decorating tire sidewalls on cars like on the GM Opel GT a few months ago. This bike reminded me of that. PININFARINA H2 SPEED, PUREZZA TECNOLOGICA - Auto&Design Image Unavailable, Please Login
