This made me laugh:'Those arguing for the notchback obviously won out. Cadillacs marketing director, Gordon Horsburgh, said he ultimately chose the production cars notchback design based on the strong reactions observed in the Anaheim clinics participants.' Rest assured of one thing, no Marketing Director EVER chose a design direction when B. Mitchell was VP Design. As an aside, Mike Rosa on that site has interviewed me for some design history for other cars, but that's a story for another time
"Just 499 models of the limited-edition LaFerrari are slated to be built." Hmmm... Quite a few more FXXs were produced for paying customers than the number stated on its Limited Edition plaque. Those who know, know.
Sounds like I'll never convince you, and so be it. I really don't care. From my perspective this is a very cool looking interior, but for me it didn't try to advance any design direction. The round dials on the C/L of the IP, the spoked steering wheel , the whole execution smacks of looking back instead of looking forward. Beautifully executed, but not very new IMVHO. Make no mistake, i'm not ascribing a value judgement, good or bad, just making my observation as to the design execution, and the strategy involved to complete said design. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I get it. I just am asking you for a past design, any past design (when you describe the Z8's as looking back), that identifies the Z8's as similarly smacking of looking back, or backwards design.
And I'd love to hear your professional opinion of what constitutes a forward thinking interior design; who has and delivers today's most forward looking interior design direction advances. Your design authority and vision is much appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
these are the best images I could find. Don't have the resources at my command I used to have Again, my point is/was the Z8 interior is a very well executed interior. The use of the 'wire' steering wheel and the round gauge cluster which they shifted over to the C/L of the IP., along with the transition into the door panels FOR ME, didn't attempt anything very new. Just MVHO. You're certainly welcome to your own observations, nonetheless. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
At random I chose several interiors that are pushing the design envelope the use of form, materials & color are creative in these examples Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
posted this up in the 'Official book collectors thread', but I thought it might interest students of the history of auto advertising: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
my opinion as an enthusiast and consumer is sometimes these manufacturers spend too much time pushing the envelope with there design team. I get there needs to be a constant push forward etc... but I think you can fall into the trap of design for the sake of design. I think less time/merit is given to doing it better than anyone else. While the Z8 interior didn't push too much as far as new. It was a modern interpretaition of 50 year old roadsters etc... In the 130k car class you had to choose from a stodgy mercedes, a 20 year old aston, and a jelly bean of a ferrari. The z8 with the center gauges, hidden nav, virtually unlabeled switch gear, leather everywhere, exterior color matched (on most colors) swath on instrument panel, banjo steering wheel... it was stunning. While not new ideas. Extremely well done ideas... and it wasn't being done at that time. It was a risk to do that interior etc...
Great story of the development of the original Toronado, a landmark design IMO from the latest issue of Collectible Automobile: sorry for the quality of the scan, not sure why it turned out blurry... Image Unavailable, Please Login
John Marcello Gandini in an interview with a UK Classic Car magazine cited the Gordon Buehrig 36-37 Cord design as one of his all time favourites. The original Toronado was inspired by the Cord Design. It's interesting to note that Gandini must have been inspired by the Toronado in the design of his Lamborghini Jarama If you open up the C Pillar, crop the front and rear on the Toronado you end up with the Jarama. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very cool! Never would have made that leap, but we all have our 'influences', some conscious, others , not so much.
I refer to a previous post on the ERICKSON GT designed & built by Kerne Erickson in his teens btw 1961 -1964 which predates the debut of the OPEL CD by approx.5 years and enclose photos for a comparison of the two cars Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Lamborghini Marzal and Holden GTR-X Concept cars both share styling cues with the Erickson GT. The Erickson GT was commenced in 1961 & completed by 1964. Can anyone direct me to a design other than the Testudo by Bertone that may have influenced the development of the Erickson GT? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Get your hands on the Style Auto issue that did an article on the development of the Opel CD. I would also advise you to start looing at the views other than the side view. Pure side views can be very deceiving on the form development. Jeff
Mike, I believe with all due respect, you may be ascribing too much influence from the one-off Erickson. while I will certainly agree the Erickson predates the Opel CD, they are in no way similar other than how the canopy/doors operate. Look at the surfaces and they are 2 totally different animals. The Opel has a very soft fluid surface execution, whereas the Ericsson has a very flat, planar surface execution. The belt lines, and DLO (daylight opening) are dissimilar. The Ericsson has a hard bone-line running through the bodyside, the Opel has a very soft bon- line up high on the bodyside. Take Jeff's advice and see if you can find a copy of the issue of Style Auto from that era that featured the Opel CD. I believe you'll see the obvious differences. Of course, the best way to get answers to your query would be to talk to the original designer, Mr. Erickson, himself. My take is a designer with ordinary skill in the art would never confuse the 2 designs.
John, with all due respect, I announced in my first post in this thread that I am a collector of hand built one offs -not a designer, but notwithstanding - I believe I have a good sense of proportion - hence I generally date supermodels - and at my age - sometimes with wrinkles, because the details don't always detract -from sound proportions! Whilst I am not a designer, I agree with your comments its obvious the surface execution is not the same but the overall profile of the subject vehicles is not dissimilar. From my perspective the detail is not as important as the overall proportions of a vehicle and for what it is worth IMO the current use of excessive detailing apparent in many designs in an attempt to "reinvent the wheel" can sometimes serve to undermine what may otherwise be a good design. I have enquired with Mr Erickson as to his inspiration, but he stated he could not point to any specific vehicle - so I embarked on my own research in an attempt to discover what may have influenced the Erickson GT The 1963 Testudo seemed obvious - however Mr Erickson indicates he began his design in 1961 and the vehicle was registered on the road in 1964. When I first discovered the Erickson GT I thought it was a remarkable trend setting design, however when I discovered that it was not only designed but actually constructed into an operational vehicle by a teen between the ages of 14 - 18, I thought "WOW!!! When I compared it to somewhat "similar" designs namely the Opel CD and the Marzal, I thought even a bigger "WOW" was appropriate and of course its appropriate because the young Kerne Erickson won a $5000 scholarship for his entry in the 1962 Fisher Body Craftsman Guild competition - which suggests he was a competent young designer and at that point in time a leader amongst his peers. One would be entitled to expect the OPEL CD and Marzal concept cars would be remarkable given the source of their origins endowed with talent and resources, but when you compare the ERICKSON GT subject to obvious limitations (lack of resources, experience and youth) - in context - designer or not - the ERICKSON GT is an even more remarkable achievement! No two ways about it! I'm not here to "rustle feathers" - however I don't think that its correct for anyone to imply that only designers are qualified to make the call - because if that was the case - all cars would be beautiful - but that is not the case! In fact the truth of the matter is that the US Auto Manufacturers which dominated the auto industry produced some of the most hideous vehicles in the latter part of the 20th century that drove once patriotic Americans to prefer Foreign cars instead. "Designers" were part of the "mix" responsible for the contraction of the US Auto Industry. I'm an aficionado / custodian - who puts his money where his mouth is - I go to a great deal of trouble to procure, save and preserve "special" or limited production vehicles - in reality for the benefit of others to enjoy them as well as for future generations - at great expense I might add. That said - I would appreciate if you or anyone on this forum can draw my attention to any contemporary designs (other than the Testudo ) which could be interpreted to have possibly influenced the young Kerne Erickson in creating the Erickson GT
Mike, please don't think I would EVER imply that only a designer could/can evaluate a design as you point out. My observation is based on the premise that the car you are referring to is certainly dear to your heart & your passion for the car is apparent. Regarding what may or may not have influenced the young Mr. Erickson, I'll leave that study to others that may have a better awareness than myself. The fact that you make the following statement :'I have enquired with Mr Erickson as to his inspiration, but he stated he could not point to any specific vehicle - so I embarked on my own research in an attempt to discover what may have influenced the Ericsson GT', this tells me if he is unable to articulate his inspiration, it's a difficult proposition indeed to have someone else 'guess' what may or may not have been. I'm not able to put myself into the mind of another designer and what may have been I wish you the best of luck tracking down your questions. Somewhere there's probably a good answer. I personally don't have any thoughts myself. Believe it or not........this all predates my own career.....i'm old, but not THAT old
So John, tapping into another subject, which designers in your opinion have hit the ball out of the park the most often (not the most times)? Is there anybody out there today batting a thousand? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
There's a good question Batting a 1000? I don't think so. Strictly my opinion, nothing more, nothing less off the top of my coconut & at the risk of getting everyone riled up, Giugiaro for me still is as consistent as any. Interesting how the split between him and VW went down Audi has a good handle on who they are and what they need to do next, I think Mercedes is pushing the design envelope for the major Mfgs. I give them a lot of credit for just how far they're willing to push, which speaks volumes about Mr. Wagener: https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mercedes-benz/design/team/gorden-wagener/gorden-wagener-vice-president-design-daimler-ag/ Ferrari is doing a good job retaining their look whilst moving forward, whereas Lambo may be close to coming off the rails at any given moment. The Gallardo was such a great design, IMO, but now they appear to want to shock more than anything Bentley/Rolls/ Land Rover/Aston Martin are doing what they do best,and along with Porsche are consistently good at what they all do Kia is on a role design-wise, with the great input from Peter Schreyer:http://www.kia.com/eu/design/designbykia/design_officer/
Whilst I'm on a roll i thought i would share some pictures of another vehicle in my collection of hand built cars the 1954 McCormack designed & built by Henry McCormack of California at the tender age of 18. I will stick my neck out and say that the design was more advanced than some of the dream car concepts produced by the Big Three up to 1954. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
