I refer to those '62's 7 '63's as 'the petrified convertible' look closely at the steel roof feature lines, and you'll see what I mean Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Makes me wonder if the bubble top went away because of it not sharing well with the other GM decisions or some other non-design issue. The petrified convertible wasn't bad but the bubble top was more interesting.
If I recall, there was much concern about 'formed' glass as well. The '82 Camaro/Firebird incurred huge reject rates for the formed backlights those cars had. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I wonder if the manufacturing people were worried about liability from distortion from so many "W" bends a "Double Bubble" backlight would necessitate. Back in the day, I recall the 1977 Toronado XS model as being the grandaddy for "formed" wrap-around glass. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I always thought of that roof style as a way to convey the 'look' of a more expensive convertible model in a coupe version. The 'real' convertible looked best as this Impala SS 409 illustrates here! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The 1970 1/2 Camaro had the best overall design of all the Camaro generations. That smaller rear window still worked ok in my experience. Without the design drawbacks of later efforts... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
My favorite Camaro. I thought the re-do of the Camaro should have used the '70.5 instead of the '69. I got out voted...... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Nope, I was in Cadillac at the time they were re energizing the Camaro. But I wasn't shy about voicing my opinion. The '69 was said to be the icon for Camaro owners, NOT the '70.5. What did I know? The car was a big success in spite of my opinions! Too much 'retro' for me.
As I remember it, the Toro and the Chevy B body couple were actually bent glass for the corner, not formed. Look closely some time to see how much surface distortion there is at the joint as curved surface are trying to become straight. I remember that Bill Mitchell had a 77 Caprice Coupe done up for a personal car.
Image Unavailable, Please Login You are correct. Those 2 cars had glass that was heated and bent over a heated wire, IIRC. The Camaro/Firebird were heated and drape formed over a form. I remember PPG, the glass supplier going crazy trying to make those backlights. The reject rate was quite high as I recall. Much scrap. That didn’t stop us ‘stylists’ from proposing it on any number of vehicles. I even sketched one for a Saturn Sedan.......
Maybe you could challenge your students to realize your modern '70.5 Camaro as a coursework assignment. And of course, send it to us here for "focus group" approval. All the best, Andrew.
Good idea Andrew, but those guys & gals aren’t familiar with those cars. They couldn’t care less. Besides, I’d rather they worked on the ‘future’ rather than looking to the past. Every chance I get, I tell my students the future is in the windshield, not the rear view mirror.
How do they get the urge to design cars in the first place if they aren't familiar with landmark vehicles of the past? All the best, Andrew.
One of life’s mysteries. Each has their own reason for pursuing a career in design.I just try to facilitate that desire.
I was reading an article about car design yesterday and it said that the designer got their inspiration from one of these! To each his own! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Good friend of mine had his work featured in Hagerty’s ‘zine. Some very cool historical design work. https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/04/08/gm-designer-dick-ruzzin-sketched-the-future
Love it! Some fascinating sketches. If only at least some of the design work could make it through without being watered down or shot down by the bean counters and engineers. I know some cars are revered for their performance, but it seems to me that most all the cars we all most covet are so because they are very visually appealing.
You got that right. Appearance/design can be so important in the purchase and selection of an automobile. Just read some of the passionate comments on FChat whenever a new Ferrari is introduced. Wait........’Design:it’s important’
