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New Book - Review
Art Deco and
British Car Design - The Airline Cars of the 1930's
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"Art
Deco was not a standalone Art movement but it was a social
revolution that affected most people and products to a significant
degree during the 1920's and 30's. One of these was the British
car industry. In the motoring press at the time this style was
known as "Streamlining" and many of the models were
actually named "Airline" or given names in similar
vogue, each relating to the Aircraft industry."
This passage is taken from the Foreword to Barrie Down's
interesting book that goes on to identify and feature all the cars
that the author has identified as fitting this category. Most of
these were limited production versions of run of the mill cars but
some were spectacular examples of more prestigious marques. A
whole chapter is devoted to the Standard marque, in particular the
"Speed", Speedline" and the whole family of
"Flying" Standards. Indeed Standards are identified as
the only marque that adopted the streamlined concept through its
entire mid and late thirties model range. No other manufacturer
was so bold.
The book is comprehensively illustrated with examples not only
from Standard, but also from Hillman, MG, SS, Riley, Singer,
Talbot, AC and Alvis to name only a few. How each range was conceived
and developed is covered in a degree of detail to support the
lavish photography. What is missing however is any indication of
mechanical specification or performance. Some might regard this as
a failing but that is to miss the point. It is rare indeed to see
a book that features both a Standard Flying 9 in the same company
as , say, a Gurney Nutting Rolls Royce 20/25, but they fit
seamlessly together here, where both are being considered purely
for their asthetic and artistic appeal. |
"Art Deco and
British Car Design" comprising 144 pages and over 200 illustrations,
many in colour, is published by Veloce at 22.50 GBP in the UK, $44.95 in
the USA. You can purchase from the Veloce website: www.veloce.co.uk
Phil Homer
Webmaster
(Nov 2010)
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