In today’s superb post on Bertone and the Mazda Luce, I re-encountered a car I had forgotten about, Marcello Gandini’s 1967 Fiat 125 Executive concept (Bertone). It reflected what may well be the high point in automotive visibility, what with its huge and airy greenhouse. Obviously, it looks a bit extreme from today’s vantage point; in 1967 designers were pushing the limits of how glassy cars could be, given the technological changes that made it possible. In the early-mid 1950s, cars still had quite small windows. And Gandini in particular was a fan of glass, at the time.
Gandini’s Lamborghini Marzal was my heartthrob in 1967, and glassy sides figured into it in a major way.
So when he transposed the Marzal’s design language to the Fiat 125 chassis, the roof line got a big tall; almost pope-mobileish.
I’ve already said my piece on the Camaro, so we’ll spare it in any more vitriol. But can you find more extreme examples of these two different design themes?
Well, other than this obvious one? As I said, 1967-1968 was the high point in this trend.
Most airy was my Dad’s ’64 Chevy Impala wagon. With 7 kid, 2 adults, and no A/C; air flow was critical for a family stationed in New Orleans. The window in the tailgate spent more time down than up.
Least airy for its era – Porsche 356 Speedster. Try passing a large cup of beer through the window. In its defense you can at least put the roof down entirely to escape your confinement.
94-96 Impalas and Caprices: lots of glass…
First gen Renault Esapce?
and don’t forget the Austin Maestro – oh, you already had!
My nominations. If most airy can permit a prototype, the Brooks Stevens designed Studebaker Skyview. The slide-open rear roof kicks this very airy greenhouse over the top.
Least airy, 1940-48 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
The airiest grrenhouse? Without a doubt (in my mind anyway!), the Australian 1979 XD-1988 XF Ford Falcon. XF pictured here:
Slightly off-topic, but John Deere tractors are worthy of mention with their wrap-around windows with the sole roof pillar that is in line with the exhaust pipe, and no other visual obstruction. A very neat solution.
There are plenty of nominees for least airy greenhouse, probably the worst are compact crossovers where the window sill rises above eye level of children and the clear portion of the rear window is less than 12″ tall.
Agreed. When JD introduced the 6000/7000/8000 Series in the 90s, everyone was impressed with how much of an improvement had been made over the cramped and dark Sound-Gard cabs.
The corner-post muffler was the only real improvement that had been made on the “new” 60 Series tractors coming from the large-frame 55 Series, and it didn’t really mesh well aesthetically with the Sound-Gard cab (though it did improve visibility). It was actually an option on the 6000s and small 7000s (7200 and 7400) and the later 6010/small 7010 Series. Those ones used the left-side muffler coming out of the hood, which was standard on open station tractors.
The trouble with tractors is that they give you a lot of glass but not a lot of defroster. You get wet loading a shit spreader in the rain. When you get in the tractor with wet clothes the windows all fog up. Not so airy anymore.
1st gen Barracuda…
First generation Range Rovers are pretty airy- you almost feel like you are going to fall out on slopes!
A 2nd gen Corvair coupe.
I second that. That’s what mine would look like… if it was nice. 🙁
’78-’83 Fairmont/Zephyr, best.
Worst, by far…
I would say the Chrysler K Car and its offshoots. was one of the best cars for visibility. They were cars with a nice upright greenhouse.
I just bought this 1992 LeBaron Landau last week for $700 to use as a winter beater car. It has low miles and working A/C. Even with the vinyl half top it still has excellent visibility. It also is the last(or one of the last) American cars with Brougham pretensions of pillow button type seats.
Now as for the worst. I think the current Camaro is the worst with its gun slit windows.
The worst one I ever encountered was my second Generation Scion XB with its huge assed C Pillar which made seeing rough.
Very nice find! I have been window shopping for a Lebaron Landau for a while now, but they are thin on the ground in MI. I agree that the AA bodies have very good visibility (and also extremely good interior space for the size).
My Dodge RamCharger has a lot of glass.
My Wife’s V70 has some of the best visibility ever.
81′ Diplomat has no blind spot, or ever hang illusion.
80’s Chevy 3 ton with a 5 ton box. Know your distance, or else….
Clark forklift is a glass box.
Any car that does not blow HEAT at -40C is an ice coffin.
Fun fact: -40 is the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit.
My ’79 Audi 5000, ’98 Volvo S70 and ’01 Isuzu Trooper all had great visibility. Then there’s this….