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Curbside Classics Archives
Design Archive
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![(first posted 10/11/2017) Although it’s a bit fussy, I’ve always had a soft spot for the 1961 Cadillac and its “skegs”. But until I stumbled into this […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Cadillac-1961-concept.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Concept Outtake: How the 1961 Cadillac Skegs Were Originally Conceived, And The Whipsawing of GM Design By Chrysler and Ford")
Concept Outtake: How the 1961 Cadillac Skegs Were Originally Conceived, And The Whipsawing of GM Design By Chrysler and Ford
Posted on October 11, 2023 | 78 Comments(first posted 10/11/2017) Although it’s a bit fussy, I’ve always had a soft spot for the 1961 Cadillac and its “skegs”. But until I stumbled into this […] -
![(first posted 6/8/2017) We humans see faces in all sorts of things, we’re wired that way. We especially see faces in the fronts of our cars. Two […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/squareback73.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream – Cars Without Grilles")
Automotive History: I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream – Cars Without Grilles
Posted on June 8, 2023 | 167 Comments(first posted 6/8/2017) We humans see faces in all sorts of things, we’re wired that way. We especially see faces in the fronts of our cars. Two […] -
![‘Influences,’ ‘References,’ ‘Inspiration;’ all professional terms for what we at CC commonly refer to as cribbing. As time puts distance from a product’s release, a designer will occasionally admit what’s […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/influences-1a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Commentary: Influences – Chuck Jordan On The Art Of Cribbing")
Vintage Commentary: Influences – Chuck Jordan On The Art Of Cribbing
Posted on March 16, 2023 | 18 Comments‘Influences,’ ‘References,’ ‘Inspiration;’ all professional terms for what we at CC commonly refer to as cribbing. As time puts distance from a product’s release, a designer will occasionally admit what’s […] -
![(first posted 3/1/2017) Yesterday’s Part 1 of this two part series focused on the period of time before the “palace revolt” that led to a rethinking of the Earl-led concepts […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SIA-GMsFarOut59s_01_1500.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SIA Design History: “GM’s Far Out ’59s – When Imagination Ran Rampant”, Part 2")
Vintage SIA Design History: “GM’s Far Out ’59s – When Imagination Ran Rampant”, Part 2
Posted on February 28, 2023 | 15 Comments(first posted 3/1/2017) Yesterday’s Part 1 of this two part series focused on the period of time before the “palace revolt” that led to a rethinking of the Earl-led concepts […] -
![(first posted 10/5/2012) By 1969, flower power went mainstream…right up the Detroit River, even. Hoping to cash in on the latest fad, Chrysler unveiled one of the era’s more colorful […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/plymouth-barracuda_mod-top_ad-1_69.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "The Mod Top: Introducing The Car You Wear")
The Mod Top: Introducing The Car You Wear
Posted on February 4, 2023 | 84 Comments(first posted 10/5/2012) By 1969, flower power went mainstream…right up the Detroit River, even. Hoping to cash in on the latest fad, Chrysler unveiled one of the era’s more colorful […] -
![There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) generated art is a big thing right now. It can produce some amazing and creative images as well as some very weird […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Mercedes-220D-5.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Artificial Intelligence Classics: “Improvements” on some of my previous rides")
Artificial Intelligence Classics: “Improvements” on some of my previous rides
Posted on December 7, 2022 | 15 CommentsThere is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) generated art is a big thing right now. It can produce some amazing and creative images as well as some very weird […] -
![(first posted 11/27/2016) It is fitting that our feature car was designed by a Roman Catholic priest; ‘catholic’ (small c), means ‘universal’, and to the best of my knowledge no […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1957-aurora-safety-car-4-1024x576.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Catechism: 1957 Aurora—Sins of the Father")
Curbside Catechism: 1957 Aurora—Sins of the Father
Posted on November 27, 2022 | 83 Comments(first posted 11/27/2016) It is fitting that our feature car was designed by a Roman Catholic priest; ‘catholic’ (small c), means ‘universal’, and to the best of my knowledge no […] -
![(first posted 6/22/2013) Like Jim Cavanaugh — or even more so, if that’s possible — I found the 1980 Mark VI to be rather pathetic: a rolling monument to bad […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Lincoln-Mark-6-Ad03.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design Analysis: Did The Lincoln Mark VI Have The Biggest Overhang Ratio Ever?")
Design Analysis: Did The Lincoln Mark VI Have The Biggest Overhang Ratio Ever?
Posted on October 26, 2022 | 128 Comments(first posted 6/22/2013) Like Jim Cavanaugh — or even more so, if that’s possible — I found the 1980 Mark VI to be rather pathetic: a rolling monument to bad […] -
![(first posted 10/15/2016) Few French designers have left their mark on as many cars, trucks and other products as Philippe Charbonneaux. His only real rival would be Raymond […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Charbonneaux.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design Biography: Philippe Charbonneaux – Vive la Différence!")
Design Biography: Philippe Charbonneaux – Vive la Différence!
Posted on October 15, 2022 | 44 Comments(first posted 10/15/2016) Few French designers have left their mark on as many cars, trucks and other products as Philippe Charbonneaux. His only real rival would be Raymond […] -
![(first posted 7/30/2012) Virgil Exner came very close to getting his 1960 XNR roadster into production, although probably in a slightly toned down form from the pretty wild prototype. Based […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/plymouth_XNR-1960-.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History Capsule: Virgil Exner’s 1960 XNR – Plymouth’s Corvette Fighter Almost Made It Into Production")
Automotive History Capsule: Virgil Exner’s 1960 XNR – Plymouth’s Corvette Fighter Almost Made It Into Production
Posted on April 28, 2022 | 43 Comments(first posted 7/30/2012) Virgil Exner came very close to getting his 1960 XNR roadster into production, although probably in a slightly toned down form from the pretty wild prototype. Based […] -
CC Design: Chrysler Studies Ergonomics in 1962, and Now Just Look!
Posted on April 3, 2022 | 128 CommentsErgonomics, also called human factors, is the science of design and arrangement to maximise the efficiency, ease, and safety of people’s interaction with things. It was a -
![I’ve seen pictures before of Loewy’s BMW 507 Coupe that he designed and had built for himself, but they were invariably in profile or from the rear. When I came […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Loewy-507-f.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design Milestone: Raymond Loewy’s 1957 BMW 507 Coupe – Ahead Of Its Time In At Least One Key Way")
Design Milestone: Raymond Loewy’s 1957 BMW 507 Coupe – Ahead Of Its Time In At Least One Key Way
Posted on August 28, 2021 | 46 CommentsI’ve seen pictures before of Loewy’s BMW 507 Coupe that he designed and had built for himself, but they were invariably in profile or from the rear. When I came […] -
![(first posted 6/16/2015) NOBODY LIKES to look under-endowed in the locker room, and no car likes to look puny in the showroom. A full lunch-box matters: whatever the body-style or […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/power-bulge.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design History: The Story Of The Power Bulge")
Design History: The Story Of The Power Bulge
Posted on June 16, 2021 | 37 Comments(first posted 6/16/2015) NOBODY LIKES to look under-endowed in the locker room, and no car likes to look puny in the showroom. A full lunch-box matters: whatever the body-style or […] -
![(first posted 6/4/2015) A couple years ago I shared some photos I’d taken of the typography on classic cars. It seems like such a minor detail, but obvious design work […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1971-Plymouth-GTX.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Auto Typography 2")
Auto Typography 2
Posted on June 5, 2021 | 72 Comments(first posted 6/4/2015) A couple years ago I shared some photos I’d taken of the typography on classic cars. It seems like such a minor detail, but obvious design work […] -
![(first posted 5/27/2015) It may be said, rather unfairly perhaps, that CC has – in the past – placed Mercedes-Benz on a bit of a pedestal. Well, it’s time for […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/grandprixW116.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design History: Broughamtastic Benzes")
Design History: Broughamtastic Benzes
Posted on May 27, 2021 | 51 Comments(first posted 5/27/2015) It may be said, rather unfairly perhaps, that CC has – in the past – placed Mercedes-Benz on a bit of a pedestal. Well, it’s time for […]
