There’s something to be said about the elaborate, visionary automotive designs of eras past. During the 1950s and 1960s, America would see some of the most iconic designs emerge from automakers' art studios.  These decades were host to an array of monumental historical events, ranging from the end of WWII to the beginning of the Space Age.

Stunning designs inspired by fighter jets, theoretical spacecraft, and forward-thinking engineering were released during these time periods. Unfortunately, many of them never made it to production, most likely due to the radical styling elements they proposed. These sketches are clear depictions of designs that are both on trend and purpose-built. Along with the physical qualities of an attractive vehicle, they represent key ideas of each era.

Take a look at these concept car sketches from the Golden Age of car design and their history.

Space Age Culture

Vintage Car Sketch Auto Body Design Space Age Concept Car
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Sputnik I made its successful launch into space in 1957, sparking the origins of the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.  Technology continued to advance and the first humans would land on the moon in July of 1969.  The spirit of pioneering spaceflight persisted through this decade and those to follow.

The events of the time lead to the development of rich cultural ideals based on the principles of space exploration. Design elements such as parabolas and jet wing shapes were common in architecture and on vehicles. Elements such as the legendary tail fin, prevalent in the ‘50s and ‘60s, also stemmed from the principles of the aerodynamic jet design.

Popular culture would enhance the appeal of this futuristic styling and people would latch on to the hope for a prosperous future in America. USC history professor Phil Ethington said, "Hollywood and television fused the car with the rocket ship in popular imagination, and auto designers gleefully did the same, producing tail fins and gull-wing doors so that consumers could rocket to work without leaving the ground".

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The Post-WWII Era

Vintage Car Sketch Auto Body Design Space Age Concept Car
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During World War II, Detroit factories were constructed and upgraded to amplify U.S. military production.  The Big Three factories were redesigned to produce tanks, planes, and bomb materials.  GM made hundreds of M-5 tanks for the military and Ford was producing around one B24 bomber plane per hour.  Chrysler contributed to wartime efforts by producing the M3 and M4 Sherman tanks amongst others.  Automakers also made critical wartime technologies such as anti-submarine netting, ammunition, and bombs.

After World War II, Detroit factories built for mass production of tanks and weapons needed something to produce. Innovative, uniquely appealing designs were introduced as a way to spark consumer interest and lead to higher demand. This, combined with the excitement and culture of the Space Age, would lead to the creation of truly timeless designs.

Conceptualizing The American Dream

Vintage Car Sketch Auto Body Design Space Age Concept Car
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Clean, aviation-inspired lines were a sensible transition from the manufacturing of high-quality military equipment.  Many designers were hired out of the military, so their ideas played a large role in the concepts as well.  The streamlined cars with rounded lines from the 30s and 40s would make a transition into aggressive, jet-like styles.

One of the most iconic design elements of the time was the implementation of the tail fin. The design was initially proposed by “the Da Vinci of Detroit”, Harley Earl.  Although it began as somewhat of an experiment, the tail fin would soon be integrated by almost all manufacturers and become legendary over time.

He drew from the ideals of the age and created features designed to enhance consumer appeal.  In 1956, Earl was quoted as saying “The art of automobile design has progressed, until today it is regarded as one of the most important factors in the marketing of the automobile”.   He would use such philosophy in his designs, creating the tail fin and flagship cars like the Buick LeSabre.

The Rarity Of Treasured Concept Sketches

Vintage Car Sketch Auto Body Design Space Age Concept Car
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The artists behind the aesthetic qualities of timeless classic cars are often overlooked.  Many designers’ concept has been sold for a low price at a garage sale or flea market, with the owner unbeknownst to the true value of the sketch.

Designer Wayne Kady is one of the most renowned designers of the time.  Kady lead the design of classics such as the Cadillac Fleetwood and Eldorado as well as the later Buick Skylark.  He used watercolor to render his innovative concepts which often included a sloping tail.

Unfortunately, most of the concept art was destroyed by the automakers to prevent the competition from copying their work.  Greg Salustro, car exhibit curator, explained that “Only a small fraction of this art ever got out of the carmakers’ studios…Most of it was shredded or thrown out; what was saved was either removed by the automakers’ permission or was smuggled out or rescued from dumpsters”.  It's quite unfortunate to think that there are hundreds of futuristic jet age designs that can never be admired and appreciated.

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The End Of An Era

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Automotive designers would enjoy relatively boundless freedom while creating their new designs throughout the '50s and '60s.  These ideas would become constrained in the early 1970s accompanied by the establishment of the NHTSA, USDOT, and policies such as the Highway Safety Act.  Safety standards and power limitations began to discourage rocket-inspired high performance designs.  The remarkable allure and creativity that formed this era of automotive concepts will remain a treasured time in American history.

Sources:  Hemmings, Assembly, Popular Science

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