Evening star., 1925-03-29
H|GH-GRADE AUTOS
DEFY STYLE FADS
Really Artistic Designs New
er Grow Antiquated, Euro
pean Designer Declares.

Good automobile appearance does
not grow out of date, but it is, rather,
the freakish design that changes
from year to year. Unlike the styles
in women's hats and other ephemeral
fashions, automobile style has great
cr permanency, according to motor
car designers, who point to the last
ing artistic qualities of European
ears as a feature in automobile man
ufacture that should be emulated to
a greater extent in this country.
There is plenty of evidence. partic-
ularly in Europe. for the contention
that a car properly designed 10 years
ago is in good style today. and, SIM
ilarly, a car which is properly de-
signed today still will be considered
good looking 10 years hence.
Discussing this subject, ]. Frank
de Causse, designer of special models
for use by European royalty and who
is also responsible for the new Frank
lin design, said: My idea of auto
mobile style is as 1t applied to art.
You do not see the style of art
changing from year to year. in fur
niture, for instance. the periodS are
definitely fixed. Louis NV is ornate.
Some other period is something else.
In architecture you will find that
buildings follow the Greek, the Gothic
or some other of the well known
standards. These standards do not
change. Similarly, the dictates of
good taste in automobile design can
not be observed where frequent
changes in body features occur.
Harmony the Secret.
automobile style takes into con-
sideration not merely lines and pro-
portions, but there also must be
close relationship between the gem
cral effect and all external features,
such as headlights, tenders and hood.
I'm other words, every component
element must be in harmony. That
is a fundamentally essential style
condition which one does not always
ma among our automobiles, and
which explains. in a measure, why
the American public tires so quickly
OF innovations in automobile design.
sAnother essential in good auto
mobile style is quality of materials
and workmanship. Custom features.
for instance, greatly enhance appear
ance, but are expensive
"A few custom touches on open cars
which might be mentioned are Eng
lish Burbank top material polished
walnut top bows and nickel-pIated
slat iron.
The quality appearance of closed
cars is enhanced by color crest pan
els on doors and around windows.
earmarks of fineness also include the
use of a hood, which is kept flush
with the cowl and radiator These
and other points add to clean-cut de-
sign and distinguished appearance,
but it is only through eXacting and
expensive workmanship that these
details can be furnished.
Also, a stylist is not likely to
achieve maximum success unless he
is absolutely unhampered and unre-
stricted in his efforts | am merely
discussing these things from the
standpoint of one who undertakes to
design a real style car. This means
he must have a free hand in deter
mining everything that affects ap-
pearance: any depression from the
effect which the stylist conceives re-
suits. in all likelihood in a displeas-
ing design.
Freak Designs Weary.
Every person instinctively knows
what is beautiful, and when he sees
something in automobile design, for
instance, which is not wholly salts
Tying, he may not be able to analyze
the design and explain his objection,
but it is very likely that there is one
or more freakish elements in the
whole appearance which really are
not good, and hence do not appeal
TO him and will not wear Well with
the public. 1T all cores down to
question of whether the whole design
is refined and within the bounds OF
good taste
The consideration of sineularity
of appearance naturally is an Iupor-
tant factor i'll satisfying beauty. 1t
Is possible that car may be good
looking. but the design characteris-
tics may be SO commonplace that
they are unacceptable generally; the
public is tired of them.
THE hackneyed kind of automobile
beauty is avoided particularly by the
discriminating motorist. He is look
ing for something that is exclusive,
and it is necessary for him to order
either a special custom-built car,
which is expensive, or to buy GUS
tom-featured car produced in lin
tied rather than big-scale quantities.
with the custom featured car pro-
fuced in limited numbers the buyer
may obtain a full measure of dis
tinctiveness through special trimming
and finish; the latter. in fact. may be
made to effect a complete change in
external appearance.
1T is noteworthy that Americans
who were once patrons of the special
made-to- border bodies. mounted quite
probably upon foreign Chasses, are
turning in decided manEr to Amer
ica's fine quality cars, possibly with
this special color and fittings The
reason is that Americas Wen made
cars afford a distinct advantage IN
performance and in service rendered"