The Greatest Auto Side Trim Designs of All Time — Evoking Smooth and Swift Motion

 

When I think of the works that man hath wrought, I say “You can’t give up on the human race!”  You just can’t.  Especially after you see these fantastic examples of auto side trim designs that stylists have been inspired to create–designed to really “wow” prospects in the new car showroom.  And what is the source of this inspiration?  How many different artistic variations have been tried?  Hundreds, maybe thousands.  So here I present some of my favorite examples that I remember throughout the decades . . .

In the Western Tradition, going back to ancient times, an object is not merely a “thing”–it must be ennobled artistically to be beautiful:  Think of a Grecian vase, the Parthenon, swords and weaponry, etc.  The coach above is a real work of art, yet it is completely functional.  In creating any special thing, the enlightened human mind naturally adds beauty to function.

Early cars were “horseless carriages”, and so aspects of the coachbuilder’s art carried forward into the Motor Age.  However, as in the royal coach above, pin striping and decoration is applied, but does not evoke a sense of forward motion.

Another tradition was having the owner’s initials artfully painted on the door, as seen on this 1931 Graham.

 

 

Starting around 1933-34, Streamline Moderne became the new style trend, opening up a whole new world of inspired creativity in auto design.  Note how the body lines are now fluid, as if shaped by the wind.  This suggests speed, not stasis.  The teardrop grilles on the side, shaped like an airplane wing’s cross section, further suggest fleet, effortless forward motion.

 

Chrysler came up with a striking design in 1942 that would predict postwar trends.  Thin horizontal grille bars now wrap around to the front fenders.  Matching “speed lines” adorn the rear fenders.

 

The war is over, and now the fun really begins!  Streamline Moderne is now giving way to Jet Age Futurism.  Buick hits hard two ways–introducing “Portholes” (technically, “Ventiports”) and the Buick “Sweep-Spear”.  The portholes may be imitating the exposed exhaust pipes of sporty cars of the Classic Era, or they may suggest that the Buick is like a luxurious ocean liner floating along the highway.  The sweep-spear gracefully sweeps back and around, emphasizing lowness and dynamic energy.

Over the decades, the portholes would become round, oval, oblong, rectangular, and other shapes.  They would also become a way to identify the social status of the car’s owner:  Lower priced models would have three holes per side, while top models (like the Roadmaster) would sport four.  Also the Buick sweep-spear would become a consistent element of Buick styling, rendered in sweeping arcs of various shapes.

 

In 1956, Mercury introduced their own form of the sweep-spear;  not as graceful as Buick’s, but I still like it.  It also incorporates a kind of “lightning bolt” motif.

In a rather bizarre “clash of civilizations”, Ford and Mercury decided that since station wagons traditionally had wood bodies, why not apply fake wood to the sides of modern steel wagons to recapture the beauty of authentic wood?  Of course, no one believed the “wood” was real, but did that really matter?  I’m sure the sophisticated cognoscenti of Europe dismissed this as another example of “low American taste”!

Here’s one they really got right–the ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air.  It’s become iconic–everybody recognizes it!

But did you know that the ’57 Chrysler Saratoga used a very similar design?

Model year 1958 arrives, and the manufacturers are all outdoing themselves, trying to come up with the latest, greatest version of startling newness.  Buick ups the ante by temporarily dropping Ventiports and coming up with these inserts that look like they’re shooting forward at lightning speed!  I’m not sure what this is;  to me it looks like a stingray–Harley Earl may have called it a “zong”!  Special and Century used this design, while Super and Roadmaster had their own version.  The snazzy Limited featured exclusive angled louvers combined with deluxe “ribbed” taillights.

Not to be outdone, Pontiac puts an actual rocket on the side of its top-of-the-line Bonneville model.  It appears that stars are shooting out of the back of the rocket;  or maybe the rocket is traveling at warp speed throughout the cosmos.  Whether this design is an example of artistic genius or infantile gimcrackery, I’ll let you decide.

Meanwhile, over at Mercury (pioneer in applying antique-looking fake wood to Space Age station wagons), we have what appear to be “ray guns” emerging from “coves” that somewhat resemble fins, but are not.  Remarkably, this styling was lengthened and exaggerated in 1959, so that the cars, when seen in real life, do not appear to be of this world!

A style trend that lasted very briefly was anodized gold trim.  I really liked the look, because it added a rich dash of golden sheen that made two-tones look like subtle tri-tones.  And gold pretty much goes with anything (1958 Ford shown).

Auto advertisers were constantly reminding us that we were now in the Jet Age, so what could be more logical than putting a jet on the side of the 1960 Chevrolet?

As the 1960s began, the design orgy of the ’50s came to an end.  Now the look was a kind of “tailored conservatism”.  Harley Earl is gone;  there are no more “zongs”.  But still some interesting little accents appeared.  When the first Mustang came out in mid-1964, its clean design had mass appeal.  But I think it was “missing something”.  Sure enough, in 1967, this little “comb” was added to the back of the “cove”, which I think is just the right “extra touch” the car needed.

 

People who grew up in the 1930s-50s with optimistic dreams for a Space Age future probably became disillusioned after experiencing the tumultuous late ’60s and the Malaise of the ’70s.  So now there is a yearning for “The Good Old Days.”  LOL.  Now we have design motifs that hearken back to the 1920s and the “coachbuilt” era.  Pinstriping is back, along with “engraved” (plastic) decorative strips along the sides;  plus other Victorianisms like (simulated) coach lamps, opera windows, (imitation) leather grained roofs, and English copperplate script.

This example even has a “Continental” spare tire mounted in the trunk lid, which is “reinforced” with fake chromium “straps”.  I can understand why this was done, and I appreciate the skill in execution, but things that are too phony–trying too hard–turn me off.  Sorry.  If “You are what you drive,” what sort of image does this project?

Lee Iacocca was a Ford guy, and when he went over to Chrysler he promoted the “minivan” project.  And since the minivan is “the station wagon of the future”, it should be available with plastic wood trim on the sides!  Because of course!

 

 

Another Iacocca creation were these two luxury models based on the front-drive K platform (which wasn’t obvious like the previous 1982-1987 generation).  I really liked the way they did the chrome on these.  It was like classic design on a modern car body, pleasantly downsized from the oversize “broughams” they were meant to emulate.  I owned two of these cars, and the fit-and-finish was excellent.  The paint was super-glossy and deep;  the chrome never pitted;  and the leather or cloth seats were sumptuous and durable.  Drove like a dream, except for steering that should have been more precise.  Definitely underrated cars that you can hardly find anymore.

Moving into more modern times, decorative side trim of any kind is hard to find.  I do like this Lincoln star on the front fender of the 2012 Lincoln MKZ.  Other sporty and luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes, and Cadillac sometimes have little chromed ornaments on the front fenders, which give off a slightly retro feel.

As late as 2015, you could buy a new Buick LaCrosse, and it will have Ventiports (greatly reduced in size), and creased body contours that replicate the classic sweep-spear of old.  So in a sense we have about 65 years of styling continuity, which few cars can boast.

Time pushes us ever forward, world without end.  Who knows what sort of car designs await us in the future?  Whatever they are, they will say something about our dreams and aspirations as a people and a culture.

 

I’m sure you have your favorite trim designs that I didn’t include.  What are they?  Let us know in the comment section below.