15 December 2022
Following the crash on Wall Street in October 1929, understandably, the American motor car industry was in freefall.
What is interesting, despite this very gloomy time, when people couldn’t afford to put food on the table, the motor car industry sold fewer cars in the 30s than they had in the 20s. Styling and design became the new marketing motivation to encourage new buyers.
The typical square styling of the motor car changed to an Art Deco-influenced, streamlined shape for the wealthy.
The motor car metamorphosed into a piece of Art.
The style was influenced heavily by the European designers responsible for Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Talbot and Delahaye.
While much of the world suffered through the Great Depression, a class of people remained untouched by a struggling economy and demanded much more for their motor cars.
Not just artistic, new features like front-wheel drive and electric wipers originated.
Art Deco was an artistic movement that dominated nearly every form of creative expression between World War I and World War II. From the Chrysler Building to furniture to paintings and advertisements. Art Deco brought about a new era of style that combined extravagance with simplicity and functionality.
