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Special Exhibits
Styled by the Wind - pre-War
Automotive Aerodynamics
Our exhibit focuses on streamlining and aerodynamics and their effect on automotive styling in the pre-war years, often considered
the golden era of streamlined
design. Law and social needs at the time most of the vehicles considered classic aerodynamic vehicles of this time were designed were such that designers had more freedom to create the shape they wanted without compromise.
We present significant examples of the designe's best efforts from Europe and
the US.
The 24 Hours of LeMans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans (24 Heures du Mans) is the world's oldest
sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since 1923
near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France. Commonly known as the
Grand Prix of Endurance, it is organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest
(ACO) and runs on a circuit containing closed public roads that are meant
not only to test a car
and driver's ability to be quick, but also to last over a 24 hour period.
At a time when Grand Prix racing was occurring throughout Europe, Le Mans was envisioned as a different test from motorsports. Instead of focusing on the ability of a car company to build the fastest machines of the time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans would instead concentrate on the ability of manufacturers to build sporty yet reliable cars. This would drive innovation in not only reliable but also fuel-efficient vehicles, since the nature of endurance racing requires as little time to be spent in the pits as possible.
At the same time, due to the design of Le Mans, a drive would be created for
better aerodynamics and stability of cars at high speeds. While this was
shared with Grand Prix racing, few tracks in Europe featured straights the
length of the Mulsanne. The fact that the road is public and therefore not
maintained to the same quality as some permanent racing circuits also
puts more of a strain on parts, causing more emphasis on reliability.
Coachwork by Howard Darrin
This special exhibit will celebrate the amazing coachworks of Howard Darrin.
"Dutch" is an appropriately jaunty nickname for a guy who left a
curvaceous trail, not unlike the shape of his signature "Darrin Dip,"
during some 40 years in the car business on both sides of the Atlantic.
He's best known today for a sporting oddity that shared his name, but
during his long and eclectic career, Darrin's talent for design would
grace the appearance of marques as diverse as Renault (in Paris) and
Packard (in Detroit).
Darrin had penned a novel arrow-shaped hood molding, which Packard had
adopted on several occasions. While teamed with Fernandez, Darrin had
created a stir with his dramatic take on a 1933 Packard Tenth Series
convertible sedan, with a three-position retractable top. Packard had
started out the 1930s with Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky on board as a
styling consultant, but by the end of the decade, Darrin had established
his own custom shop, Darrin of Paris, on Sunset Boulevard in Los
Angeles. One of his first stateside efforts was a 1937 Packard 120
four-seat victoria with a rear-mounted spare, crafted for the film star
Dick Powell. Next came his first five-passenger Packard, ordered by
Clark Gable. In 1939, Packard president Alvan Macauley persuaded Darrin
to join the firm as its chief aesthetic designer. What followed was the
stunning line of 1940 Packard Darrins, and he would have heavy input
into the styling of what eventually became the first Packard Clipper of
1942.
Following the war, he signed on with Kaiser-Frazer as a freelance
consultant, and was almost solely responsible for both the 1947 Kaiser
and Frazer sheetmetal. He again reined
Kaiser-Frazer's next major project, the design of the unforgettable 1951
Kaiser Manhattan, with its rounded roofline, trapezoidal
greenhouse-glass treatment and concave waterfall grille.
Hot Rods & Customs of the 50's
 
Returning GI's were hungry to get back on the road, but to many the look was
not right or the performance was lacking. The culture's birthplace was in
Southern California; but magazines like Hot Rod, Honk, and Rod and Custom
soon spread the word. Hot Rods and Customs were here to stay. Some wanted
to just go fast, so they modified engines and chassis. Others wanted to
look cool, so they chopped, channeled, sectioned and chromed. The result
was a unique vehicle, sometimes quite different from what Detroit was
offering. The classic Hot Rod was a 32 Duece on 29 rails sometimes stripped
of fenders. The perfect custom was a 50 Merc, chopped and lowered with
skirts. Either way, we think you will like the Period Hot Rods and Customs
we have gathered.
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