Category Archives: Photos of women and vehicles
Selling Steel with Style, Part IV
Some grilles and grins today, both pre-war and post, in more of those factory press release photos that we so enjoy. It looks like that’s a heavily retouched 1941 Nash Ambassador above, but frankly we can’t tell it apart from the lesser models by outward appearance alone. Apparently, Vera West was a Hollywood costume designer. We assume she was responsible for the form fitting gown on the unidentified model posing with the car.
Below, (L to R) , we have two more “orphan” makes, the Nash and the Frazer and one example of a brand that has survived, the Lincoln, in photos from December, 1945, July, 1946 and April, 1947 respectively. It’s easy to forget today just how different and modern the slab sided 1947 Kaisers and Frazers looked to car buyers when compared to the “Big Three’s” post-war offerings, which were mostly face lifted versions of 1941 models.
Selling Steel with Style, Part III
Four more examples today of those wonderful advertising images that were intended to lure buyers into the new car showrooms. It’s November 11, 1940 and the photographer dressed up his model in fur and the latest pillbox hat (above), but had to resort to some serious post session retouching of the bumper, grille and headlights to similarly doll up the Willys. The tasteful 1935 Chrysler Airstream Six in our first thumbnail (below), presents a more conventionally attractive face than the Airflow we showed you in Selling Steel With Style, Part II. The delicate Art Deco trim on it really appeals to us.
The center shot (above) of another 1941 Willys Americar clearly demonstrates it’s diminutive dimensions. Built by the last American manufacturer to offer a fuel-sipping four cylinder engine in a four door car, the Willys at first appealed to a very limited customer base. It’s popularity rose considerably after the advent of gas rationing during World War II. And who could resist a brightly painted 1941 Plymouth convertible? Certainly not the trio of smiling folks who posed with it on September 8, 1940. In 1939, Plymouth became the first make in the low priced field to offer an automatic convertible top.
If you enjoyed these photos, check out our first two posts in this series, Selling Steel With Style Part I and Part II. Photos courtesy the Benjamin Ames Collection (scroll down).
Posted in Auto photos 1921 - 1942, Photos of women and vehicles
Tagged Chrysler, Chrysler Airstream, Plymouth, Willys, Willys Americar
Selling Steel with Style Part II
Here at The Old Motor, we really like these promotional press release photos. Today we have a quartet of quality and chrome from Nash and Chrysler Corp. Their flagship 1937 Nash Ambassador Eight in our featured image above was shot on November 14, 1936 and exhibits a level of Art Deco ornamentation that few other cars of the time could equal. Perhaps only the “shark-nosed” 1938-39 Grahams can be said to have been more ostentatious. The two Dodges and one Chrysler (below) display a range of takes on the definition of the word “style”.
The conventional look of the 1933 Dodge (left) presents an attractive, if conservative, appearance. Overall proportions are quite good and the long molding on the front fender provides just a bit of dash. But it seems that even an attractive young lady perched on that 1934 Chrysler Airflow (center) wasn’t enough to remove the skeptical look from the faces of the couple in the background giving it the once over. Their dour expressions would prove prophetic about the eventual fate of Chrysler’s unfortunate “Ugly Duckling.” Lastly, could that be Washington state’s smiling representative to the Miss America contest waving to us from across the decades from the fender of the 1937 Dodge?
The Chrysler Airflow Club of America has been celebrating that revolutionary car since 1962. Devotees to all things Kenosha can be found at the Nash Car Club of America. Photos courtesy the Benjamin Ames Collection (scroll down).
Posted in Auto photos 1921 - 1942, Photos of women and vehicles
Tagged 1934 Chrysler Airflow, Chrysler, Chrysler Airflow, Dodge, Nash, Nash Ambassador
