Styling and the Experimental Car (1964)

[Music] [Music] this is the story of a search a search for beauty in this search Men first Drew inspiration from the forms of nature in Egypt the Papyrus plant formed The Motif in the fluting of architectural columns [Music] in the maiden's [Music] gown in the alabaster vase in the styling of Chariots the ancestors all Fleet and beautiful things on [Music] Wheels the finest wheel Vehicles were styled for elegance and were made by hand for the fortunate fuel [Music] but then came an innovation that was a turning point in [Music] history no one cared that the automobile looked like the familiar buggy minus the horse people were more concerned with whether it was safe and how how well it would work automobiles continued to look like carriages and much the same lines were used year after year then Motorcars became a means of mass transportation with steel bodies that could be reproduced in the [Music] millions late in the 1920s the model A replaced the Model T here was the beginning of a new motor Age The Styling of a mass-produced car so that it would be more pleasing to the eye as Engineers worked to improve the mechanism stylists worked to improve the appearance in those formative years the concept of the modern car was born as the work of The Stylist became an organized search for beauty [Music] one concept led to the elegance and dignity of the [Music] Continental unto the Swift and distinctive lines of the Thunderbird [Music] principles of beauty to an automobile like the painters and sculptors who preceded him for centuries he draws inspiration and ideas from the life the forms and the Art of the world shape proportion ornamentation material texture color function pattern space and Rhythm so that the automobile he designs will be both functional and beautiful he explores the Dynamics of motion both mechanical and human or as he learned when he was a student if you can draw the subtlety of the human figure you can draw anything just as a sculptor May Express strength and Repose The Stylist must Express form that relates to motion he Blends all these elements for the final effect of Harmony order and interest the cont temporary stylist is part artist part architect part sculptor and part product designer like Leonardo da Vinci The Stylist unites art and Technology Leonardo Master of the Renaissance approached art as a science and science as an art Leonardo's spring-driven automobile has something in common with this dream dream car conceived in an Advanced Styling Studio both are far ahead of the time in which they were created today's dream cars are a source of inspiration for the [Music] stylists while some are working on ideas for the distant future others are concerned with features that may be used in the next few years in attacking a design problem The Stylist must think first of the vehicle's occupants safety and comfort along with beauty are of basic importance he explores many directions finally the best features coales into the design that is approved for the next stage expression in three dimensions to this wooden Armature Clay is applied it is shaped or sculptured version of a new model after many refinements the first three-dimensional model is ready for management appraisal here is allegro an experimental car that could be called a practical dream car it is designed with a long Hood a grill that extends forward of the headlights a compact passenger compartment and a fast back roof line other advances include brake and accelerator pedals which adjust to fit the driver here is a New Concept in driver convenience a unique Catal levered arm steering wheel with a memory unit by by pushing buttons the driver can raise or lower the steering wheel and move it for or after to his most comfortable driving position when he leaves he swings the steering wheel out of the way for easy exit on re-entering the car he merely touches the memory button to move the steering wheel back to the original driving position [Music] this is couger 2 another practical dream car it's a two passenger GT or rismo function is the keynote of the Interior Design the leather seats adjust individually instrumentation is complete and clearly legible controls are located for Optimum convenience and the carpeting enhances soundproofing as much as appearance the cougar 2 has a fast back roof concealed pop-up headlamps and is powered by a high performance V8 engine it could be engineered for speeds in the 170 mph range [Music] [Applause] [Music] and now Aurora designed for the whole family to enjoy a bank of 12 1-in headlights is a new approach to Road illumination electroluminescent side panels increase visibility for nighttime safety it has a clamshell rear entry system which consists of a tailgate that folds down and a lift gate that slides over the roof to permit easy access to the children's seat the front passenger can face forward or swivel the armchair seat the curved sofa is large enough for three adults this experimental station wagon is equipped with a thermoelectric combination oven refrigerator unit and a built-in beverage cooler and cabinet it also has three separate AM FM radios a sound recorder and a plug-in TV screen the advanced instrument panel incorporates a position indicator map that automatically adjusts to the location of the car a lane speed panel for Expressway driving a large speedometer with individually illuminated numerals to highlight vehicle speed and a constant speed control device with variable ratio steering the steering bar requires only one half turn from Lock to lock sits in a contoured cockpit seat with a high back for support [Music] will any of these experimental features be seen on production cars in the future the public will decide experimental cars are displayed at places such as the world's fair to evoke consumer action when many opinions are evaluated the features consumers as the search for beauty continues The Stylist focuses on the future that lies just ahead years ago custom buil seless carriages reflected the tastes of the very wealthy today lowest price cars provide attractive and tasteful interiors and stylists are working on many ways to make them even more comfortable and more exciting in years to come to please a very style conscious public the interior designer evaluates thousands of fabrics before making a selection but the search for beauty must be be more than surface deep and The Stylist is as concerned with function as he is with form by definition a stylist is one who advises concerning current Styles as in dress and Furnishings today the term is automotive industry to differentiate between the designer of the vehicle's appearance and the designer of the mechanical parts and structure obviously these creative processes overlap like his predecessors The Stylist by inclination skill and training is predominantly an artist yet in order to exercise his art he must have a working knowledge of engineering of the properties of many materials and of costs and sources of Supply thus he is an industrial designer who applies total performance of vehicles sometimes the stylist's experimental car can be moved almost without change to the assembly line such a car was Mustang 2 what gives this car its look of total performance first inside an interior that's inviting comfortable and sporty with an instrument panel that's deeply padded and hooded now outside the unique Grill long Hood low top and short rear deck sculptured side panels to lower the profile round wheel openings to emphasize the wheels and suggest power and performance [Music] [Music] This Is The Moment of Truth the production car the work of The Stylist begun over 20 months ago has been translated into fabric rubber Glass and Metal now the public will tell him how well he has succeeded [Music] la [Music] [Applause] [Music] this story of styling ends here but the stylist will turn again to his practical dreams the search for beauty never ends a [Music]