1930s Glamour, Detroit Style
Friday, January 13, 2017 at 12:00AM By William G. Sawyer, Editor at Large
All photos © 2017 Courtesy RM Sotheby’s
The cars of the 1930s hold a special place in my heart. It was a time when American cars were as good as anything from overseas, and their style and presence were unmatched. Engineering advances like hydraulic brakes and independent front suspension appeared during the decade, making driving these cars for long periods less stressful, although steering them required more effort than most modern drivers are willing to accept. It’s unfortunate that economic realities slashed luxury sales just as our premier brands hit their stride, dooming glamorous marques like Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, Pierce Arrow, and Stutz to die inglorious deaths.
Back in the day many upscale manufacturers built rolling chassis consisting of a frame, drivetrain, and a radiator shell, and left the body building to specialists. They often provided a catalog of designs from preferred suppliers, or customers could purchase the rolling chassis and have it shipped to the carrosserier of their choice for fitment of a bespoke design.
In this issue, a pair of early Thirties examples from Motor City manufacturers that survived the Great Depression vie for entry into the Virtual Collection.