10 Great Art-Deco Cars (Part-2)

The art deco era, spanning over two decades, influenced design internationally — and vehicles were beneficiaries of this arty approach to industry.

So much of what was built in the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s now only exists in the hallowed halls of museums and collectors’ garages as we drool upon this glorious motoring past.

Here are the 2nd list of 10 beautiful art-deco cars: 

6. 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic 

Touted as the most beautiful car ever made, the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic also happens to be one of the priciest cars ever sold at auction. Only two SCs were built and horsepower was bumped up from 175 to 200 via a supercharger. Its iconic design that takes Art Deco curvature to beautiful extremes is the real treasure, though.

1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1DkECuK)

Three Atlantics were ever conceived, and only two remain blessing the streets and world's most prestigious concours. The third was tragically totaled in a fatal train collision in 1955. The most well known one is all black and owned by famous car collector and fashion designer Ralph Lauren. The Bugatti Atlantic is THE most expensive car in the world.

7. 1938 Hispano-Suiza Dubonnet Xenia Streamliner

Using a modified Hispano-Suiza H6B chassis, aviator and race car driver Andre Dubonnet commissioned this singular example of the Dubonnet Xenia Streamliner.

1938 Saoutchik Hispano-Suiza Dubonnet Xenia Streamliner. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1DkECuK)

The long tapering design is evocative of aircraft of the same era and sports some rather unique parallel opening doors that move backward along the body of the car. The Dubbonet family was able to fund this expensive effort due in large part to their successful cognac business. Who says drinking and driving is a bad combo? 

8. 1938 Phantom Corsair

The Corsair was a a prototype designed by Rust Heinz of the Bonham & Schwartz coach building company in Pasadena, California. It was a six-passenger coupe with looks and features that made it completely ahead its time. Instead of generic door handles, it could be open with the push of a button and also had the ability to indicate when a door was ajar by either flashing lights or turning the radio on.

1938 Phantom Corsair. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1DkEE5U)

In pure art deco anger, the Corsair was both svelte and ferocious. The Phantom Corsair was designed by Rust Heinz of the H.J. Heinz fortune. As futuristic as things got back in then, the Phantom Corsair really looks like a film noir armored car with its shrouded wheels and smooth but menacing grille. The doors operated with electric pushbuttons instead of door handles, making it even more streamlined in appearance.

As long as the car was, the more shocking dimension was the 6″+ width that could accomodate four people in the front row, one to the left of the driver. Too bad this car never saw production since Rust Heinz died prematurely in a car accident in 1939. Guess he should’ve stuck with condiments. 

9. 1939 Rolls-Royce Labourdette Vutotal Cabriolet

This ridiculous example of opulence at its absolute best is a Phantom III rebodied and customized to the max by French coachbuilder Labourdette of Paris. It was commissioned by the eccentric Louis Ritter, who Labourdette spared no expense during the build. 

1939 Rolls-Royce Labourdette Vutotal Cabriolet. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1DkEE5U)

The massive body alone cost $44,000 (in today's money that's more than $450,000). The car with its original Hooper Sedanca de Ville was already world-renowned, making appearances at motor shows across Europe. It was then shipped over the pond for the 1939 New York World's Fair. Then in 1947, Mr. Ritter bought it and boldly let Labourdette have their way with it to create a machine unlike anything else.

10. 1948 Timbs Buick Streamliner

At the tail end of the Art Deco Era, a mechanical engineer named Norman E. Timbs designed and built this sleek number with mostly aluminum on top of a steel chassis. At a cost of $10,000, the Streamliner took more than two years to build.

1948 Timbs Buick Streamliner. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1DkECuK)

The slick aerofoil shape and Buick Super 8 engine allowed the Streamliner to hit 120 mph, pretty quick for its day. The design was actually very simple, free of any gaudy, over-designed adornment. To keep the shape clean, no doors were cut out of the body. You simply stepped out of the cabin onto the protected part of the fender. This made it a bit difficult to show any degree of chivalry on your date. “Get out, yourself”. (Back to previous part). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GEAR PATROL | COMPLEX]

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