I visited the Cleveland Historical Society Museum and found some very cool exhibits. Like many industrial cities, Cleveland has a very interesting past and has re-invented itself quite nicely for the future. There is so much to say about the how and who behind the cars, people and city. I'll share the pics while I have a few minutes, waiting to board another plane...
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| Very nice! So ergonomic. Notice the crankshaft is longitudinal. |
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| This is model number 1 The very first one ever made! |
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| the lines of this coupe are still very attractive. Notice the rear fender step for back seaters? Maybe we were a bit more fit in the 20's... |
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| Presentation of mechanicals and performance specs were placed in front of every car. |
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| A bit more car than most would need... but still very classic in design |
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| Remember, this is before the era of enclosed bodies. This rag top had window panels that could be added as the weather dictated or your passengers wanted... |
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| Excellent restoration and presentation! |
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| What do think these are? Incredibly, these are automobile horns! When cars were new and novel, and only those with exceptional means could afford one... why not go for that one of a kind pipe organ horn sound! Announce yourself with class... |
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| How about an Owen magnetic drive? |
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| Looks so elegant. |
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| Has a distinctive Stuts Bearcat look don't you think? |
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| A super Avanti, Studebaker stepped up to an all fiberglass body before GM, and much of the expertise that pioneered this material ended up in Bowling Green. |
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| Steam power anyone? |
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| Camping 1920's style. Nothing new under the sun! |
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| Nothing says we have arrived like a Packard hood ornament. Beautiful. |
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| ...and here's what goes with that ornament |
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| Did I mention nothing makes a statement like rolling up in a Packard! |
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| WOW. I knew about the stainless steel bodies made in the 30's to experiment with anti-corrosion research. Those cars literally ran over a million miles with no damage. I forgot about the aluminum experiments... |
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| The 30's cars, with their compund curves... this era represents the pinnacle of the fusion of art and industrial design in my opinion. |
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| Even an Aluminum T-Bird... |
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| So why not an aluminum Continental |
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| with suicide doors! |
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| Bella |
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| Cockpit of a... |
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| Beautiful Cadillac, of the modern designs I like the CTS Sigma 2 platform. |
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| ...and of course, a beautiful arch rival. This Auburn is amazing. |
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| This is one classy rumble seat! But I have to say, I prefer the Caddy. |
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| I've always loved the Airflow. Studebaker had a very similar design. The recent Dodge Magnum was modeled after this 1930's design. |
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| A spiffy Lincoln. The rear fenders and fender skirts are so well fitted it's hard to imagine this quality of craftmanship was manufactured without a 3d model, cnc machine or even a calculator. Sliderules and skill. We've lost something in our collective societal knowhow when we ceded that kind of skill to computer driven machines. Cost effective - yes, net loss to society - of course! |
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| This was the prototype AMC Javilin. A rumble seat, and a pointy noise didn't make it into production. |
Hope you like this short hop through Cleveland, a city with a very interesting past. There's a lot to say about this city and the old cars that were made here. Part of the industrial revolution and supported by so many bright people through the years. It's interesting to try to figure out why some of these companies survived. The Great depression really drove a change from the craftsman orientation of automobiles to the mass produced philosophy. Economics dictate an unforgiving set of rules.
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