Metaphors in Motion

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Part One of a three part series to explore the automotive illustrations of the recent past. In this article I will present whole cars in a x ray or cut-away view, in Part Two I will explore technical drawings, and Part Three will look at design drawings which have a decidedly different style.

Combing my limited collection of 50's and 60's car magazines such as Sportscar Graphic, Sportscar Illustrated, and Car Craft the illustrations are plentiful. These amazing images of the cars, race cars, and the customs they portray allow the viewer information not available through a simple photograph. The men who signed their drawings remain relatively unknown today as the research I have done as turned up little information. Many of the drawings especially the purely technical ones are unsigned and most likely from the manufactures themselves being used for production purposes.

Considering there were no computers at the time available to the public sophisticated enough to produce such drawings one must admit they are simply amazing as they are beautiful. The creativity and technical ability of these illustrators is unmatched and I can imagine that there were heavy time constraints as well due to publishing deadlines. The new computer generated drawings are equally as beautiful but for different reasons. The hand draw illustrations have a different quality which is unmatched by todays drawings in my opinion.

I will simply show the illustrations credit the artist if known and the magazine and not spend time on the story of the particular vehicle just let the drawing speak for itself. I selected sports cars, race cars, street cars, and a drag car to get a variety of vehicle types.

Aston Martin DBRI 300 by C.O. LaTourette from Sportscar Illustrated December 1957

Cooper Climax by C.O. LaTourette from Sportscar Illustrated November 1956

OSCA 1100 by C.O. LaTourette from Sportscar Illustrated February 1959

Porsche Formula 2 by C.O. LaTourette from Sportcar Illustrated October 1960

Lister Jaguar by James A Allington from Sportscar Graphic November 1968

The Monaco by James A Allington from Sportscar Graphic June 1959

The Mirage by William A Moore from Sportscar Graphic February 1964

Ford Fairland Lola GT 3 by Gordon Bruce from Sportscar Graphic May 1963

Lotus Formula powered by Ford by Gordon Bruce from Sportscar Graphic March 1963

Shelby AC Cobra by Darling from Sportscar Graphic August 1962

McLaren MK 8A by unknown from Sportscar Graphic November 1968

Lola 70 by unknown from Sportscar Graphic August 1965

BMW 2000 CS Coupe by S.W. from Sportscar Graphic May 1966

Lotus 23 by unknown fro Sportscar Graphic May 1962

Matra M530 by Robert Roux from Sportscar Graphic July 1967

DKW by Schlenzig from Sportscar Illustrated November 1956

ISO Rivolta GT by unreadable (Filoisi?) from Sportscar Graphic May 1963

Cooper's Twini Mini by unknown from Sportscar Graphic July 1963

Harrison Special by William A Moore from Sportscar Graphic December 1963

Fiat Altered Gasser by unknown from Modern Rod February 1964

I hope these illustrations will titillate your imaginations to the possibilities of Automotive "art"