<VV> Corvair "ugly"?

[Ron]

Very, very good!

RonH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Wrsssatty at aol.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 5:26 PM
Subject: <VV> Corvair "ugly"?


> In response to the article, discussed here a few days ago, that declared 
> the
> Corvair "ugly" I have posted in the on-line comments section the 
> following.  I
> drew heavily upon my research for my article that appeared in the 
> communique
> a while back.
>
> ~Bill Stanley
>
> I take exception to your characterizing the Corvair as “ugly”.  I realize
> that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” but I would like to take the 
> time
> to familiarize you with some of the plaudits and accolades heaped upon the
> Corvair by experts for its styling.  In the spring of 1960 the Industrial
> Designers Institute (IDI) bestowed upon William L. Mitchell, head of 
> General Motors
> styling, their annual design award for his work on the Corvair.
> Then, in 1961, Industrial Design magazine bestowed one of its design 
> awards
> upon the Corvair Monza in the Transportation category of the magazine’s 
> Annual
> Design Review.  Acknowledging that it was the first time that a stock
> automobile had been selected in the Annual Design Review since 1955, the 
> magazine
> said; “[I]t is a long time since Detroit has produced anything this good. 
> Its
> best feature outside is its refined rear deck; inside it can boast the 
> first (and
> still the best-looking) bucket seats in a compact car, and a quiet 
> dashboard.”
>
> Design News magazine, in a 1998 issue, features an article written by
> Norihiko Kawaoka, General Manager, Design Department, Product Planning 
> Division,
> Mazda Motor Corp.  The author cites six examples of what he regards as 
> excellent
> design in a compact car.  The Chevrolet Corvair is one of only six cars he
> lauds and the only American car.
> Automotive journalist, Robert Cumberford, whose “By Design” column is a
> regular feature in Automobile magazine, discussed the design of the first
> generation Corvair in the February 2003 issue.  In the article, entitled; 
> “
> Good-Looking at Any Speed,” Cumberford sets forth his premise that “[t]he 
> Corvair
> wielded influence because of style, not engineering.”  He calls the 
> Corvair’s
> styling “seminal” and “low, lean and linear” inspiring copies all over the 
> world.
> He notes the “below-beltline perimeter break line, an artful way to get
> maximum perceived length on what was seen at the time as a really small 
> car.”  “
> The essence of Corvair design was that it was easily and quickly 
> apprehended.
> It made a clear statement, apparently a simple one, although, in fact, 
> there
> was a great deal of subtle complexity in the forms and details.  The 
> concave nose
> —totally without reference to a radiator grill—was courageous and worked
> extremely well, as did the concavity below the perimeter break.  Modeling 
> around
> the wheel openings provided a quiet contrast to the very simple side and
> sills, and the shaping of sheetmetal for front and rear lights to mount on 
> flat
> surfaces was beautifully done.”
>
> In a book published just this year, Significant Mass-Produced Products of 
> the
> 20th Century, author Carroll M. Gantz includes the 1960 Chevrolet Corvair.
> Mr. Gantz is a Fellow of the Industrial Designers Society of America and 
> was
> president of IDSA from 1979-80.  He writes; “Chevrolet’s new compact car, 
> the
> Corvair…entered the market in 1960, and received a coveted annual design 
> award
> from the Industrial Designers Institute (IDI).  To most designers, it was 
> a
> welcome innovative design response to compact European imports, and hailed 
> as a
> pointed departure from the tail fin and chrome excesses that dominated the
> previous decade in Detroit.  Up to now, Detroit cars came in only one 
> size—big.
> By contrast, the Corvair was compact, economical, and simple in design;
> represented the styling sea change many designers had been hoping 
> for—functionality.”
>  Noting the success of the Corvair Monza Mr. Gantz continues; “It became
> clear that customers were still attracted to comfort, convenience, and 
> styling.
> It was concluded that the initial appeal of the Corvair was not its 
> frugality,
> but its difference from the previous monotonous line-up of standard family
> sedans.”
>
> The second generation Corvair, also, won plaudits.  The editor of the 
> Italian
> quarterly “Style Auto” waxed poetic about the Corvair’s styling in the
> magazine’s fall 1965 issue.  David E. Davis, Jr., then editor of Car and 
> Driver
> magazine, picked the ’65 Corvair as the second most beautifully styled car 
> in the
> whole world—right behind a $16,000 Italian sports car.  This came at a 
> time
> when even the top-of-the-line Corvair Corsa retailed for under $2,500.
>
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