Rolling Sculpture, Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles
With their long hoods, streamline shapes and handcrafted details, rare cars from the Art Deco Era are some of the most beautiful and elegant automobiles ever built. Today their sleek designs are still admired and they are often showcased in museums around the country where the automobiles are displayed as fine art.
Twenty two rare, limited production, or one of a kind automobiles and motorcycles have been on display for three months at the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Everyone in town was saying not to miss the “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles: 1930–1941” exhibit.
If you have been to an art museum recently, you might have noticed that women tend to outnumber men in attendance. However, that was not the case when my husband and I went to see the special exhibit which was in its final few days. What was very noticeable were the groups of men that had come to admire the automobiles as well as couples and the usual ladies lunch groups.
I have mentioned before about the incredible “mechanical toys” such as cars, motorcycles and boats of all shapes and sizes that men love to collect, I call them “Big Boy Toys“. After visiting the museum to see the Rolling Sculpture exhibit, I believe the Vero Beach Museum of Art seems to have found a great way to attract more men by exhibiting some of the most beautiful automobiles ever built.
After admiring the rare automobiles, I believe that both car enthusiasts as well as Art Deco fans would agree that these sleek, streamlined and sensuously designed works of art, with their meticulously handcrafted details and finishes, qualify as “rolling sculptures“. Their style was simple yet very elegant…cars were simply built to be beautiful.
1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia
French fighter pilot and race car driver Andre Dubonnet, heir to the Dubonnet aperitif business, commissioned this one of a kind 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia. It has a long tapering design and features many aviation inspired details. It has a sleek curved body with a long horizontal grill, a wrap around windshield, and rear hinged doors that lift and then slide backwards for easier entry. It also has fender skirts that cover the back wheels to reduce drag when racing.
1925/1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom Aerodynamic Coupe
This unusual 1925/1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom Aerodynamic Coupe is referred to as the “Round Door” Rolls-Royce. It was built in 1925 with a Cabriolet body for Mrs. Hugh Dillman but she resold it before delivery to the Raja of Nanpara. In 1934 another owner sent the car to be refitted with a radically new aerodynamic body that has a streamline sloping radiator, round doors, twin sunroofs, half moon windows and a large fin down the middle of the trunk. It is almost 20 feet long and looks like a car that could have been in a Batman movie.
1938 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Teardrop Coupe
This French Talbot-Lago T150C SS Teardrop Coupe was built in 1938. Its teardrop design and extremely aerodynamic silhouette inspired other car designers as it was capable of reaching 100 miles per hour, even though it was not intended to be racing car. This wonderful automobile is on almost ever list of the world’s most beautiful cars.
1934 Voisin Type C27 Aérosport
The 1934 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Teardrop Coupe was built in Paris by Gabriel Voisin, considered one of the great mechanical engineers of the 20th Century. With its very modern Art Deco design, it was both lightweight and aerodynamic. It was also unique because of its technically advanced engine. It had a feel of absolute luxury with its convertible roof and beautiful interior design. In its day, it was considered one of the finest and most expensive cars in France. It won the prestigious “Best of Show” award at the 2021 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace that brought together some of the rarest vehicles in the world. Today this automobile remains one of the world’s most prized and sought after vehicles.
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I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of these beautiful Art Deco automobiles from the Rolling Sculpture exhibit. They represent just a few of the most fabulous classic cars ever built and are a fine tribute to the Art Deco Era. This popular design style originated in France and influenced the look of automobiles, passenger trains, luxury ocean liners, architecture, jewelry, fashion and even everyday household objects throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s, until the outbreak of World War 11.
I’ve been to many auto museums and really enjoy them. Pretty sure I’ve seen at least one of these. I do remember seeing a Hispano-Suiza at one of them. Such interesting designs all of these.
Hi Toby, I’m happy that you enjoyed the post. The Hispano-Suiza is a beautiful automobile, I’m glad you got to see one up close.
I had to show this to Joe, he loves that generation of cars. They are so beautiful and sleek! So good to see your post, I’ve missed you!
Thank you Jan for your nice comment. I’ve missed blogging but hopefully I’ll be back in action soon. I’m glad that you and Joe both enjoyed the beautiful cars at the museum.
What beautiful cars – they don’t make them like that these days! Modern cars all look the same and have no style or class.
Dubonnet is quite topical today – Dubonnet and Gin was the favourite drink of our late Queen and the Queen Mother!
You are right, Mad Dog. They really don’t make amazing cars like this any more. I know they are concerned about safety but they all look basically the same.
Boring, I’d say 😉
What a beautiful exhibition. In Malaga, Spain, there is a fabulous fashion/car museum that we thoroughly enjoyed during our last visit. And you’re absolutely right about the men to women ratio, far more than any other art exhibit we’ve been to. Hope you’re doing well.
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing these wonderful cars Eva. Fashion and cars sounds like a terrific combination for an exhibit. You know the women that originally rode in these cars were dressed to the nines.
Those cars are beautiful, Karen. Thank you for sharing the photographs. It’s good to know the vehicles are being kept somewhere safe and secure so they can be enjoyed by others.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post about these amazing cars. Let’s hope they will be around for years to come.
I hope so too, Karen. As we move to different power sources, I hope people see the importance of keeping what we once had for the ingenuity and beauty they represent.
I couldn’t agree more Gary.
My husband is a car nut. He would love this exhibition of art deco cars. Usually, I have to persuade him to visit museums with me.
I think a lot of our husbands have to be persuaded to visit a museum…that is unless there are automobiles, motorcycles, or aircraft involved. 😊
Wow, that must have been such an interesting museum visit. Old cars have always fascinated me, my father had a 1936 Ford when I was a child. Thanks for sharing Karen!
Jenna
Hi Jenna, the museum exhibit was outstanding. The cars really were works of art.
Well done excellent post. Hope all is well. Diane
Thank you Diana for your nice compliment and wish, I’ve been well thank you. I hope all is good with you as well.
Good news. All is good here as well. Diane
We attended a really wonderful classic car show this weekend and admired the incredible restorations. But these are incredible works of art! Unlike any that I’ve seen.
I agree with you Debra, we have been to lots of classic car shows over the years but these were amazing.
oh my word! these cars are divine. What about that Dubonnet and the Teardrop coupe? so gorgeous. There was a motorbike show on at our local art gallery a few years back – lots of fellas turned up for that 🙂
Hi Sherry, I had to laugh. My husband would have gone to the art gallery with the motorbikes as well. The Teardrop Coupe was absolutely beautiful.
Gorgeous cars and design, truly works of art! Thank you for sharing, Karen.
Hi Pam, I totally agree about them being considered works or art. I’m glad you enjoy seeing the car exhibit.
Love art deco and vintage autos…these are stunning.
I agree with you Donna, they were some of the loveliest cars I’ve seen.
Some SWEET looking rides – WOW!!!
They were indeed, Renee…really special.
They are just so sexy! There is an elegance about them that we just don’t see today. Thanks for sharing this!
Hi David, I’m glad you enjoyed the post, the cars certainly were elegant, beautiful and yes…sexy.
The Art Deco Era was truly a remarkable time for design, and its influence can still be seen today in various aspects of our lives. It is fascinating to learn about these rare, limited production, or one of a kind automobiles and motorcycles that are still admired for their sleek designs and handcrafted details. I love them, its sexy!
Hi Raymund, The Art Deco period certainly had some talented designers, architects, etc. and I think you are right…the cars are sexy.
Wow! Thanks for sharing these beauties, Karen. I adore seeing classic and spectacular automobiles. Not so much fun to drive, but Oh! the out-of-this-world design. Do you ever watch Jay Leno’s Garage on YouTube? What a guy living his dream. 😉
Hi Diane, I’m glad you enjoyed the post about these wonderful cars. My husband watches all the car shows. 😊 Hope you are doing well.
Karen, those truly are rolling sculptures. Art Deco definitely was the most stylish era for cars. I had no idea!
The name for the exhibit was perfect, the Art Deco era left lots of wonderful things for us to enjoy.
These are beautiful. I love classic cars.
Amalia
xo
Hi Amelia, they truly are beautiful.
Amazing!
Hi James, thank you for stopping by, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. The cars really were amazing.
So very interesting, Karen! Amazing designs!
Sorry to be answering so lat Amy, I’m glad that you enjoyed seeing the cars.
I’m not really a “car person,” but I can still appreciate the beauty and creativity of these designs. It’s such a fascinating meeting of technology and art that also speaks volumes of the era.
Sorry to be replying so late Hannah, the cars really were beautifully designed and built.