From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Article from 'The Autocar' magazine discussing the design trend of streamlined rear-ends on modern cars, with illustrated examples.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0129 | |
| Date | 15th July 1938 | |
| 1380 STREAMLINE PICE The Autocar, July 15th, 1938 119 the outstanding feature of the more modern examples, and a surprising sense of balance has been attained by attention to small details. Nowadays, the treatment of the rear wings follows the lines of the body; in fact, there are some instances where the wings have become merged with the tail to such an extent that they have almost entirely disappeared. The illustration of the Continental body on the Bugatti shows a tendency in this direction, and also clearly indicates the extent to which body overhang can be carried. Rear wings are swept backwards and around the tail and the number plate is flush-fitted together with the rear lights. The fittings of twin rear lights is fast becoming the rule, and commendably so; in fact, they appear on most of the cars examined. The more common method in England is to fit them at either end of the number plate flush with the rear panel. On American cars they usually appear one on each rear wing, and in the case of the Lincoln Zephyr they are actually moulded into the wing itself. SHAPELY TAILS ARE A FEATURE OF MODERN CARS There are three exceptions shown. The first of these, the Rover, carries number plate and rear lights on the bumper bar, and has a short and neatly finished tail with a moulded cover for the spare wheel in one piece with the lid{A. J. Lidsey} of the boot. The second, the Mercedes, has really beautiful lines and a clever arrangement of rear bumpers, number plate and grouped rear lights. The third is a Bentley coupé, which has a recess in the bumper bar in which the number plate is mounted. That the streamline form can be carried out effectively on cars with a long wheelbase is evidenced by the Lincoln Zephyr and by the handsome Lancefield body on the Alvis chassis, the tail of the latter having numerous sharp edges to the mouldings to give added emphasis to the sweeping lines. In this design the hood, when down, is completely concealed by a flush-fitting lid.{A. J. Lidsey} A direct contrast to these two is the turtle-back tail, with wings to match, of the Carlton body on the Chrysler chassis, while on the Delahaye chassis, the Whigham Martin Walter body shows yet another form of the streamline tail. Here, as in the case of the Rover, the spare wheel is housed in the moulded cover on the lid{A. J. Lidsey} of the boot. Bulbous tails and wings characterise many American cars, and good examples of these can be seen on Chrysler, Cadillac and Buick. The panelling on the Buick coupé is well-nigh perfect, as indeed it needs to be, for such large surfaces show up even the slightest imperfection. Beautiful moulding appears, too, on the Chrysler and no corners or harsh edges are to be seen; overhang is not great, and the rear bumper encircles the tail in a neat manner. Bumpers, once the subject of considerable controversy, are now universally accepted, and it is noteworthy that only four of the bodies illustrated are without them at the rear. Ample luggage accommodation without undue overhang can be obtained by careful planning. This is proved by the short tail on the Armstrong Siddeley Atalanta, which has a deep boot and yet at the same time retains its harmonious lines. An excess of overhang is one of the vital problems which face body designers to-day. Overhang is not good and leading coachbuilders for the Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis already restrict it. Another point which will need attention in future designs is the question of visibility. In many of the streamlined forms the angle of the rear window is becoming more and more acute and the vision rearwards from the driving seat is suffering accordingly. Reversing under these conditions is by no means easy with a car of long wheelbase and great width, and, by the contrariness of things in general, the longer the overall length of the vehicle the more often is reversing necessitated. IMAGE CAPTIONS: BUICK: A good example of a pointed tail and streamline wing on a coupé design. (Right) BENTLEY: A capacious luggage container with a “spine” on both the tail and the wings. LINCOLN ZEPHYR: Another form of streamline tail with valances over the rear wheels. (Right) LAMMAS GRAHAM: Angular treatment of this kind is now becoming increasingly popular. (Left) ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY ATALANTA: A commendably short tail with a deep luggage compartment. (Right) BUGATTI: Streamlining has resulted in the wings becoming almost completely merged with the tail. | ||