Whatsit #510 - Brooks Stevens "Detroit Dilemma"

[Ray B.]

Ever seen this ?
Who penned this styling concept, how did he call it, and what did he have in mind?

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[Vincent Vell Vet]

Is this some sort of puzzle in itself?
'55 Olds 88 upper side trim,
'55-'56 Ford lower side trim,
'56 Ford B pillar,
'58 Olds fin,
'58 Olds, Buick, Cadillac D pillar.

Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

[Ray B.]

Not at all, but you don't answer the question.

[Ray B.]

Experts?

[Vincent Vell Vet]

Not at all, but you don't answer the question.

Sorry, new here, hould have read the actual question. Now I know better!

[tonyola]

It was called the Detroit Dilemma, and it was drawn by Brooks Stevens as a parody of then-current styling themes used by American automakers.

[mymokke]

This looks like a compilation of every kitchy styling gimmick used on american automobiles of the 1950s that Raymond Lowey absolutley hated. He used to take photographs of these details which included his little poodle.

[Ray B.]

Yes, I have a collection of the Loewy poodle photographs in his book. But Tonyola is correct: Brooks Stevens' Detroit Dilemma it is. Point later.

[Ray B.]

This looks like a compilation of every kitchy styling gimmick used on american automobiles of the 1950s that Raymond Lowey absolutley hated. He used to take photographs of these details which included his little poodle.

Loewy may have been rightly ironic about US styling excesses of the late fifties, but he did no better. Take a peek at his 1959 Cadillac, somewhere in this forum. The rear is alright maybe, but the front is truly ugly.

Point added, Tonyola.

[Otto Puzzell]

Stevens uncorked some wacky, chrome-encrusted designs of his own.

[Ray B.]

He sure did. But his superiority on Loewy in this matter, in my opinion, is that his were excessive and kitsch, while Loewy's were just plain weird (I mean his 59 Caddy, the Lancia Loraymo or the BMW, not what he did for Hupmobile or Studebaker.)