Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Proposed Class: Wedge Cars
August, 2024
Co-Curators: Guy Dirkin Ph.D and Geoffrey Hacker Ph.D.
Proposal
It is proposed that the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance contain a class that celebrates the ground-breaking wedge car design period, which ran from 1966 to 1973. The cars are stunning, and their exciting designs are still revered by both automotive experts and the general public. From a timing perspective, 2024 is a year to capitalize on the general interest in angular and wedge designs.
Introduction
Interest in wedge cars resurfaced in 2019 with the Tesla Cybertruck prototype. In July 2023, the first production units of the Cybertruck were built, with full production slated for early 2024. While there seems to be a love-hate response from the public to the Cybertrucks design, automotive writers have referenced Giorgetto Giugiaro’s geometric folded “folded paper” designs in the early 1960’s to assist in explaining the design origins of the Cybertrucks angular appearance. Further, for example, Giugiaro’s 1969 Alfa Romeo Iguana and Marcello Gandini’s 1969 Alfa Romeo Carabo, the 1969 Autobianchi Runabout, his precursor to the 1972 Lancia Stratos and stunning 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero full wedge car silhouettes have also become highly relevant.
Context
Wedge shapes are fully understood by the layman. Most kids have felt the lowered wind resistance when turning a hand from palm into the wind to palm down, so that the hand cuts into the wind. Since the dawn of the automobile in the last years of the 19th century, cars have used wedge-shaped design elements to cut through the air and many adaptations of wedge shapes and wings have been continuously present on cars. In the 1960’s, a design movement occurred where the entire silhouette of the car embraced the wedge shape. This automotive design trend occurred in a decade of social change that was reflected in architecture, fashion and, yes, cars.
Cars: Assuming Seven to Eight in Class
The cars below are examples. A broader list can be developed. In concept the class would focus on five or six iconic wedge cars from the late 1960-s to early 1970’s. The class would have also have two “book ends” First, the 1966 Canara is one of the first, if not the first, full sized, pure wedge car. Last, a more recent car could be the 2016 Code Zero. Or the radical statement of wedge car design elements: the 2016 Lo-Res. These latter cars would indicate wedge design is still clear and present in cars, and in particular exotic cars.
Forum
Possible opportunity…. TBD
Resource
Origins of Wedge Car Design. Quick read in electronic format covering wedge design elements and the wedge car era. Click on the link below.
1964 Ocelot by Ken Eberts
1966 Cannara
Lamborghini Marzal
1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo
1969 Alfa Romeo Iguana
Ferrari Modulo 512
1970 Lancia Stratos Zero
1971 Lamborghini Countach (Gen 1)
1973 Lancia Stratos
1969 Autobianchi (Design basis of Lancia Stratos and Fiat X19)
Vector W2
2016 Code Zero
2016 Lo-Res
