1920's Cars

1920's cars were a vast improvement over automobiles from the previous decades due to the rapid pace of major advancements in 1920's automobile design and engineering. At the start of the 1920's motor cars were still relatively basic, although a huge improvement over earlier automobiles and prior transport modes, especially horse and buggy. By the late nineteen-twenties however, automobiles had rapidly progressed to become stylish, reliable, fast and beautiful machines with high levels of comfort, engineering and safety. Even by modern standards the styling of 1920's cars still looks attractive, particularly the long sweeping curves of the mudguards. However the new automotive technology they introduced has been developed further leaving the beautiful 1920's cars behind to be viewed as vintage technological and historical museum pieces.

Major automotive advances of the twenties included four-wheel brakes, safety glass for windows, and pneumatic air-filled tires - to mention just a few. Eighty years later it is easy to take for granted the major advances that took place in automobile engineering during the 1920's, as these are now everyday features on todays vehicles. However, many modern day car manufacturers are revisiting and implementing design and engineering features that were first invented and used on 1920's cars - hybrid petrol-electric engine systems are just one example!

At the beginning of the 1920's decade most cars were painted in dark colors - more often than not, black - due largely to the Ford influence and lack of suitable colored automobile paints. However, this situation changed in 1925 and 1926 when a whole rainbow of colors became available following the invention of pyroxylin finishes, as you can see in the beautiful illustrations below. The beautiful rich vibrant colors and complementary color schemes were borrowed from the proven livery schemes of horse-drawn carriages and coaches that had been developed by artisans over centuries of use.

This is a celebration of 1920's Automobiles, taken from actual advertisements of the era. The beautiful color illustrations in the Adverts are much more attractive to me than the color photo's which eventually replaced them. Many of the color advertisements show the cars in actual settings of the period, helping to bring the 1920's period back to life for modern readers by displaying cars in their original surroundings. If you weren't there, this is the next best thing!