Streamlined Dreams: Ten Amazing Unbuilt Automobile Designs, 1916-1939 - Softcover

Zichek, Jared A

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0996875425 ISBN 13: 9780996875424

Publisher: Retromechanix Productions, 2017

Synopsis

Automotive history is filled with concepts which never left the drawing board, with early streamlined projects being among the more fascinating. This book presents ten of the most striking and unusual aerodynamic automobile studies of the interwar period. Subjects include a torpedo-like race car driven by periscope; advanced teardrop passenger cars; rocket-powered vehicles with wings; Harry Miller’s land speed record dream car; a three-wheel GP car inspired by racing aircraft; and a pair of huge and futuristic Nazi record vehicles. All of these concepts are brought to life in stunning full color CG reconstructions showing these remarkable vehicles from every angle.

About this title

About the Author

Jared A. Zichek is a freelance writer and artist specializing in aviation and automotive history.

Review

"BOOK OF THE MONTH—This is a brilliant exercise in archaeology and reconstruction from which only a handful of enthusiasts and historians around the world will fail to learn something."-Classic & Sports Car Magazine (May 2017, Vol. 36, No. 2)

"This book is built on a simple but brilliant premise: picking through the patent papers of early (1916-39) streamlined cars, and choosing ten to bring to life using modern CGI computer modelling techniques.The results are fascinating and clearly explained, right down to the assumptions that had to be made on size and detail styling, and the problems and compromises that the computer modelling revealed."-Octane Magazine (May 2017, Issue 167)

"It would do a disservice to the book not to mention the illustrations that Mr. Zichek generated for this book. They are perfectly rendered, well researched and wonderfully detailed. A true artistic effort. After looking through the book, my first thought was how these would make excellent models or great scratchbuilt projects. This is a wonderful book whether for the artwork or as a book to generate ideas for that next special project."-IPMS/USA (April 16, 2017)

"The common denominator in the 10 cars presented here is that they are pre-WWII, explore aerodynamics, and are European and American. And that they are even more unusual than the usual unusual fare. Each vehicle is discussed on several pages, introducing the inventor/designer, describing the machine’s purpose, highlighting known or assumed construction details and operational parameters, and explaining to the reader where the artist had to get creative...the book will offer much stimulation and perhaps enhance an appreciation of the limits of living in a finite universe whose natural laws prevent some dreams from becoming reality."-Sabu Advani, Speedreaders.info

Edition details

• Publisher: Retromechanix Productions
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0996875425
• ISBN 13: 9780996875424
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 102