Why am I showing you a '42 Olds?

Hudsy Wudsy
Hudsy Wudsy Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
A week or so ago I mentioned that I felt that the '46 and '47 Hudson grilles were a disapointment after the nice clean lines of the '42 Hudson. That's not my point here. I just wanted to show you folks how bad things could get grille-wise. It's a good thing for Oldsmobile stylists that they had three years to rethink the direction that they were heading.



http://www.buzztrader.com/image.cgi?1001224-413907_2.jpg

Comments

  • Huddy42
    Huddy42 Senior Contributor
    What on earth were the designers thinking there.????????/
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    :eek: Looks like a plan GM management launched to get rid of some leftovers. :eek:
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    not many cars of 1942 are real pretty, if you think about it...
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    Guess there's a reason you don't see many of those. Probably people took a look at it and said "melt it down for the war effort." haha
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    1942 was not a good styling year. People wanted more chrome and Detroit gave it to them. To give one example, just look at what happened to the clean lines of the 1941 Lincoln Continental, in 1942



    linc4101.JPG



    42lincolncontinental.jpg
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    '42 Oldsmobiles are rare for the same reason a lot of '42 makes are; production was suspended for the war effort.



    On the other hand, a lot of people would like to have one and can't find them. I know of a collection where the late owner had a ROW of them, all coupes, if I remember right.



    Problem is, I heard he drove all his cars in there, but they sat outside and now most of them look like salvage yard fodder.



    Bob Nicholson
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    If it wasn't for those beautiful lines on top of the fenders it sure would be ugly. I thought it would make a good tank.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    She looks like she's got a mustache... actually 2 of 'em. The '46-'47 Hudson's were a lot prettier than that. But to be fair Those Olds' were some of the first cars that had an automatic transmission.

    I actually wish they'd bring some chrome back to new cars but that's my taste.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Carpics wrote:
    '42 Oldsmobiles are rare for the same reason a lot of '42 makes are; production was suspended for the war effort.



    On the other hand, a lot of people would like to have one and can't find them. I know of a collection where the late owner had a ROW of them, all coupes, if I remember right.



    Problem is, I heard he drove all his cars in there, but they sat outside and now most of them look like salvage yard fodder.



    Bob Nicholson



    Leaving project cars to rot is a shame. People need to have sense enough to unload when they know nothing is going to happen to them if they continue to sit.
  • Hudsy Wudsy
    Hudsy Wudsy Senior Contributor
    The thing that I find a little interesting about the '42 Olds grille is that the whole look from the hood ornament down to the bumper is a grouping of horizontal elements that compete with each other, rather than complement each other. The final effect is that it looks like it was designed by a commitee.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Some '42 grilles I do like alot: Pontiac (I think these are geogous!), Ford, Chevy (it's better than later), Chrysler, Desoto and definitely my 42 Hudsons. '42's I definitely think designers missed the boat on: Olds (tops the list), Dodge (close second), Lincoln, Cadillac, Studebaker, and Nash.
  • Hudsy Wudsy
    Hudsy Wudsy Senior Contributor
    Rarerodder wrote:
    Some '42 grilles I do like alot: Pontiac (I think these are geogous!), Ford, Chevy (it's better than later), Chrysler, Desoto and definitely my 42 Hudsons. '42's I definitely think designers missed the boat on: Olds (tops the list), Dodge (close second), Lincoln, Cadillac, Studebaker, and Nash.

    I agree with your list completely. I particularly think that both the '42 Ford and Chevrolet grilles are lot nicer than anything that either of them would offer for a long time to come. I think what worked best about them both (even thought they weren't otherwise similar) is the fact that the grilles were kept within the outline of the sheet metal opening. Post war grille bars projected forward out of the opening and then extended beyond it on either side giving a needlessly heavy appearance to the front ends. I have to say, though, needlessly heavy looking cars seemed to the design goal in the years immediately following the war.
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