Chevrolet Corvette: Through The Years - Part 1

      When the Corvette was first revealed in 1953 as a prototype, America fell in love and this iconic sports car was almost immediately put into production. Ever since then, the Corvette has been a legend and a constant reminder to the world that America is alive and breathing, even in it's darkest hours. Over the next few post, I will give a review of each generation, starting at the original C1 and finishing with the new, flashy C7.

Corvette C1: 1953-1962

1955 Corvette at the Henry Ford Museum

1955 Corvette

    The first 'Vette, being a Fifties car, is covered in shiny chrome, and is fitted with classic white walls tires. While at a glance, the curvacious body is gorgeous, but upon closer inspection I have a few criticisms. The headlights appear to be caged in, which along with the multitude of vertical bars in the grille and bumper, lend a prison-like appearance to the front fascia. The grille, which I've never particularly liked, always reminded me a big of an angry mouth, and doesn't fit in with the sensual bodywork. Despite these minor complaints, it is still a beautiful sports car. The chrome bumper pieces emerging from the underbelly along with the long thin strip running down the side give a '50's futuristic feel. Around back the small bullet-like taillights and trim pieces give a sporty, yet luxurious appearance.

     In 1956, the Corvette was heavily updated, fixing many of my complaints on the '53. The headlights became smaller and more circular, and made the front fin have less of a curved shape. The hideous mesh was gone, and the bumper "fangs" were significantly reduced. These changes create a more sophisticated face for the 'Vette. The chrome bar along the side disappeared, replaced by a sporty, indented oval, allowing the car to have a classic two-tone paint scheme. In the rear, the tail
lights are more slickly integrated into the swooping tail, giving a more elegant look to the Chevy.

1958 Corvette in Naples, Florida

1956 Corvette 

      1958 brought the double-headlamp, along with sporty air scoops beneath the headlights and behind the front wheels, smoothly fused into the side oval, giving the car an extremely bold face. There were also skinny chrome trim pieces extending back from the headlights over the hood and forward from the taillights across the trunk lid, an interesting and unique detail that adds a luxurious feel. While the '58 was a fair improvement over earlier versions, the 1961 'Vette changed the Corvette's image forever.
        '61 saw the introduction of the two-piece taillights, and this design element has been a staple of the Corvette ever since. The change to the taillights also created a more crisply tapered rear end, giving the Chevy a more muscular look. Up front, the grille lost the chrome "teeth," so the car had a more streamlined, sophisticated appearance.
      Over its ten years of production, constant updates meant the Corvette evolved into a mature yet aggressive sports car.

Grade
Front: '53 - B
'56 - B+
'58 - A-
'61 - A
Back: '53 - A-
'56 - A-
'58 - A
'61 - A
Overall: '53 - B+
'56 - A-
'58 - A
'61 - A

Lexus SC 430

     The Lexus SC 430 is an absolutely stunning sports car. The Lexus Sc 430 is also a design catastrophe. See, the SC brings out extremely mixed emotions in me. This contrast makes it a very strange car to review, because sometimes I just love it, while other times I just can't bare to look at it.
     The SC looks its most sexy when viewed from the curvy rear. The elegantly shaped taillights fit in snugly over the powerful, cat-like rear haunches, and flow well into the rear bumper, creating a very fluid and well put together appearance. The lower rear fascia's simplicity further strengthens the slick, stylish image, but a touch of power is visible in the two massive exhaust pipes. The cabin also integrates smoothly into the trunk lid, especially for a hard-top convertible. The cabin's height and angle with the hood and trunk create the perfect sports car silhouette, not as upright as a normal passenger vehicle, but not as squashed as a supercar. Another nice touch appears on the lower front fascia, which features bold oval lights flanked by chrome inserts, all set back in a sporty intake.
     And that's the last of the good stuff. Despite the allure of the rear end, I still had a couple of quibbles with the back. My first issue was the brake light, which felt very out of place. On most cars, the brake light is mounted inside the cabin, but because this is a convertible, that could be difficult logistically. But having it stick up just behind the rear window disrupts the flow of the car's shape. A better place to put it would have been to integrate it into the spoiler. The other problem I had was with the small circular reflector piece on the side of the bumper, which also felt out of place and unnecessary.

     But those are minor complaints when compared to the bloated headlights and gaudy grille that lead catastrophic  front end. The larger oval headlights don't feel appropriate on a car that is otherwise so sleek, and the absurd dip on the inner edge of the headlamp makes the headlight look swollen. A straight, undisturbed line would've fit in better with the crisp and expressive character lines on the hood. The other main culprit of this ruined front fascia is the grille. There is too much chrome on the grille, making it look cheap and overdone. Also, the vertical slats are set back in the chrome surround, lending a snout-like appearance to the nose of the SC.
     The Lexus SC 430 is an interesting case, with its schizophrenic design, the mostly gorgeous back and largely hideous face. While the smooth and elegant taillights and character lines lend the car a sports car look, the cheap grille and fat headlights give a contrasting unattractive, and uninspired appearance.


Grade
Front: F
Back:A-
Overall: C+

Ford Falcon Van

      I love vans. The large expansion of the van market in the U.S. has played a part, with the recent additions of the Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City, and the Chevy City Express. But my fascination also stems from  the flat front vans of the 1960's, such as the Dodge A100. So I was extremely excited to come across a van I'd never heard of, the 1961-1967 Ford Falcon van.
       The van is  based on the Ford Falcon compact car yet it gets its own distinct look. The triangular grilles that house the headlights point inward and are a very quirky and creative way to allow airflow to the engine. The compact font of the word "Ford" cleverly reflects the squat silhouette of the car. (On the side and back the word "Falcon" is written in a stylish script.)
     The flat front, while not uncommon then, sticks out among today's traffic, and adds extra pizzazz. The side features a simple character line just above the door handles, and a funky inverted second window. Around back, the van is fairly basic, with normal barn doors and small circular taillights.
      Despite the van's many simplistic features, such as the taillights and headlight shape, there are enough bizarre and interesting design cues, like the headlight grilles, the badge font, and the second window, to make this van among my favorite designs.

Grade
Front: A
Back: B
Overall: A-

Nissan Altima 2.5 S

      The Nissan Altima 2.5 S is a boring car to look at.  Sure, it takes you where you want to go-- last year, on my family's vacation to Alaska this popular midsize sedan proved to be a very capable sedan for our 1,500 mile driving trip-- but there was nothing impressive visually on either the inside or the outside.
      It starts with the disappointing front fascia. The headlights have a very smooth and elegant outline, but the actual headlamps themselves appear as a jumbled mess of contrasting straight and curved lines. The grille's shiny chrome surround and three horizontal bars are fine but it feels a little small, creating a slightly cheaper look.  The Altima also looks quite cheap on the lower front fascia. The fog lamp housings have no fog lamps (the housing is there for more upscale Altima models), and instead have a flimsy looking plastic cover. This is a common problem when car companies get into cost-cutting measures--it always shows and it always looks awkward.

    The lower grille and intakes look fairly lackluster because of the plastic body colored cross-bars. One detail that works is the character line from the headlights which dips down and curves underneath the lower grille, creating a U-shape. Also the power bulge and creases on the hood  add an athletic vibe to the sedan. Still, these few small positives can't outweigh the cheap look that pervades the front.
     Around back, the taillights are actually quite nice--they are very detailed and it almost feels as if you're looking at a cross section of the taillight. The only complaint could be that they look a little robotic, and that look could be considered a little juvenile, but I don't mind it. The rest of the rear has nothing remarkable about it, although the dual exhaust pipes add a slightly sporty appearance. The short rear deck makes this car feel a little smaller than a midsize sedan (Actually, when I was little I thought the Altima competed in the compact segment).
      Inside is more of the same: a boring and slightly lackluster design that isn't particularly appalling or enthralling. Our car had a grey and black interior, and these drab colors might have contributed to how unexciting the interior appeared. I like the three circular air conditioner vents at the top of the center stack, but the rest seems over-cluttered by buttons, and I found the orange color of the radio screen especially gross. While not very pretty, the storage bins, beneath the center console and behind the gearshift), were useful. The steering wheel was ugly and bland, while the gauges and gearshift weren't bad. In the backseat I had a few complaints. While the seats were comfortable, I felt a little cramped for headroom. I also thought the fold-down bit of the middle seat could've also held a storage bin, instead of all the unused space.

 Grade
Front: C
Back: B
Overall: C+

    

Ford Taurus vs. Police Interceptor

     While the Ford Taurus is a boring full-size sedan, its cousin, the Police Interceptor, is an intimidating and aggressive crime fighter. The Taurus' grille features two fat chrome bars sandwiching the Ford logo, making the car seem bulbous, while the PI has a blacked-out mesh grille with two sirens hiding behind it, making it more menacing. The black hubcaps also have this effect, unlike the chrome rims on the Taurus. the lower front fascia of the PI is dominated by a wide opening with vertical bars, creating a sharp-toothed mouth look that you wouldn't want appearing in your rear view mirror. On the other hand, the Taurus features some black plastic trim, looking cheap and unattractive. The PI does away the small chrome bit behind the front wheel, and replaces it a thin red turning light, further reinforcing the police identity. And of course, perching atop the roof is a set of blue and red sirens.

     Out back the silver chrome bar connecting the taillights of the Taurus is painted black on the PI, and this along with the rest blacked out elements make the police version appear as if it can chase you down instantly. Furthermore, the single tailpipes of the commuter version are stuck together, creating a more powerful looking car. All of these elements, along with that pretty sick paint job, add up to create a more athletic and menacing machine. Obviously, some of these things, like the sirens, couldn't appear on an everyday commuter car, but other adjustments could be made to the grille or bodywork to make the Taurus more appealing.

Jaguar XKR

     While the new Jaguar F-Type is a stunning coupe, its arrival unfortunately means the end of the Jaguar XK. This grand tourer was a beauty as well, due to the car's great proportions and slick bodywork.
     Starting with the front, the car really seems to fit into the cat-like ethos of Jaguar. The oval grille with its chrome webbing is fancy but also reminds me of a jaguar, its mouth open wide. The grille is flanked by teardrop shaped headlights, which feature a projector lamp that provide a more modern look than reflector lamps. The lower front fascia is comprised of a wide rectangular intake with chrome diagonal bars, and two vertical chrome-outlined slits that hint at the potential for speed. The hood's two indents stemming from the glass down to just above the grille, along with the "Supercharged" branded vents, create a powerful impression; and this car is powerful, producing over 500 horsepower. Extending from the headlight is a curving character line that flows into the window line. Just behind the front wheel is a vent that further adds to the image of a car ready to jump into action. Just behind the rear section of the window, massive haunches appear, creating a pouncing cat look. This powerful stance reminds me of many 2000's Aston Martins, which is no surprise since the designer of the XK, Ian Callum, also designed the DB7 and Vanquish for Aston.
      Around back, the teardrop shape appears again in the taillights, which feature circular and rectangular white sections in the center for the turning and reverse indicators. The rear lamps are connected by a skinny chrome bar featuring the Jaguar name. The fact that the letters are engraved into the chrome and are very spaced out create a luxurious feel. Just above this is a lip spoiler, adding to the image that this car is capable of high speeds. Down below, the car features two sets of dual exhaust pipes, further reinforcing the sporting image started by the front hood design.
     Overall, a mixture of chrome and smooth lines with vents and haunches create an elegant yet muscular grand tourer.

Grade
Front: A
Back: A-
Overall: A-

Avanti II

     When I first saw this blue Avanti shining in the Alaskan sun, I had absolutely no clue what it was, but its design really struck me, so I snapped a few photos. I then went and did some research on this intriguing vehicle, and found it had a very interesting history. Initially, the Avanti was made by Studebaker, who introduced it in 1962. But the factory in South Bend, Indiana where they were produced was shut down in 1963, ending the Avanti's time as a Studebaker, which closed down for good just a few years later. But three Studebaker dealers, Nate and Arnold Altman and Leo Newman, bought up the Avanti name, tooling, and plant space. Just a few years later, the Altman brothers introduced the Avanti II, a slightly modified version of the original. They produced the Avanti II until 1982, and the model I saw is most likely from this era. After that the car bounced around from owner to owner, until 2006 when the final Avanti rolled off the line.
     But enough history, lets get to the design. The front end looks somewhat awkward to me, as it seems to be a strange mix of sharp and smooth lines. The headlights are rectangular, and are set back a few inches, with the base and sides of this portion making sharp, almost ninety degree angles with the forward fins. I think it is a little strange for the fins to stick out that much in front of the headlight section, but it is even stranger when those fins stretch back into very smooth and curvy lines. The Studebaker Avanti, with its circular headlamps, looks more natural with the swooping bodywork. Another thing that looks strange at first is the lack of a grille, but over time I have come to like this uniqueness and it makes the car look sleeker. The hood features a bulge only on the driver's side, and gives off a powerful impression.
    The car's cabin is supported by very thin A and B pillars, but a thick upside down V-shaped C pillar. The side windows sweep upwards right in front of the aggressive rear haunches, creating a elegant curved parallelogram out of the three piece window. The continuous silver trim piece running around the car makes the car look like its almost two separate pieces, and this makes the swooping upper half appear to have a strong and stable foundation in the hard edges of the bottom section
    The cockpit is finished off with an expansive, curved rear window, which runs in to the short rear deck. While the rear fenders and trunk feature very graceful lines, again the problems I had with the contrasting design from the front appears in the taillights. Each taillight consists of two separate rectangular pieces, which are honestly very boring and also don't fit with the fluid lines running down the side of the Avanti. But, while the taillights may be dull, the simplicity of the rear is quite beautiful.
     The font used on the front and rear of the vehicle makes the letters look futuristic while also appearing to be very animated and cartoon-like. And the horizontal line that runs through the whole word also makes the word seem to be in motion.
      I'm glad I stumbled upon this interesting car, and it was great to learn its history and see such an interesting, though awkward design.

Grade
Front: C+
Rear: B+
Overall: B

Renault Twizy (Technic Trim)

       For months I had marveled over the Renault Twizy in Top Gear, hoping that someday I would get to see this quirky French design in person. So when, on my recent trip to Spain, I saw a Twizy on the street, I was just as excited as I would be seeing a Lamborghini Gallardo or Ferrari 458.
      The Twizy lived up to the hype. It is a very skinny vehicle at about 4 feet wide, and in Europe it is legally classified, not as a car, but as a heavy quadricycle. The "car" seats two people surprisingly, if the second person is willing to squish in in a tandem position behind the driver. Oh, and those doors--they're optional (and cost extra). The driver and passenger sit in a sort of cage that is perched on top of a small base which is fitted onto the chassis and wheels. The bare wheel axles protrude from the plastic base piece, and lead to tiny 13 inch alloy wheels, which sport a clean looking three triangle design. The black base features an indented  Z.E. logo (which is Renault for electric vehicle) and two small orange turning indicators. Normally I dislike large pieces of plastic on cars (for example, the Honda Element), but it doesn't look too ugly on the Twizy. Onto the main body of the Twizy, the capsule has two circular headlights sandwiching a shiny blue Renault logo, all of which is set back about half an inch in to the body of the car. The vehicle features a contrasting white bit that runs around the side windows and the doors, almost coming full circle, and this reminds me of the design of the Smart Fortwo, which features a similar piece. The doors have a relatively skinny black glass and plastic rectangular piece just below the side windows (which are made of plastic), which holds the sideview mirrors. Below this is a large black piece that finishes off the rest of the door.
      Around back the Renault has a long, singular rounded taillight, that is placed in its own little indented area, and this creates a simplistic yet futuristic look. The rear of the Twizy is considerably skinnier than the front, and this gives the car a more streamlined look, and helps with aerodynamics and therefore boosts efficiency. The base, like the front, has two small orange turning indicators, but also features two more lights, possibly brake indicators, in little pockets on either side of the license plate.
     The Twizy is the perfect mix of quirky and simple design.


Grade
Front: A-
Back: A
Overall: A

When I was presented with a assignment for my photography class, I immediately knew that it had to have something to do with automobiles. I decided to take portraits of people with their cars, and I was inspired by Brandon Stanton's Humans of New York to do an interview along with the photo. So here's the photos and the accompanying quotes.

Bill Cassano, 2001 Ford Expedition

"We were having another kid and we were going to be six people and we wanted to have two more seats for guests. This was the nicest car that could fit three people in the back. We had a Chrysler Town and Country Minivan. They are easier to get in and out of but don't hold as many people. I think it screams that I have a big family... but there is a bicycle rack on top so that shows I'm into bicycling."

Stuart Miller, 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon.

"My family has driven VWs for forty years because my grandfather bought a Volkswagen dealership. They are great cars because they handle the road really well, they are great at high speeds—even if they don't zoom from zero to sixty—and they are incredibly safe, they feel like armored cars. I dislike everything about SUVs and minivans from the looks to the image they project but especially the mileage so I like having a station wagon. My son doesn't think this car is cool enough: it's too old, it's a station wagon, and it's got nicks and scratches all over the place. But its paid off and it drives well so that's pretty cool to me."

Jo Michelli, 2013 BMW 7 Series

"I like it because its smooth, fast, cool, and roomy. Oh and very comfortable. Before this I had another BMW 7 Series, 2008. Basically the same, this [his current car] was just an upgrade. And it looks nicer I’d give it a ten out of ten.''

Jo Michelli, Remote Control car

"It can hit 55 piles per hour. I have another that can 100 but not here. I need a flat tarmac, so I go out to an airport on Long Island."

Tracy Grayson, 1998 Mercedes-Benz C280

            "It's beautifully designed, it's incredibly well-made, and it's well-made in a way that they don't make new cars. I love the new Mercedes-- they look fantastic and are undoubtedly very good cars... which I could never in a million years afford to own. But this is the last of the really great Mercedes--back then they built them to be purchased as opposed to be leased so when you purchased a Mercedes you expected it to last almost indefinitely.

            I looked at BMWs, Volvos, Saabs, all kinds of higher end European cars, and the quality of the materials in the Mercedes was so much higher. You could get an older one that is still in fantastic condition as opposed to BMWs of this vintage, which are completely worn out. It's not really about status, it's about the car, it's about the machine. Status doesn't mean anything-- I'm well old enough to be past that. Either the machine is good and works and looks right or it doesn't, regardless of the status. I'd rather have a perfect Camry than a beat up BMW any day of the week. I've owned about 23 cars in my life. This is the highest quality car I've ever owned."

Jenna, 1998 Volvo S90

"Its sturdy, safe, and boxy. And I actually like the shape. It was actually my mom’s car, its been passed down. It’s been in the family for a while. I like, as a mother, that I can feel like my kids and I can feel safe in it."

Martin, 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo

            "It has been a trusty steed. It is reliable and it's fast. Before this I had a Boxster. That's a great car, this is more powerful and has more room but the Boxster could probably beat this on a track because it corners really well with the engine in the middle.

            The backseat is useful only occasionally, in a pinch. It's not a very practical car at all. I kept it in storage most of the time but the Pep Boys on Third Avenue put my Toureg on the lift and didn't lock the air suspension and blew it out and the car was totaled. My first car was a Chevy Celebrity wagon, which was a fabulous wagon; it was my parent’s car. I love wagons. I'm in the market for a wagon now."

Angie, Volkswagen Golf

            "We got it two and a half years ago. I like it because it's small and easy to park especially in the city and cleaner than taking the subway. The mileage is okay.  Before this I had a Nissan Altima and a Lincoln Town Car and a Toyota Tercel. This is new; the others were very used so they were horrible. This is very easy and needs no maintenance. Right now with the baby seat it's a little difficult to fit a lot in the car but it's okay."

Elizabeth Marvel & Bill Camp, 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle.

Elizabeth: "We were living in L.A. and our Toyota got totaled."

Bill: "We wanted an orange Beetle but she just walked in and bought this."

Elizabeth: "They didn't have orange on the lot that day  and I was impatient. Green was my second choice. It has been perfect for us. This car is so solid and the Toyota was tinny. The trunk is surprisingly large and the back folds down. With a family it's great. We're thinking of replacing it with a new one."

Brian, Chevrolet Avalanche

"It's a big durable truck it runs good and has a lot of space, I carry a lot of equipment. I had a GMC Yukon before this. It's just as big. This is just newer. That was just old. I loved it too. I use it mostly for work. I'm a court officer for New York State, I carry equipment around and I can throw it right in the back and not worry about messing up my interior. My first car was a 1988 Nissan Sentra. I'm a big guy for me this is a lot more comfortable than the Sentra was—it was a struggle to get in and out of that. I would never go back to a small car."

Kevin Mulcahy, Subaru Forester

"We had a 1998 Ford Taurus that had been handed down in the family. But we parked it for [two months] at my dad's garage and when we retrieved it and turned it on it started smoking and then there were flames coming out of the trunk and then the whole car was engulfed. We realized there was a possum nest in the engine When the car was fully engulfed in flames the possum stopped playing possum and ran out. So we had to get online and get ourselves a new used car.

            We were looking for a used car that we could have in the city and park on the street and not have to worry about it getting stolen and beat up so we wanted something a little rough. When you park a car on the street a lot of things happen, which we know from experience. We once parked the car in a legal space and when we went to get it was not there. We thought the city had towed it for some reason but they said no so we had to conclude that it was stolen, which we thought was surprising because it was an old Ford Taurus. We reported it stolen, went through the whole process and even got a check from the insurance company but before we could cash the check we got a call from a detective who said he'd found our car on Atlantic Avenue where it had been parked for two months, placed there by a city tow truck that had moved it so a movie could be shot in our neighborhood. The city admitted they were at fault. They gave us some compensation and we ripped up our check and moved on.

            This Subaru was available on Craigslist for $2000. That's a very low price for a car that works and it only had 108,000 miles. I like the Subaru. If we get another car I would look for a newer Subaru. It holds five people easily plus good, easy trunk space in the back but it's not big so it parks easily."

Gal Beckerman, Honda CRV

"I have little kids and it had enough space in it and it seemed like a safe car. This car reveals that I'm a boring middle-aged parent. There's nothing that sexy about it. I'm not someone who really fantasizes about cars. I grew up in Los Angeles and had cars there but not here for many years. My first car there was a Jeep Cherokee—that's a little bit more adventurous than this."

Noal Melendez, Toyota RAV4.

"It's a seven-seater and I have a large family. The number one thing is safety. If you have seven family members in the car you want to feel like if you get into an accident you won't really get hurt."

Duffy Magesis and Peg Terry, 1988 Volvo 240 DL.

Duffy: ''The car's name is Betsy. It just seems like a Betsy. Our daughter came up with the name. We got the car right after 9/11.''

Peg: "It belonged to a friend whose husband had died. My friend Diane said Duffy has always wanted a car, this will show him. So we bought the car and it hasn't shown Duffy because he loves the car."

Duffy: "It's one of the last cars made of all steel, everything is welded. When we got insurance we had to pay more because of the damage we would inflict on other cars. It's virtually indestructible. It also has the crank windows, it has a cassette deck, there's no computer stuff in it. It's a great car."

Peg: "It has a broken odometer and a broken speedometer and a broken gas gauge. We don't take it out of the city anymore."

Bruce Herman, 2003 Land Rover Freelander

" I got this car because the back window rolls down. Well, when I was a kid all station wagons had back windows that rolled down and they stopped that. I had another car it was being fixed and they gave me a loaner and it was one of these and I said, 'What's this button for' and the back window went down and I said, 'That's it, keep that car I'm getting one of these.'

            I'm never getting another car without a back window that goes down. The ventilation is definitely part of it and also I put things in that stick out so its extremely useful that way. I take it off road a lot. I have a house upstate which is at the end of a dirt road and that road is often in pretty bad condition and this car does really well there—on snow, ice I've never had a problem. Land Rovers are a real pain in the ass and are not well made and break down a lot but I won't give it up.

            The car  before this was a Volvo station wagon because the Land Rover I had before that was stolen and it was a moment of stupidity. The minute I got in that Volvo I hated it and it took me two-and-a-half years to figure out why I hated it—it was because I felt old, like an old suburban guy. I feel 75 years younger in this car."

Christopher Gaby, Toyota Prius

"I bought it for the gas mileage, my last car was a super gas guzzling Grand Cherokee Laredo-- that got 10 miles to the gallon ten years later, this one on the highway I get close to 52.             I like to consider myself with the times, less of a carbon footprint and all that stuff while the truck definitely fit my lifestyle as someone who surfs a lot and also being in the fire department and having a lot of gear to throw in the back. But ultimately, financially, ecology-wise and living in this neighborhood I feel like the Prius is a pretty good fit.

            It's a little harder with surfing but I put racks on it. It was a lot easier just sticking them inside but I make do. It's not fast by any means but surprisingly when I get it on the highway its very aerodynamic and efficient and it actually stays its speed a lot better than I thought it would. Originally I thought these cars were kind of lame but I'm really impressed."