
When Wedge Had The Edge
Gautam Sen(Author)
Dalton Watson Fine Books (Publisher)
Published on 29. August 2024
Book
Hardback
480 pages
978-1-956309-18-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book
celebrates the striking wedge cars that first appeared at the 1968 Paris Motor
Show. A surreal wedge-shaped sculpture of steel, glass, and layers of scaly
metal astounded show-goers with its daring shape and extraordinary form. The
Alfa Romeo Carabo was an exercise in lateral thinking at just about every
level. With headlamps covered by retractable slats and, for the first time,
doors that opened with scissor action, the Carabo rewrote the rules of
automobile design, kick-starting an avalanche of wedge forms - a trend that
remained in vogue for the best part of the next two decades.
A bold departure
from traditional automotive design, captivating the imagination and emphasizing
sharp lines, low profiles and angular contours, the wedge shape, characterized
by a sharply tapered front end that widens towards the rear, was not merely a stylistic
choice, but a reflection of advances in aerodynamics and engineering. By
minimizing drag and improving stability at high speeds, these cars demonstrated
a commitment to performance and efficiency. How the motorcar designers
gradually moved towards the wedge shape is described in this book which
culminates in a celebration of the many variations that can be seen today.
celebrates the striking wedge cars that first appeared at the 1968 Paris Motor
Show. A surreal wedge-shaped sculpture of steel, glass, and layers of scaly
metal astounded show-goers with its daring shape and extraordinary form. The
Alfa Romeo Carabo was an exercise in lateral thinking at just about every
level. With headlamps covered by retractable slats and, for the first time,
doors that opened with scissor action, the Carabo rewrote the rules of
automobile design, kick-starting an avalanche of wedge forms - a trend that
remained in vogue for the best part of the next two decades.
A bold departure
from traditional automotive design, captivating the imagination and emphasizing
sharp lines, low profiles and angular contours, the wedge shape, characterized
by a sharply tapered front end that widens towards the rear, was not merely a stylistic
choice, but a reflection of advances in aerodynamics and engineering. By
minimizing drag and improving stability at high speeds, these cars demonstrated
a commitment to performance and efficiency. How the motorcar designers
gradually moved towards the wedge shape is described in this book which
culminates in a celebration of the many variations that can be seen today.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Loughborough
United Kingdom
Illustrations
653 images
Dimensions
Height: 313 mm
Width: 226 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight
2810 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-956309-18-8 (9781956309188)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Gautam
Sen is a vice president at Federation Internationale
de Vehicules Anciens (FIVA), jury member of the Le Mans Classic, and founder of
Indian Auto. He is the author of several books, including, most recently,
Bugatti: The Italian Decade, also published by Dalton Watson Fine Books.
Sen is a vice president at Federation Internationale
de Vehicules Anciens (FIVA), jury member of the Le Mans Classic, and founder of
Indian Auto. He is the author of several books, including, most recently,
Bugatti: The Italian Decade, also published by Dalton Watson Fine Books.