Thursday, November 18, 2010

This is what I do...

...when you're not looking.

http://transport2marshall.blogspot.com/

(its existence has been a secret)

Sunday, November 7, 2010

I don't want a theme to emerge

today I did a trip that was roughly this, excluding a few getting losts along the way.


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was good. I drove the 159. I prefer my car better.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Moustaches and stuff

A theory.

Throughout Alfa Romeo's history, the Alfa shield has been the most prominent design feature that links the designs to the brand, a less recognised but, in my opinion, equally vital part of Alfa's visual language has been what Walter De'Silva at least referred to as the "moustache". That is the section of grille alongside the shield, as seen here on the 159:



Now this has been prominent across Alfa's history, right up to the 8C Competizione which, due to its low front, incorporates the moustache as the chrome line running across the top of the grilles flanking the shield.



In the 1980s the moustache role was carried by the black grille that extended towards the headlights, as seen on this GTV6.



A similar treatment, with added chrome bars, can be found on this (stunning) 105 Giulia Sprint GT



I think reason that this white GTV6 currently for sale in Sydney looks odd, is because in spraying the grille white, the "moustache" effect has been lost (bleached?).



This, to me, seems to show that the presence of the moustache section is vital in order for there to be cohesiveness between the shield and headlamp clusters.

Now, look at Mito and Giulietta:





With Centro Stile's attempt to apply the supercar 8C's design to the more upright fronts of modern hatchbacks, what was the main grille and moustache on the 8C has been moved downwards to the point where it is no longer a prominent part of the design and looks like lower grille section. This creates blank space between the headlights and shield, and there is nothing to visually link the two. I think this is part of the reason why the reception to the frontal styling of Giulietta and especially Mito has been lukewarm.

The solution, in my opinion, is for Alfa to find a way to bring the Mo back.

Here is 2 minutes worth of photoshop work which demonstrates how the moustache could potentially applied to the Mito:

the luxury of hysteria.

Yay for Tim Rogers.

a couple of cars.

Renault...well I suppose if they made it it would be a Megane.


Mercedes with SLS inspiration, to fit sort of where CLC does in the current range.

starting with the end...

of Industrial Design Studio 6.

Hello.

Airport Baggage Towing Tractor...due/submitted yesterday.

I said to myself "once this is done, you should start a blog"

so now I have.