What happens when a Web Director and a Sales Manager sit in a car together for a two hour drive? Talk code, design, office gossip? No, we talk cars. Scott and I can talk about cars for hours, and when we get back, swap auto blog URL’s. Most of our admiration revolves around design, and speed.

I have a soft spot for the old luxury car genre, culminated in a 1961 Lincoln Continental. Recently I stumbled upon a blog post at thecoolist.com, about one of the most beautiful luxury automobiles of all times, the Rolls-Royce Phantom III Vutotal. It was designed by Henri Labourdette, of Paris, France.

Its features carry much of the design concepts of the time period, large fenders in front and boat tail rear styling. Its uniqueness is in the details, which are sleek and elegant – you could be fooled into thinking this is a modern take on a late thirties vehicle. One of its major features is the beautiful slab of thick square glass windshield, contrasting the curves of the overall structure while still integrating into the overall design.

The combination of old and new design is held together by adding compelling brass trim elements such as the door handles, the fenders, gold-plated highlits, and the windswept grill, which all give this car a contemporary feel.

Another feature that stands out are the covered headlights; that was almost non-existent in 1938.

Everyone loves a sports car, but luxury cars can be an aquired taste. They don’t get the blood boiling with speed or track nicely around corners. Their features are more subtle, and hard to explain verbally.

Just so you know, we are not going to become a car design blog. Or should we…

Tags:   1939 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Vutotal · cool design · Creative Inspiration · Luxury car design