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Ponton (car)

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Pontonorpontoonstyling is an automotive design genre that spanned roughly from the 1930s-1960s, whenpontoon-like bodywork enclosed the full width and uninterrupted length of a car body — eliminating previously distinctrunning boardsand articulatedfenders.[1]The integrated fenders of an automobile with ponton styling may also be calledpontoon fenders,and the overall trend may also be known asenvelope styling.[2][3]

1959Renault Frégate,a typical postwar design with ponton styling

Now largely archaic, the termpontondescribes the markedly bulbous, slab-sided configuration ofpostwarEuropean cars, including those ofMercedes-Benz,Opel,Auto Union,DKW,Borgward,[4]Lancia,Fiat,Rover,Renault,andVolvo—as well as similar designs from North America and Japan, sometimes — in its most exaggerated usage — called the "bathtub" look in the U.S.[5]

The term derives from theFrenchandGermanwordponton,meaning 'pontoon'.[6]TheLangenscheidtGerman–English dictionary definesPontonkarrosserieas "all-enveloping bodywork, straight-through side styling, slab-sided styling."[7]

1928 HanomagKommissbrot
1923 Bugatti Type 32 'Tank'
1923 Auto Union streamliner replica
1936BMW 328Mille Miglia
1946PininfarinaCisitalia 202
1946Crosley CC Sedan
1947 Frazer Manhattan

Origin of the trend

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In 1921, Hungarian aerodynamicistPaul Jarayrequested a patent for a streamlined car with an evenly shaped lower body, that covers the wheels and runs parallel to the floor space. A year later he presented his first running prototype with such a body, the "Ley T6",[8]and in 1923Auto Unionpresented a streamliner concept car, designed by Jaray.

Another of the first known cars with a ponton body is theBugatti Type 32"Tank" which participated in the 1923 French Grand Prix at Tours.

In 1922 theRomanianengineerAurel Persufiled a patent application for an "aerodynamically-shaped automobile with the wheels mounted inside the aerodynamic body" having a drag coefficient of only 0.22 and received it in Germany in 1924. Named thePersu Streamlinerthe car was built in Germany by Persu, with the help of several local companies.[9]During his research Persu established that the most adequate aerodynamic shape was that of a water droplet falling to the ground.

In 1924, Fidelis Böhler designed one of the first production cars with a ponton body, theHanomag 2/10.[10]The car's body resembled a loaf ofbreadearning it thesobriquetof "Kommissbrot"—a coarse whole grain bread as issued by the army.[11]The economical car was produced from 1924 to 1928. Böhler built the core body around two side-by-side passenger seats. He dispensed withrunning boardsand integrated the fenders in the body to save on weight. "[12]The inexpensive car became popular with consumers in Germany.[10]

In 1935,Vittorio Jano,working with the brothers Gino and Oscar Jankovitz, created a one-off mid-engine prototype on anAlfa Romeo 6C 2300chassis,[13]which Jano had shipped toFiumein 1934. The brothers Jankovitz had been close friends with designer Paul Jaray,[13]and the prototype, called theAlfa Romeo Aerodinamica Spider,featuredpontonstyling[13]—an especially early and clear example of the bulbous, uninterrupted forms that would come to characterize the genre.

In 1937,Pinin Farinadesigned a flowing ponton-style body for theLancia Apriliaberlinetta aerodynamicacoupé,[14]and also the open body on the 1940 Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet.[15]

The 1946Cisitalia202 coupé, which Farina designed from sketches by Cisitalia's Giovanni Savonuzzi, was the car that "transformed postwar automobile design" according to New York'sMuseum of Modern Art(MoMA). MoMA acquired an example for its permanent collection in 1951, noting that the car's "hood, body, fenders, and headlights are integral to the continuously flowing surface, rather than added on.[16]Rounded, flowing forms, with unbroken horizontal lines between the fenders—the style had identified as "the so-called Ponton Side Design" became "the new fashion in Europe".[17]

Two of the first American cars with fresh post-war styling, that adopted the new envelope body style, were the 1946Frazer/Kaiser,and the 1946Crosley CC series.[18]TheHoward "Dutch" Darrin-designed Frazer won the Fashion Academy of New York Gold Medal for design achievement, and was said to have been the inspiration for the 1949Borgward Hansa 1500,Germany's first sedan in the ponton style.[19]

In the Soviet Union, theGAZ-M20 Pobedacame into production in 1946.[20]This was about one month after the first 1946 Kaiser rolled off the production line.

In Britain, theStandard Vanguardwent on sale in 1947.[20]The 1947Studebaker Champion,designed byVirgil Exnerand Roy Cole featured an innovative rear end that "surprised Americans who smiled and asked:which way is it going?"[17][21]However, the design is sometimes erroneously attributed toRaymond Loewy.[17]

In 1948, the CzechoslovakianTatra 600began production, a large, rear-engine design using an aeroplane inspired body style.

FordandGeneral Motorsfollowed the trend with their own designs from 1949.[17]Ford examples are theFord Taunus(Germany) and theFord Zephyr(United Kingdom}). General Motors examples are theVauxhall Velox(United Kingdom).- and theOpel Kapitän(Germany).

Post-WWII examples

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1950Nash Ambassador
1954Mercedes-Benz 180,a "Ponton" model

One of the earliest completely new styled cars that were introduced after World War II in the United States were the 1949Nashmodels.Popular Sciencemagazine described the new "pontoon" Nashes as "the most obvious departure from previous designs."[22]They "carried the fender less pontoon-body, fast-back shape further than the competition."[23]This Nash design became a "family appearance" for their automobiles that also included theNash-Healey.[24]The 1952 redesign of the two-seat sports car took on an "even closer family appearance" to the redesigned Nash models by featuring "pontoon-type fenders fore and aft."[24]The new styling also moved the headlights "from the pontoon fenders to the grille."[25]

The term is also used in reference to Mercedes-Benz models from 1953 to 1962. For example, a book about the marque refers to "the Ponton", the "Ponton saloon", "Ponton 220", "Ponton 220S and SE coupes and cabriolets", and "the Ponton models".[26]

A General Motors document refers to the 1953 Olympia Record as "the first Opel with a full-width, or ponton, body shell".[27]

TheVolkswagen Beetlecarried articulated running boards and fenders, but the subsequentVolkswagen Type 3became known for its ponton styling; in the Netherlands theVolkswagen Type 3(1961–1974) 2-door notchback sedan was referred to asthe Ponton.[28][29]

In a reference work on alternative-energy vehicles, electrical-engineering academics used the term as a generic forsaloon carswiththree-box design;[30]also a 2007 German work on car design and technology mentions a "Rover-Ponton "(ponton-style Rover);[31]and a French book on art and design also used the term in an automotive context in 1996.[32]

Ponton fenders

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Pontoon fenders
1937 Cord 812 with the earlier type of pontoon fender
1939 Buick Y-Job concept car

Pontoon fenders are a type ofautomobile fender,or "wings" as they are more usually called in the United Kingdom.

Originally the term referred to a design prevalent in the United States in the 1930s where front fenders encased a wheel and terminated in a teardrop point, remaining distinct from the running boards or the body of the car. Examples include theCord 810/812,theAuburn Speedsterand several designs byFrenchCarrossiers, notablyFigoni et Falaschi.

In 1938, TheBuick Y-Job,the auto industry's firstconcept carwas "meant to be a vision of the future of the automobile and test the reaction of customers to the new design with streamline and ponton elements",[33]displaying a further degree of integration of the pontoon fenders with the main body of the car.

Subsequently, the term pontoon fender took on another more prominent definition, derived from the wartime practice inGermanyof adding full-length tread armor along each side of a tank, attached primarily on the top edge—and resembling pontoons. As this roughly coincided with the automobile styling trend where distinct running boards and articulated fenders became less common — with cars carrying integrated front fenders and full-width, full-length bodywork — the fenders took on the "pontoon fender" nickname.

The post-war trend of the markedly round, slab-sided designs became itself known as ponton styling—with many postwarMercedes-Benzmodels informally nicknamed the "Ponton".

The British assumed the latter definition, using it in such works as theBeaulieuNational Motor MuseumEncyclopaedia of the Automobile.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^Prokesch, Alfred (1980).Knaurs grosses Buch vom Auto: Geschichte, Modelle, Technik von A - Z title Ar(in German). Droemer Knaur.ISBN978-3-85886-089-7.
  2. ^Flink, James J. (1990).The Automobile Age.MIT Press. p. 246.ISBN978-0-262-56055-9.Retrieved23 March2022– via Google Books.The Model B-A's "envelope body," a styling feature previously incorporated in the postwar Kaiser-Frazer cars...
  3. ^Foster, Patrick R. (2013).American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America's Last Independent Automaker.Motorbooks. p. 67.ISBN978-0-7603-4425-5.Retrieved23 March2022– via Google Books.The new cars featured clean lines with smooth envelope-style bodies on a lengthened 112-inch wheelbase...
  4. ^Braess, Hans-Hermann; Seiffert, Ulrich (2007).Automobildesign und Technik: Formgebung, Funktionalität, Technik.Vieweg+Teubner Verlag. p. 248.ISBN978-3-8348-0177-7.
  5. ^"Queen of the Bathtub Era: The 1949-51 Nash Airflyte".Mac's Motor City Garage.Retrieved23 August2022.
  6. ^Haajanen, Lennart W.; Ludvigsen, Karl; Nyden, Bertil (2002).Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles.McFarland. p. 109.ISBN978-0-7864-1276-1.
  7. ^Langenscheidt Dictionary Technology and Applied Sciences English-German.Langenscheidt Fachverlag. 2004. p. 1371.ISBN978-3-86117-233-8.Retrieved21 February2014.Pontonkarrosserie
  8. ^Oagana, Alex (22 November 2010)."The Origins of Streamline Design in Cars".AutoEvolution.Archived fromthe originalon 28 November 2015.Retrieved23 March2022.
  9. ^Daniel Patrascu (2011)."Persu - The Rain Drop Car".Retrieved10 April2019.
  10. ^abde la Rive Box, Rob (2006).The Complete Encyclopedia of Vintage Cars 1886 - 1940.Rebo Publishers. p. 147.ISBN978-90-366-1517-4.
  11. ^"Company History".Böhler Einbauteile. Archived fromthe originalon 6 December 2009.Retrieved4 July2015.
  12. ^Georgano, Nick N. (2000).The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile.Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p. 667.ISBN978-1-57958-293-7.
  13. ^abcDixon, Mark (December 2008)."Alfa Romeo Aerodinamica Spider".Classic and Performance Car. Archived fromthe originalon 7 May 2013.Retrieved21 February2014.
  14. ^"Lancia Aprilia Coupé Introduced 1937".Pininfarina. 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 21 May 2011.Retrieved4 July2015.
  15. ^"Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet".infocoches.com.Retrieved21 February2014.
  16. ^"Cisitalia. '202' GT Car. 1946 (exhibit description)".Museum Of Modern Art. 2002.Retrieved21 February2014.
  17. ^abcdTumminelli, Paolo (2006).Car Design.teNeues Publishing. p. 30.ISBN978-3-8238-4561-4.Retrieved21 February2014.
  18. ^Norm Mort (2010).American 'Independent' Automakers: AMC to Willys 1945 to 1960.Veloce Publishing Ltd. pp. 8–.ISBN978-1-84584-239-0.Retrieved12 August2013.
  19. ^Eckermann, Erik; Albrecht, Peter L. (2001).World History of the Automobile.SAE International. pp. 163–164.ISBN978-0-7680-0800-5.
  20. ^abLinde, Arvid (2011).Preston Tucker and Others: Tales of Brilliant Automotive Innovators and Innovations.Veloce Publishing. p. 123.ISBN978-1-84584-431-8.Retrieved23 March2022– via Google Books.
  21. ^"1950-1951 Studebaker".How Stuff Works.15 August 2007.Retrieved23 March2022.
  22. ^Stevenson, R.P. (November 1948)."New Nash Swallows its Wheels".Popular Science.153(5): 114.Retrieved10 September2016.
  23. ^Vance, Bill (19 February 2014)."Wheels Classic Cars: 1949-51 Nash Airflyte 'Bathtub'".Chronicle Herald.Canada.Retrieved10 September2016.
  24. ^abMitchel, Doug; Collins, Tom (2005).Supercars Field Guide.Krause Publications. p. 143.ISBN978-0-89689-227-9.Retrieved10 September2016.
  25. ^Kozak, Graham (13 November 2013)."Bring a Trailer: 1952 Nash-Healey roadster".Autoweek.Retrieved10 September2016.
  26. ^Slade, Tim (2004).Original Mercedes-Benz Coupes, Cabriolets and V-8 Sedans, 1960-1972: The Restorer's Guide.Osceola, WI, USA: Motorbooks International. pp. 17, 19, 23, 24, 24, 26.ISBN0760319529.
  27. ^"Opel History: An overview of company milestones"(Press release). General Motors. Archived fromthe originalon 20 September 2009.Retrieved25 February2017.
  28. ^"The Volkswagen name page".vwbusstop.demon.nl.Retrieved21 February2014.
  29. ^"De Volkswagen Type 3: Ponton, TL, Variant".vwtype3.nl(in Dutch).Retrieved21 February2014.
  30. ^Ehsani, Mehrdad; Gao, Yimin; Gay, Sebastien E.; Emadi, Ali (2004).Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles.CRC Press. p. 26.ISBN978-0-8493-3154-1.Retrieved4 July2015.
  31. ^Braess, Hans-Hermann; Seiffert, Ulrich (2007).Automobildesign und Technik: Formgebung, Funktionalität, Technik.Vieweg+Teubner Verlag. pp. 20 and 228.ISBN978-3-8348-0177-7.Retrieved4 July2015.
  32. ^Ed. Barré-Despond, Arlette (1996).Dictionnaire international des arts appliqués et du design.Editions du Regard. p. 18.ISBN978-2-84105-024-6.
  33. ^Caspers, Markus (2017).Designing Motion: Automotive Designers 1890 to 1990.Birkhäuser. pp. 96–97.ISBN978-3-0356-0784-0.Retrieved26 February2018.
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