Back in July, the annual road tour of the Model T Ford Club International passed through Rutland, VT and filled the downtown with over 200 vintage vehicles on display for enthusiasts and the general public alike. It gave me a renewed appreciation for the art of the automobile.

For most people, cars are about function, getting us from place to place with minimum cost, speed, and effort. But some cars are as much about form, beautiful objects whose appearance conveys a sense of luxury or style, and make a statement about the person driving it. Cars can be collected and command prices at auction comparable to fine arts masterworks.

The designers of classic cars knew that attention to detail was key in the creation of a vehicle that would look as good on the road as it did in a garage. Interesting exterior elements like tailfins, pinstriping, hood ornaments, decorative side windows, and the use of grillwork come to mind.

Interiors also offered opportunity for artistic touches, from choice of seat materials and colors to the design of the dashboard. For some cars, the overall body shape, whether sleek or boxy, presented such a signature look that even non car experts can recognize and name them.

Cars today may not have the same aura of a bygone era of American industry that the Model T Fords possess, but one thing has not changed, and that is how people feel about them. Something about a beautiful car still speaks to us of the freedom and romance of the open road, the possibility of leaving everything behind and reaching a distant destination. One look at a classic car and you can almost feel the wind in your hair.

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

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