TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM TOP EXHIBITIONS/VIRTUAL MUSEUM From Stylization to Perfection of Automotive Technology The movement to upgrade the practical cars of the 1920s escalated during the following decade. The luxurious, large, high-class cars captured the imaginations of those who had just survived the depression. Upgrading from the Practical to the Luxurious Stylized, Streamlined Bodies Search for the Next Design: Exploring Fashionable, Streamlined Cars European Reaction to Family Cars Automotive Technology Adds More Functions

During the 1920s, Ford’s battle with Chevrolet intensified. In 1927, Ford released its Model A and Chevrolet released its six-cylinder to combat it. The 1932 Chevrolet, which was released during a time when the performance of utility vehicles was being enhanced, features magnificent styling that seems to be a scaled-down version of the Cadillac V16. It differed only in size from other large-scale luxury cars, earning it the nickname “Baby Cadillac.” Ford's answer to upgrading purely functional automobiles was to install a V8 engine. The four-cylinder engine model was kept, but in 1932 a V8 model was released. The benefits of the V8 were its power and smoother operation. In addition, it was compact enough to allow better exterior styling and its short nose was very compatible with the popular streamlined design. The 1934 model tended more toward a round shape and had a heart-shaped radiator grille: both signs that a major change was under way.

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