Automobiles -- Nothing About The Bakken -- January 2, 2018

From The Wall Street Journal today: car sales to top 90 million globally for first time (2017).

Global sales of passenger cars and trucks likely surpassed 90 million for the first time in 2017, the latest indicator that demand for conventional automobiles remains strong even as driverless cars and ride sharing get increasing attention.

The results were fueled in part by a continued rebound in Western Europe and recovery in major emerging markets, including Brazil and Russia. Asian buyers are the main engine for sales growth with more than a quarter of the cars sold last year going to Chinese customers, up from less than 15% a decade ago.

The North American market is the world’s most profitable for auto makers, but American dealership traffic has slowed after several years of momentum. Analysts expect U.S. sales in 2017 to fall short of a record 2016 and are bracing for production cuts in the first quarter of this year amid further slowdown.

December’s U.S. sales are due out Wednesday (tomorrow).

One of my books on my night table is a small little hardcover, Cars, by Stephen Bayley, c. 2009. It is reviewed at The New York Times here.

The full title: Cars: Freedom, Style, Sex, Power, Motion, Colour, Everything.

From the New York Times review:

Stephen Bayley, the author, is a longtime writer for Car magazine.

In a 22-page but seemingly endless introductory essay, Bayley claims, “This is a book about the 80 or so greatest car designs ever.” He announces: “You will find no references to power outputs, speed, acceleration. . . . My subject is the more elusive one of art.”

Bayley over-proves his point: “The ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air is at least as interesting as a ’57 David Smith.”

Surely sculptors appreciate mention of dimensions and materials. Smith, by the way, learned his craft at a Studebaker plant. Auto enthusiasts greatly admire his welds. Bayley doesn’t mention this, or much else worthwhile.

Bayley seems to think Henry Ford built his first car in 1908 (not true); says “there was a time before cars were designed” (not possible); and calls the 1959 Cadillac “the most absurd, magnificent, appalling and perfect demonstration of consumerism without morals.” (It was just an ugly car.)

Bayley natters mystifyingly about General Motors’ midcentury styling chief, Harley Earl: “He flew on the inaugural flight of the Boeing 707 and was filmed eating a banana.”

The pages of “Cars” are littered with inapposite quotations:

Everywhere,
Giant finned cars nose
forward like fish;
A savage servility
Slides by on grease.
                            Robert Lowell

Didn’t the mental hospital take Lowell’s license away?

I don't know anything about cars, but I had the same feeling as the reviewer when I first read the book. But the book turned out to be a great jumping off point to learn a bit more about designers and designs.

For those interested, here are the cars featured by Bayley:

Cars	Stephen Bayley	c. 2009
1908	US	Ford	Model T
1934	France	Citroen	11CV Traction Avant
1935	US	Ford	Lincoln Zephyr
1936	US	Chrysler	Airflow
1939	Germany	BMW	328 Mille Miglia
1941	US	Willys Overland	Jeep
1947	Italy	Consorzio	Cisitalia
1948	US	GM	Cadillac ‘61
1948	Great Britain	Jaguar	XK 120
1948	Great Britain	Land Rover	Series 1
1949	Germany	Porsche	356
1949	France	Citroen	2CV
1949	Germany	Volkswagen	Beetle
1949	US	Ford	49 Ford
1949	Sweden	Saab	92
1950	Germany	Volkswagen	Transporter
1951	Italy	Pininfarina	Lancia Aurelia B20 GT
1952	Great Britain	Bentley	R-Type Continental
1953	US	Studebaker	Starlight
1953	France	Panhard	Dyna
1953	Great Britain	AC	Ace
1953	US	Chevrolet	Corvette
1954	Germany	Mercedes-Benz	300 SL
1954	US	Ford	Thunderbird
1954	Italy	Alfa Romeo	Giulietta Sprint
1955	Italy	Lancia Aurelia	B24
1955	Great Britain	Morris Garages	MGA
1955	Italy	Fiat	600
1955	France	Citroen	DS
1955	Germany	BMW	507
1956	Sweden	Volvo	Amazon 120
1956	Italy	Fiat	Multipla
1957	US	Chevrolet	Bel Air
1957	US	Ford	Fairlane 500 Skyliner
1957	Great Britain	Lotus	Elite
1957	Italy	Fiat	500
1958	US	Nash	Metropolitan
1959	Great Britain	Jaguar	Mark II
1959	Sweden	Volvo	P1800
1959	US	Chevrolet	Corvair
1959	Great Britain	Austin	A40
1959	Great Britain	Mini	Mini
1959	US	GM	Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
1961	US	Ford	Lincoln Continental
1961	Great Britain	Jaguar	E-Type
1961	Germany	BMW	1500
1961	Germany	NSU	Prinz
1961	Italy	Alfa Romeo	Giulia
1961	France	Renault	4
1962	Italy	Lancia Flavia	Zagato
1963	US	Ford	Cortina
1963	Germany	Porsche	911
1963	GM	Buick	Riviera
1963	Great Britain	Rover	P6
1963	Germany	Mercedes-Benz	SL
1963	US	Chevrolet	Corvette
1963	France	Panhard	24CT
1963	Italy	Ferrari	250 GTO
1964	US	Ford	Mustang
1964	US	Pontiac	GTO
1965	Japan	Toyota	2000GT
1966	US	GM	Toronado
1966	Japan	Toyota	Corolla
1966	Sweden	Volvo	144
1966	Italy	Alfa Romeo	Duetto Spider
1967	Germany	NSU	Ro80
1967	Italy	Alfa Romeo	Montreal
1968	Italy	Ferrari	Daytona
1968	Great Britain	Jaguar	XJ6
1970	France	Citroen	SM
1970	Great Britain	Ranger Rover	Range Rover
1971	Italy	Alfa Romeo	Alfasud
1971	Italy	Fiat	130 Coupe
1971	Italy	Lamborghini	Countach
1972	Germany	BMW	5 Series
1972	France	Renault	5
1974	Germany	Volkswagen	Golf
1977	Sweden	Saab	Turbo
1979	Italy	Fiat	Panda
1982	US	Ford	Sierra
1982	Germany	Audi	100
1992	France	Renault	Twingo
1998	Germany	Daimler-Benz	smart
1999	France	Renault	Avantime
2002	Japan	Nissan	Cube
2003	Germany	BMW	5