Andonis says: Avantgarde (Part one)

What is avantgarde? What does an avantgarde car mean? What makes a car avantgarde? How does it refer to the other cars of its time? How does the design express avantgardism?

According to Wikipedia "Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard".The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics.

Avant-garde represents a pushing of the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo, primarily in the cultural realm. The notion of the existence of the avant-garde is considered by some to be a hallmark of modernism, as distinct from postmodernism."

What does a Tucker Torpedo and a Renault (Matra) Avantime have in common? Nothing. Apparently. However if we look at them more closely we notice that they are both fueled by the same dream to create something else, fundamentally new, other that defined its time. They both seek the future by pushing the boundaries of what has been accepted as normal or status quo. Look at the DS for instance, it screams future in every detail of it carefully thought shape.

So does avantgarde translate into instant financial success? Not necessarily. Most of these cars were either born from an artistic attempt to redefine the shape of the future of their present simply by their presence, or intentionally leaping forward technologically. Avantgarde does express art.

The 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic still draws the admiration of the beholder. It works as magnet. Its simple, but majestic lines have something in common with the classicism in terms of cultural and spiritual era of humanity. In the 1920s, automotive design took a leap forward into the modern age, taking many cues from the Futurist and Art Deco movements. Such a leap is the dedication of the coachbuilder Bugatti.

Now let's take a look at the most avantgarde automotive milestones of all-time. They are all classic works of art. They inspire by representing beauty or share innovative visions! The style of these masterpieces bring lightness, yet their weight is impressive on the scale of automotive history. Enjoy the time-travel!
Let's start with Preston Tucker's dream.