I think they can. Some art people though don't think so b/c they say that art can't have any function outside of being art. I personally think that's crap. What do you guys think?

Now let me first off say I'm not talking about art cars. I'm talking about normal production cars. The late 50s-early 60s Vettes are beautiful to behold and have very aesthetic lines. Same goes for the 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. And it doesn't just hold true to classic cars. The Alfa Romeo 8C is remarkable. The Jaguar XF is simply stunning to look at, which is saying something since it's a sedan. It's a perfect blend of smooth lines, sharp creases, and muscular bulges.

All of these cars elicit a different emotion when you see them, and one of the biggest attributes of what makes something art is the powerful emotions that one gets when viewing it.

1/16/2010 2:43:23 AM

Has someone been watching Top Gear?

1/16/2010 4:40:40 AM

Quote :

"Some art people though don't think so b/c they say that art can't have any function outside of being art."

You should look up the definition of design. Some art people came up with it.

1/16/2010 9:13:49 AM

^^ Yeah, but that's a given. I watch that show often. I did get the idea for this thread from that show though. I just don't understand why that art expert said that. Why do the so-called art experts get to determine what can and can't be art?

1/16/2010 10:20:38 AM

Maybe you should be watching art shows.

1/16/2010 10:27:45 AM

cars absolutely can be art.

1/16/2010 6:43:27 PM

May I present to you several examples of the Delahaye 135M and 165M, all except the last with coachwork by Figoni & Falaschi. The final image is of one with coachwork by Saoutchik. Produced between 1936 and 1949.









I rest my case.

1/16/2010 11:28:07 PM

Changing a flat much be a bitch.

1/16/2010 11:33:25 PM

if you have that much money, you probably just junk the car and buy a new one

1/17/2010 11:16:04 AM

I'm kinda partial to Cords myself.

1/18/2010 10:20:48 PM

I saw a Jaguar XF today. For a sedan, that thing is beautiful, especially from the rear.

1/22/2010 8:10:27 PM

1/23/2010 9:24:58 PM

^He rest his case.

1/24/2010 2:05:39 PM

Cadillac Ranch, cars as art in the more literal sense. Right up there with car-henge and the (now demolished) Berwyn Spindle.

1/24/2010 3:23:24 PM

I intend to have one in my living room...

1/24/2010 7:39:43 PM

this is for you ahmet
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/garage/park-your-car-in-the-living-room-los-angeles-times-092718

1/25/2010 12:36:24 AM

I'd go with what May said in that Top gear episode... that a product of design is not art itself, but elements of art can be seen in design. ...Or something to that effect.

So, the answer to this thread's question would be... "sort of".

IMO they couldn't have gone with a better car choice in that episode. I fucking love the look of Alfa Romeos.

1/25/2010 12:42:25 AM

Ragged,

I don't know if that picture is staged, but I've actually started looking into this, and it seems a design like that would most likely not get a building permit. -I believe due to CO2 emissions, the "garage" area needs to be separate from living quarters. Likely a design that has a large enough door to the living room from a "wide" driveway would work. Though I'm not in a position to do so at the moment, I would love to actually have this happen at some point in the next 5 years. I thought about a GT3 parked inside, or a Super 7 replica hanging from the ceiling, the latter being far cheaper and easier to do, but not as functional obviously...

1/25/2010 1:46:55 AM

Wasn't at some point of time a Jag XKE in the NY museum of modern art?

1/26/2010 6:20:52 PM

^^that's easily something that could be finished off after a final inspection, especially if it was a detached sort of deal. even attached would work, though. for example, one of the my parent's garages is fully sheet rocked/insulated, has recessed can and track lighting, is roughed in for a full bathroom, and a kitchenette area. turning it into actual living quarters would require very minimal work. there's even a walk in closet (storage room as it is). it was all legally permitted/inspected when they added on a few years ago. technically and legally speaking, another permitting/inspection process would be needed to do a trim out to finished living quarters, but the point is that step could very easily be circumvented.

if it's part of a main residence and/or singular living quarters, so what if you like entry doors big enough to drive a car through and you have a weird tile/marble/granite/polished concrete/whatever pad in the "foyer"... (i.e. the car can always be parked in there later in this instance).

1/28/2010 10:49:07 PM

i would think that there are a lot of movie cars (the various batmobiles, etc) that can be driven that are def more so art pieces than they are truly functional automobiles

1/28/2010 10:54:49 PM

1/28/2010 11:00:54 PM