Skip to main content
Notice: The Library is open for research by appointment only, please visit our research services page for more information.

Strother MacMinn's Cars of Tomorrow prints

Creation: circa 1950
 Collection
Accession: 1997-268

Abstract

Strother MacMinn (1918-1998) was a designer, writer and influential teacher of automotive design. He assisted in the design of automobiles at General Motors, Opel, and Oldsmobile. But his main position was as an instructor of automotive design at the distinguished Art Center College of Design in California. These are six prints of car models designed by MacMinn for DuPont.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1950

Creator

Extent

6 item(s)

General Physical Description

6 photomechanical prints : color ; 11 x 8 in. on sheet 11 x 14 in.

Historical Note

Strother MacMinn (1918-1998) was a designer, writer and influential teacher of automotive design. He assisted in the design of automobiles at General Motors, Opel, and Oldsmobile. But his main position was as an instructor of automotive design at the distinguished Art Center College of Design in California. He was an integral figure in the establishment of Toyota’s Calty Design Research, Inc., an automotive design studio in Southern California. He also wrote design articles for automotive trade publications like Road & Track, Motor Trend, Automobile Quarterly, and Sports Car International. Additionally, he worked as an independent designer of airline seats, household products, and fiberglass boats.

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company is a chemical company more commonly referred to as the DuPont company. The company, established in 1802 by Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours and his son Eleuthere Irenee du Pont, began with the production of gunpowder. Throughout the 1900s and 1910s, the company shifted its focus away from gunpowder production and towards chemistry innovations. In the 1950s, DuPont developed an acrylic resin coating specifically for cars. It was marketed in 1956 as Lucite acrylic automobile finish lacquers.

Scope and Content

There are six prints each depicting a different model of car: sportscar, amphibious car, luxury car, commuter car, passenger car, station wagon. The caption reads, CARS OF TOMORROW SERIES. Designed for DuPont by Strother MacMinn. Finished with DuPont LUCITE Acrylic lacquer.

Location

GL Box 1.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Language of Materials

English

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Strother MacMinn's Cars of Tomorrow prints
Date:
2015
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400