Premium

Geneva Motor Show 1951 - the pontoon shape in its heyday

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on February 26, 2011

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Archiv

Geneva Salon 1951 - View of the passenger car show on the first floor

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

General plan of the Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ford Vedette - Ford production convertible as a two-seater with retractable top - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Riley 2.4 Litre - the top model from Nuffield at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 1400 Cabriolet - elegant convertible at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Chevrolet Cabriolet - the new Chevrolet resembles its successful predecessors with very few changes - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

DeSoto de Luxe - the seven-seater De Soto de Luxe with synchromesh gearbox as taximeter - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Dodge Coronet Convertible - wide, horizontal front and side bars give this Dodge its sleek lines - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Oldsmobile - a sign of continuity - the 1951 model is no different from its predecessors - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Allard K2 - Light alloy cylinder heads and two Solex carburetors on the Allard K-2 with Ford V-8 engine - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Citroën 15-Six - the six-cylinder in a friendly color scheme, the new ventilation flaps close behind the radiator - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

MG TD - the chassis of the MG TD Midget with the frame now positioned above the rear axle - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo 1900 - Exhibition and demonstration model at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bristol 401 - Reduced drag thanks to borrowings from aircraft construction - shown at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Hotchkiss-Grégoire - the rear shows the borrowings from aircraft construction to improve aerodynamics - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lancia Aurelia - designed by Pinin-Farina as a spacious and elongated coach - shown at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170S - Exhibition chassis of the 170S - two-stage rear suspension with double coil springs is clearly visible - Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Talbot Lago Baby - Graber's compact and sporty Cabroiet cross-body in its dimensions and proportions - shown at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo 2500 SS Villa d'Este - the noble silhouette of the Villa d'Este from Carrosserie Touring, Milan, as a repeatedly admired gem at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo 6 C 2500 (1951) - the Berlina GT at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bristol 401 Beutler Cabriolet (1951) - dark blue metallic, photographed on the Bristol stand at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show before it opened

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bristol 401 Beutler Cabriolet (1951) - on the Bristol stand at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show - 1203 kg, 5.05 meters long, 1.70 meters wide

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

VW Beetle (1951) - Chassis - seen at the Geneva Motor Show 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Kaiser Deluxe (1951) - this coupé version was shown at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Kaiser Deluxe (1951) - the four-door version at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Kaiser Deluxe (1951) - the pistol-grip handbrake lever is clearly visible, shown at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Kaiser Deluxe (1951) - the rear end of the four-door version, on display at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bristol 401 (1951) - at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bentley Mk VI Graber (1951) - a body variant by Hermann Graber, shown at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 212 Export Spider Vignale (1951) - as exhibited at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Simca 8 (1951) - exhibited as a 1.2-liter at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show, priced at 6,950 francs

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Aston Martin DB 2 (1951) - at the Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bentley Mark VI Graber (1951) - the bodywork already points towards a pontoon shape - with six cylinders and 4566 cc

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marauder (1951) - Front view of the English sports car at the Geneva Motor Show in 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marauder (1951) - exhibited on the Rover stand at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marauder (1951) - exhibited between Rover limousines on the Rover stand at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marauder (1951) - paid its respects on the Rover stand at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show

You have only

3 out of 39

images seen in high resolution

Summary

On March 8, 1951, the 21st International Motor Show in Geneva opened its doors and offered interested spectators an insight into current automotive technology. Visitors to the 1951 show were given an in-depth and reasonably comprehensive impression of the possibilities of the automobile industry at the time. Special and standard bodies could be compared side by side, the vehicles and not the stand construction and marketing effects were in the foreground. However, most visitors probably left the show not with a sales contract, but with food for dreams.

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

On March 8, 1951, the 21st International Motor Show in Geneva opened its doors and offered interested spectators an insight into the latest automotive technology. In 1951, the car was an object that only a few could afford. In rural villages, perhaps the doctor, the vet, the priest and a few craftsmen or manufacturers had a car; everyone else increased their mobility with a motorcycle or a bicycle, if at all. In those days, there was typically one tube radio per household and if you tuned into one of the few stations with your "magic eye", you could listen to "Pack your swimming trunks" or "Too Young" by Nat King Cole, but also "Shanghay" by Doris Day. "Mutiny on the Bounty", "Wizard of Oz" and "Pinocchio" (by Walt Disney) were shown in the cinema and the film "The Sinner" with Hildegard Knef in a nude scene caused a scandal. Hugo Koblet won the Tour de France in 1951 and a kilogram of bread cost 46 pfennigs in Germany. Petrol was cheap at around 56 pfennigs per liter and the car industry was growing at over 20% per year thanks to the incipient upswing.

Welcome to Zwischengas!