GM ‘flat-tops’ a hard act to follow

by David Burrell Back in the late 1940s GM car designers were always searching for new ideas.  One of the breakthroughs that combined elega...

by David Burrell

Back in the late 1940s GM car designers were always searching for new ideas. 

One of the breakthroughs that combined elegant styling with engineering prowess was the pillarless hardtop. 

GM had perfected it for production and it was first seen on the 1949 Buick Riviera.

The concept was an immediate success and GM’s competitors raced to put their own hardtops on the market.

Indeed, it took Ford and Chrysler two years to catch up.

Then GM went one better and released its range of four-door hardtops.

The open-air experience, created by eliminating the centre pillar, and four-door convenience, captivated American car buyers and soon almost 30 per cent of US cars sales were four-door hardtops.

So, in the mid-50s, the search was on for the next big idea.

And it came from GM designer Bud Sagano’s roof treatment on the 1955 Pontiac Strato Star show car.

Stratos’ roof looked as if it was floating above the car, so thin were the supporting pillars.

Chevrolet’s chief designer back then, Clare MacKichan, was one of the senior managers who advocated to have the idea brought into production.

And so it came to pass that in 1959, GM’s entire range would boast what came to be called the “Cantilever” roof line or “Flying Wing”.

These days these cars are simply called the “Flat Tops” 

If the goal was to have the roof floating above the car, then GM succeeded.

When you see a flat top, four-door hardtop you have to look twice to spot the pillars.

Accustomed to the enveloping enclosures of 21st century cars, sitting inside a flat top on the move is quite disconcerting.

With all windows wound down, it feels as if there is nothing but thin air holding up the roof.

All round visibility is astounding. 

But, as with all automotive styling themes, the flat-top had a use by date.

And for GM, that was 1961.

When the 1962 cars appeared, flat tops were all but a memory,

So last year! 

The Chevrolet Corvair retained a version of the flat-top until 1965, but it was a pillared sedan, so for true flat-top devotees, it does not count.

If you happen to own a GM flat-top, hardtop then please be advised that I’m extremely envious.

I’d have one in a heartbeat.

To me they are a celebratory example of American car styling.

You will never see their like again.

David Burrell is the editor of retroautos

 

1955 Pontiac Strato Star

 

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