The striking beauty of auto art in brochures created mental images that stirred emotional urges similar to those of Pavlov's dog. Potential customers who were mailed these catalogs were expected to drop everything and drive last year's model to the showroom to trade up to a much grander model. Often the actual car did not live up to the art rendering. Before the customer noticed this the salesman activated his charm to mask the prior illusion. Add to that the talk of "gobs" of power, silky smooth ride, sports car handling and luxurious upholstery and carpet matching the finest European luxurious cars.

Looking back in time you will see the trap that manufacturers set. Don't these cars get you excited? The literature of the 1930s through early 1960s can be quite artistic.

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1936

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1937

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1938

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1939

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1939

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1940

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1941

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1947

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1949

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1949

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1950

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1950

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1950

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1951

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1952

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1952

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1956

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1958 A clipart photograph of people was inserted into a photo rendering of the car so that it would look like a photograph.

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1960