The 1930s

Speed, elegance, and the Silver Arrows. Mercedes and Auto Union dominated Grand Prix racing with cars that exceeded 300 km/h on public roads converted to racetracks. Bugatti created the Atlantic, a car so sculptural it transcended automotive design entirely. Ferdinand Porsche designed the Volkswagen for mass motorization. The golden age of coachbuilding reached its peak, with Figoni et Falaschi, Touring, and Pininfarina creating one-off bodies of extraordinary beauty. Independent suspension, hydraulic brakes, and aerodynamic bodywork became widespread. War ended everything in 1939, but the engineering groundwork survived.

2 vehicles from this era