The Beauty of Bare Metal

In a time of trick paint jobs, gigantic wheels, amazing powerplants and sumptuous (or snakeskin) interiors, it's easy to forget about the guts that make up what we drive. Although vehicles today use less and less of it, the metal under the paint and clearcoat has just as much character, if not more than the paint itself. Although a great paint job is easy to appreciate, bare metal when crafted well, is truly a vision to behold. Each metal, whether it be brass, aluminum or good old cold-rolled steel has its own character, offering varying pictures of perfection. Each contour seems to stand out more, each weld hidden by careful grinding, the craftsmanship of the oft-unappreciated metalworker revealed.

Take this Auto Union race car for example. Paint isn't necessary to appreciate its form, its majesty. It flows seamlessly and flawlessly from panel to panel, interrupted only by the driver's seat. Humanity is the only rock in this sea of metal, almost an indicator of human inefficiency and drag on progress.

The Mercury is another stunning example of how simple metal indicates much more about a form than a simple profile- light bounces off this metalworked form, glinting in the overhead illumination, cascading like water from the nose of the car. It is simple, yet satisfying to the eye, a tactile experience for the ocular nerves. Even the Jaguar pictured above the jump offers more than just a car, it shows how William Lyons used curves to reflect light, and how that heritage has stayed part of the Jaguar tradition, using metal, not paint, to create the image, the beauty.There's nothing wrong with a gorgeous paint job, to be sure, but fine metalwork has a character and presence all its own, whether it be in tin or the finest aluminum. It is strong, yet malleable, durable yet prone to rust and corrosion. Bare metal is the hidden artwork of cars, appreciated by few, done well by even fewer.