unfunctionat, which is why so many were appalling. Mind you, we still do the same thing sometimes in this business when we put on enormous tail fins or excess chrome or protruding grillwork. Fortunately we're learning to do it less .”
The pensive male student stopped making patterns on the tablecloth. "The Volkswagen is function at-wholly so. But you wouldn't call it beautiful .”
Brett DeLosanto waved his fork and swallowed hastily, before anyone else could speak. "That, my friend, is where you and the rest of the world's public are gullibly misled. The Volkswagen is a fraud, a gigantic hoax .”
"It's a good car," the girl student said. "I have one .”
. Of course it's a good car .”
Brett ate some more of his breakfast while the two young, would-be designers watched him curiously. 'When the landmark autos of this century are added up, the Volkswagen will be there along with the Pierce-Arrow, the Model T Ford, 1929 Chevrolet 6, Packard before the 1940s, Rolls-Royce until the '60s, Lincoln, Chrysler Airflow, Cadillacs of the '30s, the Mustang, Pontiac GTO, 2-passenger Thunderbirds, and some others. But the Volkswagen is still a fraud because a sales campaign has convinced people it's an ugly car, which it isn't, or il wouldn't have lasted half as long as it has. What the Volkswagen really has is form, balance, symmetrical sense and a touch of genius; if it were a sculpture in bronze instead of a car it could be on a pedestal alongside a Henry Moore. But because the public's been beaten on the head with statements that it's ugly, they've swallowed the hook and so have you. But then, all car owners like to deceive themselves .”
Somebody said, "Here's where I came in," Chairs were eased back. Most of the others began drifting out to their separate studios. The Color and Interiors chief stopped beside the chairs of the two students. "If you filter Junior's output the way he advised to begin with-you might just find a pearl or two .”
"By the time I'm through"-Brett checked a spray of egg and coffee with a napkin-"they'll have enough to make pearl jam .”
"Too bad I can't stay ! " Heberstein nodded amiably from the doorway. "Drop in later, Brett, will you? We've a fabric report I think you'll want to know about .”
"Is it always like that .”
The youth, who had resumed drawing finger parabolas on the tablecloth, looked curiously at Brett. "In here it is, usually. But don't let the kidding fool you. Under it, a lot of good ideas get going .”
It was true. Auto company managements encouraged designers, as well as others in creative jobs, to take meals together in private dining rooms; the higher an individual's rank, the more pleasant and exclusive such privileges tec-e. But, at whatever level, the talk at table inevitably turned to work. Then, keen minds sparked one another and brilliant ideas occasionally had gene 1 sis over entree or dessert. Senior staff dining rooms operated at a loss, but managements made up deficits cheerfully, regarding them as investments with a good yield. "Why did you say car owners deceive themselves .”
the girl asked. "We know they do. It's a slice of human nature you learn to live with .”
Brett eased from the table and tilted back his chair. "Most Joe Citizens out there in community land love snappy looking cars. But they also like to think of themselves as rational, so what happens? They kid themselves. A lot of those same Joe C.'s won't admit, even in their minds, their real motivations when they buy their next torpedo .”
"How can you be sure .”
"Simple. If Joe wants just reliable transportation-as a good many of his kind say they do all he needs is the cheapest, simplest, stripped economy job in the Chev, Ford, or Plymouth line. Most, though, want more than that-a better car because, like a sexy-looking babe on the arm, or a fancy home, it gives a good warm feeling in the gut. Nothing wrong with that . But Joe and his friends seem to think there is, which is why
The pensive male student stopped making patterns on the tablecloth. "The Volkswagen is function at-wholly so. But you wouldn't call it beautiful .”
Brett DeLosanto waved his fork and swallowed hastily, before anyone else could speak. "That, my friend, is where you and the rest of the world's public are gullibly misled. The Volkswagen is a fraud, a gigantic hoax .”
"It's a good car," the girl student said. "I have one .”
. Of course it's a good car .”
Brett ate some more of his breakfast while the two young, would-be designers watched him curiously. 'When the landmark autos of this century are added up, the Volkswagen will be there along with the Pierce-Arrow, the Model T Ford, 1929 Chevrolet 6, Packard before the 1940s, Rolls-Royce until the '60s, Lincoln, Chrysler Airflow, Cadillacs of the '30s, the Mustang, Pontiac GTO, 2-passenger Thunderbirds, and some others. But the Volkswagen is still a fraud because a sales campaign has convinced people it's an ugly car, which it isn't, or il wouldn't have lasted half as long as it has. What the Volkswagen really has is form, balance, symmetrical sense and a touch of genius; if it were a sculpture in bronze instead of a car it could be on a pedestal alongside a Henry Moore. But because the public's been beaten on the head with statements that it's ugly, they've swallowed the hook and so have you. But then, all car owners like to deceive themselves .”
Somebody said, "Here's where I came in," Chairs were eased back. Most of the others began drifting out to their separate studios. The Color and Interiors chief stopped beside the chairs of the two students. "If you filter Junior's output the way he advised to begin with-you might just find a pearl or two .”
"By the time I'm through"-Brett checked a spray of egg and coffee with a napkin-"they'll have enough to make pearl jam .”
"Too bad I can't stay ! " Heberstein nodded amiably from the doorway. "Drop in later, Brett, will you? We've a fabric report I think you'll want to know about .”
"Is it always like that .”
The youth, who had resumed drawing finger parabolas on the tablecloth, looked curiously at Brett. "In here it is, usually. But don't let the kidding fool you. Under it, a lot of good ideas get going .”
It was true. Auto company managements encouraged designers, as well as others in creative jobs, to take meals together in private dining rooms; the higher an individual's rank, the more pleasant and exclusive such privileges tec-e. But, at whatever level, the talk at table inevitably turned to work. Then, keen minds sparked one another and brilliant ideas occasionally had gene 1 sis over entree or dessert. Senior staff dining rooms operated at a loss, but managements made up deficits cheerfully, regarding them as investments with a good yield. "Why did you say car owners deceive themselves .”
the girl asked. "We know they do. It's a slice of human nature you learn to live with .”
Brett eased from the table and tilted back his chair. "Most Joe Citizens out there in community land love snappy looking cars. But they also like to think of themselves as rational, so what happens? They kid themselves. A lot of those same Joe C.'s won't admit, even in their minds, their real motivations when they buy their next torpedo .”
"How can you be sure .”
"Simple. If Joe wants just reliable transportation-as a good many of his kind say they do all he needs is the cheapest, simplest, stripped economy job in the Chev, Ford, or Plymouth line. Most, though, want more than that-a better car because, like a sexy-looking babe on the arm, or a fancy home, it gives a good warm feeling in the gut. Nothing wrong with that . But Joe and his friends seem to think there is, which is why
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