In the 1970s, American Luxury Cars Were Bursting With Velour and Velvet – Design You Trust

In the 1970s, American Luxury Cars Were Bursting With Velour and Velvet

00

The 1970s were an awkward time for America—in fashion, in hair styles, and yes, even in car interiors. In the 1970s, velour and velvet were popular because it fit into the idea of what was luxurious at the time.

h/t: vintag.es

0

Like many trends in the car biz, the velour interior craze didn’t simply fall out of the sky. It was driven by the times and technology. As materials and manufacturing processes advanced, by the early 1970s the textile industry had developed durable, low-cost polyesters with a plush, velvet-like look and feel. And now, suddenly, velours were everywhere: in men’s and women’s fashion (remember men’s suits in velour?), home furnishings from drapes to sofas, and yes, even automobile interiors.

1

Velours were used in every imaginable color by the Motor City’s interior designers, and in a variety of patterns. In the 1970s, the maximum-luxury look often included puffy pillow-top cushions with deep, soft button tufting. This was the standard upholstery, with a leather-vinyl combination available at extra cost.

2

As the velour era crested, the rococo theme in cockpit design eventually gave way to more conservative and restrained approaches. Indeed, the auto industry’s velour era never totally went away. In far more muted form, we can still find velour-like fabrics in use here and there today.

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Design You Trust Facebook page. You won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

The Golden Age of Flying: A Look Back On Air Travel In The 1950s And '60s
Grandson Inherits His Grandfather’s Collection Of Unseen Street Photos Taken Over Half A Century Ago
1939 Pontiac Plexiglas "Ghost Car": The First Full-Sized "See-Thru" Car Ever Made In America
The Albee Rolligon: An Innovative Transport Truck From the 1950s
London in 1979 Through Fascinating Photos of George Kindbom
God Save the Queen: Amazing Photos of Manchester Punks in the 1980s
Epic Photos of FAB 1, the Iconic Rolls-Royce from 'Thunderbirds' and The World’s Biggest and Most Expensive Car
1953 Beverly Hills Session Sadness: The Last Photographs of Marilyn Monroe Taken by Andre de Dienes
Nostalgic Photos Show Fashion Styles of Young People in the 1980s
Fascinating Photos Capture Street Carnival Revelers in Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1975
Beautiful Photos Of John Lennon With His First Wife Cynthia At Their Home In 1965
Chilling Photographs of Summer Tourists on the Acropolis in Athens in the Early 1980s
A Collection of Incredible Rare Color Photographs of France in World War I
Life Of The 1850s: Amazing Photos That Show How The World Looked Like Over 160 Years Ago
Pachimon: The Amazing Obscure Kaiju Collectible Cards From The 70's
Faith and Style: Islamic Fashion Show in Kuala Lumpur
271 Years Before Pantone, an Artist Cataloged Thousands of Color Swatches in a Book From the 17th Century
25 Year Old British Man Dresses As A 19th Century Regency Gentleman In Bespoke Clothing He Designs
The Plague Of Overweight: Photographer Martha Holmes Documented The Struggle Of Obesity People In 1950s America
Outstanding 80s Hairstyles That You Can Almost Smell The Aqua Net Hairspray
Fabulous Photos of Christmas Shopping In New York City, December 1910
The Goblins Will Get You If You Don’t Watch Out – 1920s Nightmare Fuel
Yarnvertising: DIY Fashion Adverts Of The 1970s
Scoop One Piece Swimwear