This is part three of a five-part feature on the 125 most significant and influential car designs as chosen by former technical editor, Jake Venter.
Most models of this era gradually grew more refined because a reduction in noise, vibration and harshness was seen as a major selling point (a trend which continues to this day). Many European makes adopted independent rear suspension, but this often made the cars tail happy. Independent front suspension slowly gained ground on both sides of the Atlantic, which led to an improvement in comfort and road- holding. The USA is represented by only the Jeep and the Oldsmobile. I could have chosen a post-war Jeep and put it in part four of this series, but it belongs to this era because of the dated technology. Most American models were not changed in any significant way since 1935 and the majority were still fitted with inefficient side-valve engines.
Click below for previous galleries in this series:
125 most significant car designs – part one (years 1886 – 1925)
125 most significant car designs – part two (years 1926 – 1935)