Saturday, January 08, 2011

"Metro Van" 8 x 10 oil on canvas mounted on Baltic plywood


I saw this International Harvester Metro Van in the small vessel docks in Port Townsend USA while on a painting trip last year. It is probably a 1969 model but I'm not sure. Somebody help me out here.
Anyway the metro van was designed by Raymond Loewy who had also designed the Coke bottle, the aerodynamic Hupmobile and the Studebaker amongst other things - the van was used as a short haul multi-stop vehicle which could be used as a milk delivery van or even a mobile bar! I love it 'cos it's ugly/beautiful and I once owned a Hupp.
To start the New Year I am painting what I like, what's dear to me, and I'm painting this not for money but for me. Selfish but with great affection for the subject. My car friends tell me that's a 1959 Peugeot in the background...

3 comments:

Sig. said...

Ron, one has to love old cars to do them right. As a fellow owner of an oldie (Humber S.S.) I see fondness in your painting. Do more. Sig.

Ron Wilson said...

Thank you Sig - you too love old cars, so let's both paint these oldies!

coruscate said...

I believe it is a pre 1960 dual wheel IHC Metro Van.
My guess for this is due to the high low windshield wipers. In the post 1960 models the wiper motor mounts were both high. The man who designed the famous original Coke Bottle shape designed this body http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Loewy hope that helps!