From 1935 to 1939 there was a tremendous movement within the transport industry to streamline.  With Steam locomotives, and the trains that went with them, they were streamlined to gain a speed advantage and to look futuristict.

First came the streamliners of the LNER in 1935; Nigel Gresley's A4 Pacific passenger express locomotives.

This is one example of a preserved A4, LNER No. 4464, BR 60019 Bittern built in 1937at Doncaster



Also preserved A4 Mallard LNER 4468, BR 60022, built in 1937/38 at Doncaster, set the world speed record for a steam engine at 126 mph on 3rd July 1938 (my father was on the train!)




Not to be outdone William Stanier, CME at the LMS introduced the Coronation Class of Pacific passenger express locomotive in 1937 to complete with the LNER expresses to the North.

This beauty is the preserved example LMS 6229, BR 46229, Duchess of Hamilton, built in 1938 at Crewe, rebuilt into a non-streamliner in 1947, but has now been restored into streamline status by the National Railway Museum - beautiful!!






The GWR mounted a feeble attempt at streamlining in 1935 after Gresley had introduced his version, on one Castle and one King class of locomotives; but they are not worth talking about! 

Well, what do you think?! GWR Castle 5005 Manorbier Castle after emerging from the Swindon works in 1935



Now streamlined road vehicles also started to appear:

A Piece Silver Arrow Car 1933 (well the USA was always ahead of us on this 'science'!! )



A Lancia Aprilia 1938:




Well what can you add to the "Streamline" story pre-WW2 - or later?!

Lizzie, I'll come to your rescue!

You're obviously interested in early streamlining attempts and engineering in general, so you'll probably already be aware of the maverick American designer and engineer Buckminster Fuller.
His 'Dymaxion' car, a 20 foot long teardrop shaped aerodynamic wonder, is in the following youtube video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlLZE23EJKs

P.S - Is the Duchess of Hamilton at York Railway Museum?
When I was there last (early 2008), I'm sure it wasn't, because if it had been, I'd have spent hours just staring at it! That is FABULOUS! 

A lot of the early streamlining attempts were really not much more than guesswork, as later drag co-efficient tests confirmed.
As stylistic exercises go though, I love 'em.
Always liked the Chrysler Airflow -
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thelincolnstudio.com/1934_Airfl...

I beleive they were built in Britain for a while, too.

Another impossible to ignore early streamliner would be Hans Ledwinka's Tatra T77.....

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Tatra/38-...

A mighty V8 sits beyond the rear axle! 

something about 30's design I really like, my flat was built in 1935, massive rooms and celling, much better than modern builds.

Office builds are the same, where I work we used to have this:







But they demolished it, the day before it was due to be listed. A bank holiday Monday no less!

Now got this 80's pile of poo where I work:

o-meg-a wrote on 30. Mar 2011 at 17:17:



Well 4468 Mallard wrecked destroyed its motion in its 126 mph run!!

tonyyeb wrote on 30. Mar 2011 at 16:41:



What beauties they are!  What style!

aaronjb wrote on 30. Mar 2011 at 22:20:



Smashing!!

That is streamlining in the full Aaron!!  Well found

Anyone know the history of that car?

Wow Aaron!

Now you are finding some even more beautiful beauties!!

What style and elegance most of them have