Clay modeling

This article is about automobile prototyping. For the material, see Modelling clay.

Not to be confused with Pottery.

Clay modeling (or clay model making) for automobile prototypes was first introduced in the 1930s by automobile designer Harley Earl, head of the General Motors styling studio (known initially as the Art and Color Section, and later as the Design and Styling Department).

An example of full scale clay modeling (left) and completed automobile (right).

Industrial plasticine, or "clay", which is used for this purpose, is a malleable material that can be easily shaped, thus enabling designers to create models to visualize a product. Clay modeling was soon adopted throughout the industry and remains in use today.

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  Clay model seen in Zagato design studio (2009)
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  AMC designers with clay model (1961)

External links

• General Motors – Car Design History