Overhead Cockpit Controls

[murph the surf]

True or False:  The Aeronautically influenced overhead cockpit controls were incorporated into the Studebaker Avanti at the behest of Sherwood Egbert.

Edited November 19, 2017 by murph the surf

[studegary]

True

[murph the surf]

I always thought so as well,but,false,according to an interview of Raymond Loewy by AOAI before his passing.According to Loewy,"some overhead cockpit controls" were one of the "key points of my theme" for the car."There have been stories that Egbert is the fellow who wanted that.Several others have taken credit for that.It was on the wall when they (the design team) arrived,and when I mentioned the idea to Egbert,when I showed him the model,he liked it very much"... 

Edited November 19, 2017 by murph the surf

[Gunslinger]

That's close to my understanding as well...it was done because it was "very aircraft" and they knew Egbert was a pilot and it would please him...the same for the red instrumentation lighting.  

[murph the surf]

I would imagine those were the exact thoughts that Loewy,being as skilled a promoter and marketer as he was a designer,had in mind for the inclusion of the overhead cockpit control in the initial design.

Edited November 19, 2017 by murph the surf