{{Short description|Automobile prototype model made with clay}} {{about|automobile prototyping|the material|Modelling clay}} {{distinguish|Pottery}} {{refimprove|date=May 2024}}
{{multiple image | direction = horizontal | width = 180 | align = right | footer = An example of full scale clay modeling (left) and completed automobile (right). | image1 = Opel 50 Jahre Design (14541643013).jpg | alt1 = | image2 = IAA 2013 (11148854223).jpg | alt2 = }}
'''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).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=36kg2DJiy7cC&pg=PA103 |title=An Introduction to Modern Vehicle Design |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Elsevier Science & Technology Books |year=2001 |pages=103-107 |access-date=2024-08-23 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
The design method prior had used wood and metal, a process that required more time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Culmer |first=Kris |date=28 February 2025 |title=The story behind clay modelling - and why it's still used today {{!}} Autocar |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/from-the-archive/story-behind-clay-modelling-and-why-its-still-used-today |access-date=12 February 2026 |website=www.autocar.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
Clay modeling is adopted throughout the industry and remains in use today, with designers and modelers using this method to refine their ideas, and for leadership for decision making, with high levels of confidentiality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2025 |title=A Soul of Clay |url=https://www.volvocars.com/intl/news/stories/a-soul-of-clay/ |access-date=13 February 2026 |website=volvocars.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=17 January 2022 |title=#7 Kazushi Eto, a master of clay modeling (Part 1) |url=https://toyotatimes.jp/en/series/masters/047.html |access-date=13 February 2026 |website=Toyota Times |language=en}}</ref>
Industrial plasticine or "clay" used for this purpose, is a material that can be easily shaped, thus enabling designers to create models to visualize a product.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Icon: Clay Art {{!}} Porsche Christophorus |url=https://christophorus.porsche.com/en/2023/409/icon.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205125003/https://christophorus.porsche.com/en/2023/409/icon.html |archive-date=2025-12-05 |access-date=2026-02-13 |work=Porsche Christophorus |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2022 |title=Hidden figures of design: car sculptors |url=https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/skoda-world/design/hidden-figures-of-design-car-sculptors/ |access-date=13 February 2026 |website=Škoda Storyboard |language=en-GB}}</ref>
{{gallery |File:Zagato studio mock up.jpg|Clay model seen in Zagato design studio (2009) |File:1961 AMC PRfoto Designers.jpg|AMC designers with clay model (1961) }}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070402180909/http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/edu_k-12/5-8/making_vehicles/75_years_of_design.html General Motors – Car Design History]
Category:1930s introductions Category:Vehicle design Category:Modelling clay
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