As per tradition, the 2013 LA Auto Show open this week not only featuring about two dozen stunning world debuts and many North American unveilings — Toyota to Porsche to BMW — but the manufacturers’ equaling stunning product specialists.
The automakers may not be willing to admit it, but the choice of models they choose to present their new products around the world may be as important as the cars presented. It all means one thing: pretty women.
The history of the car show models is detailed in the 2008 book called “Sirens of Chrome” written by Margery Krevsky. The author owns an agency that books the product specialists and Krevsky also has extensive knowledge of the tradition of the models that dates to the 1930s.
The practice of auto show models may be viewed as sexist by some. But the tradition is well accepted in the auto industry and the women who participate seem to enjoy their jobs.
(Click on thumbnails for full-size images.)
A product specialist from Michigan working her secod auto show.
Twp products specialists showcasing the Dodge Challenger at the LA Auto Show.
A product specialist at the LA Auto Show in front of the 2014 Chrysler 300.
A product specialist at the LA Auto Show next to the new SRT Viper.
Even National Public Radio produced a story about Auto Show Models called “Want To Chat Up An Auto Show Model? Talk Cars.”
Some of the manufacturers’ models were just arriving early on the first of two Media Days at the L.A. Auto Show, but plenty were ready for what they like to do and what they do best — pose, engage in conversation with the media and discuss the cars.
For more information, visit: www.laautoshow.com.
Article Last Updated: April 22, 2014.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to this site, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and a monthly auto review column for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, James has co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast since 2017.