It is quite interesting to compare styling across manufacturers around the same time where they often seem to pick on similar design cues. I guess it is no different to any fashion. I agree John that curve is one of the major factors in making the car more appealing. Was it called "Coke Bottle Styling"? Where the car had that pronounced curve and often had wider quarters than the doors? Here are a couple of different but similar curves. Both images pulled straight off the 'web.