GM Styling Advanced Design and Pre-production Photos
Thanks to Tom Falconer for these great Design Staff photos. Some of the photos in this collection is of an Advanced Design scale model show. If anybody knows more information about the show or the designers, please email me. As additional information becomes available, I will update the post.
I vaguely remember seeing a full-size fiberglass model of a Mitchell design with four distinct fender forms that was nicknamed the “four-fendered farkle” by its detractors. I don’t remember if this was it or not. I have been told there were several such designs proposed. There was another full-size Mitchell design model (that may have been designed by Hank Cramer) called the “Phantom.” If memory serves me correctly, Mitchell wanted to make it into a running car for his retirement, but corporate said no.
Gary,
Wild scale model designs. I remember seeing the Four-Fendered Farkle, yes the photos are it, in the warehouse across 12 Mile Road shortly after I started working at Design Center in 1977. It had a futuristic Oldsmobile look about it. Probably destroyed sometime shortly after I saw it. I also remember seeing the 1964 Runabout Shopper and the Firebird lV. But never since.
Glen
Gary,
The “Four-Fendered Farkle” and the “Phantom” were both done in Studio X for Bill Mitchell. Studio X was located at the north west end of the administration building basement hallway, across the hall from the executive passenger elevator.
Bruce Brooks