50 Years of American Automobile Design 1930–1980

June 6, 2014 15 CommentsArtwork and Books, Richard Nesbitt

By Dick Nesbitt

As an automotive designer, I was contacted by Collectible Automobile magazine to contribute and illustrate design related articles in 1984. In 1985, Publications International in Chicago, Illinois asked me to both author and illustrate a soft-bound Collectible Automobile Special Edition and a hard-bound book store version of 50 Years of American Automobile Design 1930–1980. It was a massive undertaking, but I very much wanted to do it. I wanted to select and illustrate each in a technique that would represent and capture the essence and focus of specific and significant design innovations and intent. I was very difficult editing the many and varied design explorations of this era. The selection and description was up to me, and the process of decision was very difficult as well, but it has been very gratifying to know of the interest, passion and enthusiasm so many have for automotive design all over the world for so many years.

15 Comments

June 6, 2014 at 8:18 pm

Peter Brock

Looks FANTASTIC Dick…..I want a hardbound edition. How soon will it be available? Peter
June 6, 2014 at 9:15 pm

Roy Lonberger

Great sketches and design selections, Dick…let me know when I can buy an autographed hardbound edition.

roy
June 6, 2014 at 10:31 pm

John M. Mellberg

Hi Dick,
Congratulations, great to see the fruits of your design talent ‘showcased’ on the Dean’s Garage website! Your book is a treasure to have, and your car design picks
are perfect. It’s nice to see another Automotive Designers Guild Member getting
this much deserved recognition. When are you doing the ‘sequel’ to your 1st book?
Your friend,
John M. Mellberg
ADGuild Support…
June 7, 2014 at 7:24 am

Brian C, Baker

Dick
John said it all for many of us. How about a sequel book?
Brian Baker
AutoArcheology
June 7, 2014 at 8:18 pm

Lou Genta

Every image was like you could reach out and touch it with your minds, hands. I remember every change, in roof lines and grills. How fortunate we are you can bring it back, so we can look into the future. Thank you.!
June 10, 2014 at 10:12 am

RICHARD NESBITT

I am truly honored !! Thank you so much,- most appreciated…Pete and Roy, the book was published in 1985 and has been out of print for some time, I have contacted the publisher over the years about doing an updated version and hope they will consider it at some point as Brian mentioned…If there is any interest from them, I will certainly let you know…
June 13, 2014 at 2:04 pm

Eddie Mitchell

What a marvelous accomplishment and massive talent! Congratulations!
June 13, 2014 at 6:42 pm

RICHARD NESBITT

Thank you John Mellberg, Lou Genta and Eddie Mitchell, I hope the publisher will consider a sequel in the near future…
June 13, 2014 at 8:26 pm

Bill Lawrence

Hello Dick,
What a nice surprise to see your book on this site. I got out my copy and looked through it again and enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. A new updated version would be most welcome. I hope you can put something together. Maybe some other publisher would be interested?
June 14, 2014 at 7:48 am

Mike Ames

Greetings All:
To all the admirers of Dick Nesbitt that have not had the honor of knowing him as a friend, I want to convey that he is as warm and genuine as he is talented. A true auto enthusiast, historian and obviously ARTIST. My visits with Dick are always fun and I am continually amazed by his vast knowledge of automotive related history and lore.
We all want your book, Dick. let us know who to badger!
Your friend and admirer,
Mike Ames
July 21, 2014 at 6:12 pm

RICHARD NESBITT

Mike and Bill, Thank you so very much, – it has been a great honor and pleasure to have friends like you for many years…I am truly grateful and thankful.
August 13, 2014 at 11:57 am

David R.North

Dick,I show your book to the many young people who
Ask me about designing cars.
August 22, 2014 at 11:45 pm

RICHARD NESBITT

Dave, I am very grateful and honored, thank you very much…
May 12, 2018 at 10:10 pm

Mike Kalland

Dick was a friend back when we were teens. He was drawing and designing cars even back then! We all knew he would someday be a great designer and he didn’t disappoint us!
November 20, 2019 at 4:15 pm

Jay S

Just purchased it from Amazon. Greatly looking forward to adding it to my design collection.

Leave Comment

Book is excellent reading. I like all the practical jokes that you played on each other. Haven’t put it down yet.

Paul Alflen
Gary, Just received your book and read part of it, and can’t wait to finish it! EXCELLENT BOOK WOW! Thanks!

Carl Kofron
It’s a book whose pages you’ll return to again and again…sometimes just to look, other times to read and learn and to laugh!

Helen Hutchings
It brought back so many memories. The book captures some of the antics that took place. I recommend Gary’s book for anyone that has an interest to get a glimpse of an era long gone.

John Manoogian II
Very impressed with the emphasis on the “people stories.” Most people think of GM in terms of the cars, whereas you focused on the designers that created the cars. Congratulations on your excellent and personable narrative.

Roy Lonberger
Great book! It will provide many hours of interesting reading. Thank you for writing and publishing it!

Charles Pieier
All the wonderful anecdotes and photos bring laughter and smiles of recollection of the years at GM Design. The other content is equally entertaining, too! One can keep returning to its pages, finding a new topic of interest each time.

George Camp
Gary’s book focuses on the people who drove designs and events at GM Design. It is always informative, sometimes funny and sometimes sad. Picture are breathtaking. Extremely well done.

James Rice
Thank you Gary for this wonderful publication vicariously delivering the human condition nectar recalled from the good old days at GM Design.

Bill Boudreau
Closest thing to an actual time machine I have experienced! The photos, quotes and artwork really transported me back to what was a fabulous time at GM Design.

Len Casillo
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed The Future is Back. Great stories and wonderful comments! Excellent selection of illustrations and photos!

Peter Brock
The book is providing lots of interesting reading along with so many great photos, illustrations and renderings.

Sheldon Payne
It’s like going to a family reunion and meeting all your old friends, the studios and the models all over again. I can almost smell the fresh clay reading your book.

Ron Will
Reading the stories and anecdotes of designers who shared their experiences in this book allowed me to vicariously imagine what it would have actually been like to have worked in a studio. Thumbs Up Gary!!

Steve Sicklick
Great book Gary. It’s like taking a trip down memory lane!

Dennis Burke
I’ve enjoyed the Dean’s Garage book. I know a lot of the designers and places you mention; it’s like a reunion or old-home week.Thank you very much for putting everything together in such a beautifully organized, fun, illuminating way.

Michael Lamm