GM Design photos from the early ’90s, Part 1
This gallery of images more or less shows the design process in sequence from sketch to a roll around hard model.
Every Boy’s Dream: The Life and Career of an Automotive Designer
Of the many and varied professional opportunities available in the automotive industry, the role of the designer (or stylist) has probably captured the imagination of more young men and auto enthusiasts around the world than any other.
More Rescued Studio Sketches
Renderings by Jerry Hirschberg, Allan Flowers, Clark Lincoln, Geza Loczi, and yours truly.
Bob Marcks, Designer at Studebaker, Ford, and Chrysler
I was a designer for Ford in 1953, and 1956-1961.
More Rescued Sketches
Renderings by Geza Loczi, Jerry Hirschberg, Harry Bradley, Clark Lincoln, and yours truly.
1977 Buick Olds Studio Show Photos
I ended up with a box of slides from a major Buick-Oldsmobile show previewing the 1977 Buick and Oldsmobile models.
1961 Pontiac Sedan vs. Streamliner
Jack Humbert, the greatly respected Pontiac studio chief in those years, was very tolerant of my naiveté.
Styling and the Experimental Car
Videos from Archive.org.
Sketches of Optimism From Detroit’s Glory Days
Illustrations accompanying the New York Times article published August 26, 2007
More Rescued Studio Artwork
Renderings by Jerry Hirschberg, Bill Porter, Allan Flowers, and yours truly.
Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild, Part II
Photos from Ron Will.
Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild, Part I
The Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild got me started.
1969 Chevrolet Corvette XP-856 Aero Coupe?
Mystery Photo. Turns out it was a Toronado proposal.
Aerovette Brochure
A rare brochure showing the development of the Aerovette.
Lost Techniques—352 Pluvius Pencil on Newsprint
Newsprint pads, the same stuff your newspaper is printed on, were far cheaper than other sketch pads and were very popular at Pratt Institute where I did my graduate work in Industrial Design in 1957–58.
The American Look
A fascinating look into the world of design in the late 1950s
David North with Jay Leno’s 1966 Toronado
“Jay got a hold of me and invited my son and me to the NBC studios and a day at his “Big Dog” garage in Burbank.”
Corvair Monza GT brochure
The Monza GT tipped me over the edge.
Firebird III Brochure
The Firebird III is an extraordinary car representative of an “anything goes” optimistic age now long gone.
GM Styling Staff Brochure from the ’60s.
Featured in this post is a 8.5″ square, 8-page grayscale brochure of GM Design Staff from the early 1960s.
Rescued Studio Artwork and Photos
A lot of wonderful artwork was pitched. That makes what was saved that much more special.
Ron Kellogg’s Bugatti Type 57/59 Roadster Special
The story of Dave Holls’ Bugatti.
1980 Buick 80X
Buick didn’t have any performance platforms like Chevrolet or Pontiac.
1983 Buick Riviera Indy Pace Car
Not my favorite.