GM Design photos from the early ’90s, Part 1

July 3, 2009 5 CommentsCar Design, GM Design Staff

This gallery of images more or less shows the design process in sequence from sketch to a roll around hard model. The photos reveal quite a bit of detail about techniques and tools used when I was at GM before computers completely took over. I don’t know or remember everybody that is pictured in the photos, so I’d appreciate help identifying people.

Ted Polak sketching up some new styles.

5 Comments

July 3, 2009 at 5:53 am

Glen Durmisevich

Gary,
Way cool site!!! The second sketch was done by John Mack, maybe the third also (not sure). Bob Munson is sitting down doing the tape drawing (tiring work at times) and Mark Kaski is standing and taping (not as many lines yet). Along with John Cafaro at the buck is Gene Meso, Chief Sculptor, standing on the left and Designer Kirk Bennion is sitting in it.

Hey, why is Ted Polak sketching real time on paper? It’s all virtual now!

Regards,
Glen
January 6, 2015 at 9:27 am

Ben Salvador

The guy working on the wood model looks like a young Ken Parkinson to me.
March 5, 2019 at 3:03 pm

Pete Petersen

Great shots I remember all of these, confirmed that is Kenny P.
March 10, 2019 at 10:43 am

Jared Rundell

It’s great to see these photos. I was there when the picture of Pres was taken. I remember we were all having a laugh at how serious he was trying to look, putting that tape line down. Of course the full-size rendering had previously been completed, these “staged” designer action photos were somewhat common.

Pres’ studio was my first stop after being hired in from ACCD. I have a studio shot of the competing full-side rendering I did for that same project, which is dated 2/26/88. It would have been behind the camera, in the photo of the blue rendering, above. If I recall correctly, we were exploring a matte finish, 2-tone lower treatment, and how it made the vehicle look more tough and SUV-ish. Also, the early days of the “Crossover” idea, before there was a name for it.

Keep in mind, the boxy Caprice was still in production then. These 30 year old, advanced concepts look like they could be production now.
August 31, 2022 at 7:25 pm

DICK RUZZIN

The Gray Counts shot of him looking at the 1992 Cadillac Seville aluminum wheel drawing shows how things were done. The wheel was earlier designed by Scott Wasell.

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