Automobile History
- Harley Earl (3)
Postwar European Auto Design: In Praise of Cars With Real Curves
In August 1947 LIFE magazine shared with its readers a whole new world of car design taking shape in postwar Europe. “It is exciting in Europe,” LIFE wrote of the creative ferment on display at car shows in places like Paris and Rome, “but only promising in the States.” The magazine then went on to […]
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado Development
I was new and experiencing my first design program of note. It was all like magic, as sketches, words and imagination all converged on the project and influenced what was going on in the studio. I clearly remember my participation and that of others in the room which follows. I was really impressed with the […]
GM Designer Bill Michalak
[…] My desire to design cars for General Motors started at the age of eight. Like many other kids with the same goal, I was fortunate to actually see my dream come true. Employment came by way of Chuck Jordan in 1966 during my last week at Pratt Institute in New York. During my 35 […]
Just Who Was Harley Earl?
Mr. Mieczkowski is an associate professor and chair of the History Department at Dowling College on Long Island. “My name’s Harley Earl.” So says the nattily dressed man appearing in the new television advertisements for Buick cars. Buick, the ads proclaim, represents the “Spirit of American Style.” Just who was Harley Earl? He’s certainly not […]
GM resurrects legendary Harley Earl to sell Buicks
Harley Earl stands in the GM desert proving ground in the early 1950s with three Firebird concept cars. The series has the auto industry’s first design chief returning to take stock in today’s models, such as the Buick Rendezvous, and suggesting that great things are still to come. “The intent of this campaign is to […]
The Origin of Computer Graphics within General Motors
This article traces the history of the development of computer graphics technology at the General Motors Research Laboratories during the period from 1958 to 1967. A concept demonstration was formulated in the late 1950s to show the feasibility of applying computer technology to the problem of vehicle body design. The narration then traces the history […]
The Frame of The Future?
Despite what the members of Earth First! might think, body-on-frame architecture is still necessary for those vehicles that need true off-road capability, towing ability, and which may see severe duty. This is not to say that they can’t afford to lose a little weight. However, it’s hard to reduce weight when crash standards are increased. […]
