Dean’s Garage – Yesterday’s Look at Tomorrow

Don Schwarz, 1929–2023

A few stories from his career at GM Design contributed by Don Schwarz for the Dean’s Garage book.

Design of the 1961 Lincoln, Part 1

Lincoln came very close to being cancelled.

A Tribute to Harry Bradley

Harry was unmatched as an instructor, illustrator, and designer.

One In The Eye

“Car designer-cum-cartoonist Stan Mott is an American legend. And so his creation, the Cylcops, the greatest car that never was. Here’s the outlandish tale of his life of adventure and subversion.”

GM’s 1956 Vision of the Self-Driving Car of the Future

I’d not seen this one before. To say things have changed would be an understatement to the extreme.

Design of the 1963 “Full-Sized” Ford

”For the man who wants everything—The ’63-1/2 Super Torque Ford Sports Hardtop.“

Tribute to Bernie Smith 1929–2023

Fond memories.

Part II: Design of the Ford Falcon

It was quickly obvious that McNamara was the smartest guy in the room.

Part I: Predecessors to the Ford Falcon

The Ford Falcon was preceded by 30-years of attempts to develop a car smaller than what Ford was already producing.

Ford’s Levacar Mach 1

Ford’s answer to Michigan’s potholes.

AMX Model; Chrysler Turbine Movie Car; John Krsteski

AMX Model by Jeff Teague; Chrysler Turbine Movie Car; and paintings by John Krsteski, Design Manager for Hyundai.

Lincoln Sentinal

The Sentinel was savaged by the American automotive press, but the Europeans loved it; its design received multiple awards.

Rare Cyclopes

What about the rare Cyclopes models about which even the elder and well-informed enthusiasts may not have heard?

Ford’s First Automatic Transmission

What could possibly go wrong?

Guindon’s Detroit

An ’80s collection of Guindon’s cartoons from the Detroit Free Press.

Growing Up in a Car Guy Family

Stories by Bruce Troxell

A Tribute to Genius—Soviet Aircraft Designer Igor Sokerov

All the world is familiar with Igor Sokerov’s more famous aircraft—the ones that flew. By Stan Mott.

Corvair Spyder GT?

What is a Corvair Spyder GT?

Brooks Stevens‘s radical plan to save Studebaker

Brooks Stevens believed he could turn Studebaker around.

Harry Bradley’s Corvettes from Corvette News, 09/82

Three of Harry Bradley’s future Corvette illustrations.

Hideo Kodama Rendering Seminar

Published in Car Styling, Issue 6, April 1974.

Ford’s Contribution to Chrysler’s Turbine Car

The Chrysler Turbine Car’s design was heavily influenced by ex-Ford designers.

The Lincoln XL-500 (Phantom)

Possibly the only show car that ever destroyed a restaurant.

King Kong Cub

Exclusive, Mindboggling, Scaled-up Giant J-3 by Robert Cumberford and Stan Mott

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

error: Content is protected !!