Bob Gurr and Chip Foose

August 17, 2026 2 CommentsBob Gurr, Chip Foose

This is an amazing video, well worth the watch.

Bob Gurr talks about his early ’50s days at Ford Styling, the personalities he met, and his association with George Walker. He then went to work for Disney in California, designing the Autopia cars, the monorail, and many other design projects. Chip Foose has some amazing stories as well, how he started out, and his less-than-a-week career at Ford.

Their enthusiasm is contagious.

Check out these past posts on Dean’s Garage about Bob Gurr:

Automobile Design by Bob Gurr. June 3, 2010
An Interview with Bob Gurr—Making Dreams Come True, June 15, 2010

Chip Foose—Be sure to check out his site!
Still draws and renders by hand! Inspirational!

2 Comments

August 17, 2026 at 12:20 pm

Don Sicura

Wonderful article, thanks.
August 18, 2026 at 4:51 pm

Jason Houston

I met Bob Gurr at a non-auto invitational event when I lived in Palm Springs in the 1990s. The subject of Frank Hershey, designer of the Thunderbird, came up and we were locked in each other’s focus the entire evening, discussing cars and car people from the days of his illustrious career. It is reassuring to hear he is still active, with his fascinating experiences and sharp memory. Thank you, Gary, for the feature!

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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