1950s–1980s Car Design and Designer History

Nov242014

Phillip Payne—Ford, AMC, Chrysler Designer

Nice rendering style.

23 Comments

Nov172014

Harry Bradley’s Mitchell GP

Text and photos complements of the car’s owner and builder, Dave Crook.

8 Comments

Oct252014

Remarkable 1956 Nassau Video

Michell, Duntov, and even MstrEarl make appearances.

2 Comments

Oct152014

Unicontrol and a Sonic Key

This video shows Norm James creating a yarn drawing of the Firebird III.

3 Comments

Oct22014

The Howmet Batmobile

The Howmet TX Turbine Car. It looks like an endurance Racer. Sounds like the Batmobile. When I watched the video, I smiled for 5 minutes. The sound!

2 Comments

Sep222014

Corvette—America’s Star-Spangled Sports Car, The Complete History

An exhaustive historical account that you can’t put down.

1 Comment

Sep172014

Henry Ford Museum Photo Archives

There are 52,188 photos in this Henry Ford Museum Photostream on Flickr.

3 Comments

Sep92014

History of the Trans-Am Series 1966–1995 Video

That’s me.

3 Comments

Aug252014

The Kookiest Cars at Pebble Week

Michael Lamm found himself drawn to the kookier cars at Pebble Beach.

10 Comments

Aug182014

Corvette SS at Sebring, 1957

Before reading Karl Ludvigsen’s book, Corvette, America’s Star Spangled Sports Car, I had dismissed the Corvette SS as mostly a styling exercise. No so.

4 Comments

Aug82014

Stories from Baja—Bad Gas? Not So Fast.

Experiences from Baja written by my friend John Thawley.

2 Comments

Jul252014

The Dreaded Rattle

A delightful account by Karl Ludvigsen.

1 Comment

Jul182014

Stunning Ferrari 330 P4 Video

Fantastic Ferarri videos!

5 Comments

Jul142014

Stories from Baja—True Grit

Experiences from Baja written by John Thawley.

2 Comments

Jul112014

1970—A Year To Remember—John Wyer’s Gulf Porsche 917 Team

Great videos.

2 Comments

Jul42014

1965 Film—The Hot Rod Story, Drag Racing

I was possibly in the crowd that day.

4 Comments

Jun272014

’Fifties Flashback

Great book about authentic hot rodding in the ’50s.

5 Comments

Jun202014

Dad’s Motorcycles

My gasoline infused bloodstream probably came from my dad.

4 Comments

Jun132014

Turn Your Hymnals to 2002

I remember reading this David E. Davis article on the 2002. It seriously effected my preconceptions about automobiles.

5 Comments

Jun62014

50 Years of American Automobile Design 1930–1980

This post features artwork by Richard Nesbitt.

15 Comments

May302014

1954 Buick Wildcat II Recreation

There are only two 1954 Buick Wildcat IIs. The original in the Sloan Museum, and this remarkable recreation.

21 Comments

May232014

The Story Behind Dick Ruzzin’s Chevy-powered Mangusta

Dick Ruzzin’s Chevy powered Mangusta.

11 Comments

May162014

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and the ’62 Chevrolets

Very interesting and cool videos.

2 Comments

May82014

Steve Small

George Prentice on Steve Small.

19 Comments

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