Could that Corvette split front grill treatment have been a potential Pontiac version of the Corvette? It even had the small extra lights in the outer corners of the grill like a Pontiac Grand Prix had in that time frame. GM gave many divisions their own version of another model like Super Sport, GTO, 442 and Gran Sport. By 1965 Pontiac was becoming fat on the success of the GTO and the strong performance brand they were building with the 421 Catalina going back to 1963 as well. Later Pontiac got the Firebird on the Camaro platform so there was lots of history of inter-division mixing and matching. The Riviera was originally developed as a Cadillac model. The brass obviously thought every model was fair game...except the Corvette?
Interesting question. I can honestly say in all my years in the biz, I've never heard of any possibility of Pontiac getting a version of the Corvette. The model in the photo was before my time there, but I think I would have heard something along those lines. I spent many years designing Pontiacs, and we never heard of that scenario. Chevrolet just would not let that happen.Chevrolet was so protective of the Corvette brand, I just can't imagine they would have given Pontiac the opportunity to dilute the brand. Having said all of that , anything is possible. I'll check into it to satisfy my own curiosity.
Never got past the 'concept' stage here's the 'official' story from the recent book: 'Pontiac Concept & Show Cars' Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
as a teenager i remember reading that bill mitchell had a v12 etype. i always appreciated his taste as i was also driving an etype at the time(my 1st car). he subsequently disliked the jag xjs(etype replacement) stating the front and rear looked like they were designed by two different committees.
One thing about B.Mitchell, he was never at a loss for words. Particularly when it came to the design of cars.
After looking for the answer to the Chaparral wheel design/BBS wheel design source, I found what appears to be the answer. From the book 'Chevrolet - Racing? Fourteen Years of Raucous Silence 1957 - 1970' by Paul Van Valkenburgh, he states that a GM engineer Frank Boehm, designed and engineered the famous Chaparral wheel, which was later picked up by BBS. That's the best I could come up with. Since Mr. Shinoda is no longer with us, I'll have to rely on the book. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Art Center College of Design video on becoming a car designer: Transportation Design - ArtCenter College of Design
Rolls Royce Vision 100 years this certainly got my attention:https://www.facebook.com/BMWBLOG/videos/10154505597697454/ http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/concept-cars/rolls-royce-vision-next-100-concept-previews-future-luxury Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
development sketches for the Rolls Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
the Mini Next 100 also revealed Mini Vision Next 100 concept revealed to celebrate BMW's 100th year | Autocar Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I really hate the direction MINI is going in. I bought a 2004 MINI as a new build and absolutely love it, but the cars have gotten progressively more bubbly and weird-looking with each reiteration. It almost feels like BMW are trying to see how ridiculous they can make the design and still have people buy it. I have visions of them laughing in board meetings at the people driving away in their new MINIs... The 2001-2006 model (R50/R53 - first generation) was great, but they lost the plot after that. As it is now, their designers and managers need committing to a lunatic asylum. Despondently, Andrew.
I understand what you are saying, but with any retro design theme, it's almost impossible to move forward without alienating your core customer. After all, they made their selection because it looked like a previous design that one was comfortable with. VW Beetle, Mini, T-Bird, Mustang, Camaro, etc. all rely on a popular previous design execution. When you start to walk away from that original theme, you lose the whole 'retro' idea.
Whoa, forgot about that car. That was done in the Advanced Studios during Bill Mitchell's 'Gatsby Period.' Referred to as the '4 fendered farkle' That was a time period when there were some very 'creative' designs being done
"4 fendered farkle?" That sounds more like the Toronado concept. Very... well, very something, anyway. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
