Topic: GodSpeed Chuck Jordan....

[754]

Chuck Jordan worked in design for GM for 4 decades, and brought forth many of the designs we love...

 He brought in the tailfins that were on the 59 Caddy, he called it, "letting the Tiger out of the cage" !

 Other designs you may have liked include;
 63 Buick Riviera
 67 Eldorado
 73 Monte Carlo
 55 Chevy truck
 Opel

 He  contibuted to the Pontiac wide tracking designs.
 A few  quotes;
 "Words may not communicate it exactly,You got to see it and feel it. We deal with an emotion."
 He loathed focus groups!

 "A good designer doesn't  need Mr andMrs Zilch from Kansas telling him what to do"
 He also loved Ferraris... interesting fellow... that gave us a lot..
 

[72 yellow]

I have one of his designs.  A 1977 Monte Carlo. 

[seanbarney41]

Wow, most of those are beautiful cars with some serious mechanical flaws...

[72 yellow]

Wow, most of those are beautiful cars with some serious mechanical flaws...

True, but they look great sitting in your driveway. 

[tramp]

55 truck
suprised they haven't retro'ed them yet

[333]

Wow, most of those are beautiful cars with some serious mechanical flaws...

?  What is your definition of serious mechanical flaws?  When I hear a phrase like that, I think of exploding Pintos, or Corvairs that vent exhaust through the heating system.

[seanbarney41]

Yeah, that was a late night, too many drinks, thing to say.  I think I just focused in on the 67 eldo(wrong wheel drive is a serious mechanical problem in my opinion) and the Opel(my dad had two german made ones in the early seventies and they had some big pluses but I don't think the american made/Buick marketed ones were much good).  Those are all really beautiful designs now that I think about it.

[754]

 At first I had thought they meant the boattail Buick from the 70s, sorta liked that one. The Caddy 59 tho, the 55 chev big window trucks, and the Cameo were pretty cool..

 He did influence some Corvette designs, not sure to what extent..
 In his obit in the Globe & Mail(Toronto), there was a nice photo behind him was a clay model of a coupe that did not see production.. pretty cool.. they are like 24 to 30 inches long.

 Had a riding buddy that worked at GM in design around 62-65ish, he would tell some cool stories..
 Like cutting 2 cars down the middle for car shows, would look like a complete car, then split open to reveal interior details..

 Having lunch behind the building they could watch cars being tested on the long track, straight line with a loop on each end.. sometimes Zora Duntov would be testing Corvettes..