Curbside classicist jim has just let me know of an article by Margaret Myers on PBS outlining a documentary and exhibition on US automotive stylists called ‘American Dreaming’. Margaret’s article features some fantastic artwork such as this 1963 rendering by Rodell Smith whilst at Ford.
This is another, a Plymouth Fury from 1958 by George Krispinsky. There are more renderings in Margaret’s article, as well as the trailer for the documentary by Jim Toscano and Danny Gianino, so rather than steal her thunder I’m posting the link to her piece here. There’s also an associated exhibition of works collected by Robert Edwards called “American Dreaming: Detroit’s Golden Age of Automotive Design” at Lawrence Technological University in suburban Detroit. Enjoy.
Sure glad you found this. i cannot wait to see the show. After it runs i hop we do something on CC so we can share thoughts and comments.
Is it just me, or does the Rodell Smith rendering look startlingly like the rear end of a 1971–72 Oldsmobile Toronado? Like, to the point that I wonder if the image has been mis-attributed? (I’m not saying it is, but compare that image to photos of the rear of a ’71 or ’72 Toronado and you’ll see why I’m wondering.)
I agree about the Smith rendering and doesn’t the Krispinsky rendering remind you of a 1959 Oldsmobile 98?
It doesn’t hurt that there is a rocket blasting off right behind the car, to get you thinking Oldsmobile.
Yes there is a ’59 Oldsmobile “vibe” to the taillights (both 88 and 98) and if you cant them at an angle you get ’60 Valiant lights. Until I saw that rendering, I never put them together. I love seeing these “what if….” proposal drawings !
I instantly saw the ’71 Toronado rear end.
There seems to be a combination of ’59 Oldsmobile and ’59 Chevy in the 1958 Fury drawing.
Same here on the instant association of the first drawing with the ’71 Toronado. But it’s true also that the front and side of the car (minus that rear wheel bulge in the beltline) foreshadows the ’67 T-Bird.
On the second drawing, yes on the ’59 Olds first and ’59 Chevy second. Also note the front vent window and A-pillar resemble the design GM used on their ’61-’62 hardtops and convertibles?
Instantly I saw 71-72 Olds Toronado in the photo of the red car. Even the high mounted brake lamps are there. Either this person was responsible for the design of the rear-end of the 71-72 Toronado, the drawing was stolen/copied etc., well you get the point! But there is no way that isn’t the drawing used to influence the back of the 71-72 Toro.
The rear tailights also reminds me some hints of the mid-size 1966-67 Buick Special/Skylark/GS.
I saw that and thought “well that’s a Bill Mitchell design…right?” Although, I can see some T-Bird in there, too, maybe a little ’67 Cougar if I squint.
Can’t wait till this gets to Australian screens. Thanks for posting it.
I just saw the “American Dreaming” exhibit while in the Detroit area last week, and it was fascinating. And free! (if you can find parking amid the students). The title photo / sketch from Ford reminds me of a ’71 Olds Toro (to echo Aaron S.) Copycats!! 😉
Good to see these people being recognized for their talent and contributions to the automotive industry. I would have liked to see the exhibit in Detroit.
The artwork credited to Rodell Smith does bear a striking resemblance to the Tornado…very interesting, I’m certainly interested in watching the PBS documentary, it should be very interesting to watch. Any idea of when it will be broadcast?
I agree about the rear end treatment on the first design, but if you ignore the trunk and look at the shaping of the side (minus the bulge over rear wheel), roof and character line at the top of the door, extending along the top of the left front fender, it’s easy to see the ’67 T-Bird.
That’s true, and Ford certainly did use the real wheelhouse bulge extensively. (I always thought it looked very odd on four-door cars; it didn’t do the XA/XB/XC Falcon sedans any favors aesthetically.)
Now, for the question of the day…..when is it on?
According to the article, no release date yet.
American Dreaming is a documentary film currently in production. I’m co-producing the documentary with Greg Salustro. PBS NewsHour got the word out to an international audience when they did their story on our film and the related exhibition mounted at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. (The exhibit runs through May 2, and is free and open to the public.) Our full-length documentary will feature interviews with the artists who drew and designed the cars America fell in love with. We are gratified so many of you want to see a film like this. Please take a look at our web site http://www.americandreamingfilm.com and follow our project on Facebook. -Robert Edwards, Co-producer, American Dreaming
I saw a post about this documentary on my FB timeline last night and followed it to your site. Really looking forward to seeing it. When released, I hope WNED (PBS station in Buffalo, NY) carries it.
This looks REALLLLLLY good! Hope to see it soon.
Really looking forward to seeing this too! A glimpse into a “what could have been” universe, and also into the heads of the men (and women?) who gave us the designs we were blessed with. Or saddled with!
I wonder if mr. smith later showed up at GM.
Can you keep us posted when there’s an air date? I don’t watch much TV.
I want to second that.
We ditched cable a few months ago and this is one documentary I don’t want to miss.
I see 60 and 61 Plymouth all over that Fury concept. I like the concept much better than the actual 60 and 61 designs.
+1 the 60 & 61 Plymouths were very strange and old fashioned compared to what Ford and GM were making.”Suddenly it’s 1957″ was often said about them
Maybe to some, But the 1962 Plymouths and Dodges were “Suddenly it’s 1977” (in terms of packaging), They didn’t sell either, although they were the platform of some of the most revered “muscle cars” by 1968 and the general layout of most US “Full sized” cars from 1977-2011! (B/C’s,’R’s Panthers). 1958-1965 was such turmoil in US car design, it? was damned hard to see what direction we were headed, then came the ’70s-’80s scramble to “redefine” everything. Now it seems,with the so called CUVs that it is “Suddenly it’s 1940”! Oh…..the Hell with it, I want my 1970 Fleetwood back……..