Retired Pontiac and Buick designer Bill Porter is Concours d'Elegance of Southwest Michigan's featured designer in 2013

Bill Porter in front of his remarkable, unusual home near Ann Arbor, MI 

There are many enjoyable aspects of organizing a major automobile exhibition like the local Concours.   Each year I meet a large number of new enthusiastic vehicle owners.  I also get acquainted with the invited featured designer.

We started the practice of selecting a featured designer in 2008 when retired GM chief designer and VP Wayne Cherry was invited.  His appearance was followed the next year by another highly regarded GM designer, Cadillac and Buick man Wayne Kady.  In 2010 we attracted a top Ford designer, Jack Telnack, who ended his Blue Oval career as VP of design.   Virgil Exner, Jr. of South Bend joined us in 2011 and we found Chrysler and Ford vehicles designed both by Jr. and his famous father, the late Virgil Exner, Sr.

Last year we had authors Dennis and Terri Horvath as our featured automotive authors.

This year retired GM designer Bill Porter accepted our invitation to be our featured designer.  A great number of Pontiac and Buick nameplates from the 70s, 80s and 90s bear the stamp of Bill’s design touch.

All of our featured designers in the past were gifted automotive artists, but with Bill Porter we have an automotive historian and a walking automotive library to boot.  His resume’ lists pages of awards received, teaching positions held, lectures and gallery talks given and slide presentations produced.

I am enthusiastically looking forward to his Friday, August 9 evening presentation that will be offered to everyone in the community on a first come, first serve basis.  Watch for details later.

I met Bill and his wife Patsy back in March on a bright winter day in Whitmore Lake, a little community just north of Ann Arbor.  One cannot write about the Porters without commenting on their spectacular home built on 20-acres in the midst of farmland and woodlots.  The land was purchased in 1996, the year of his retirement from GM, while the Porters still lived in Birmingham.

Referred by the Porter’s as a “warehouse with period rooms,” the 13,000 square foot structure features living space, studios, workshops and galleries, all designed by Bill to house his and Pat’s wide-ranging collection of art and design artifacts.  The new home shows brilliantly his aesthetic take on architecture that he embraces as an artist and designer.  

He shuns the use of color in the structure itself; instead both the interior and exterior are a medley of grays and other neutral colors, and there is an emphasis on the use of exposed metal, both inside and out.  The period rooms will each have color schemes appropriate to their own eras.

A dominating feature of the Porter’s home is a full-size silo with an observation deck in its top.  It is used not to store silage or corn, its traditional purpose, but as an admittedly romantic spot to ascend and watch dramatic Michigan sunsets over a glass of wine.

Bill and Patsy, married for 54 years, have three grown children and three grandchildren.  Natives of Louisville, Kentucky, both are devoted, successful collectors of Tiffany glass, early American blown glass and Mission-style furniture (Roycroft, Stickley.) 

In addition, Bill has built a very impressive and eclectic collection of early 20th c. paintings by Michigan artists.  The gallery space in their impressive home will be hung with these works on a rotating basis.

Bill received his fine arts education from the University of Louisville, followed by a stint in the Army.  After a brief fling as a neon sign designer, he attended Pratt Institute to earn his Masters.  It was at Pratt that he was discovered by GM and did a summer internship in 1957 at the Warren, Mich. Tech Center. That fortuitous appointment would lead to a 39-year career as a top designer at GM.

His first design assignment as a junior designer at the Tech Center was in the styling and research studio (where the Firebird I,II and III were created.)  In 1963 he was given duties hiring new designers for the design staff.  During this period he visited some 30 colleges in the country searching for the best young talent.

Over his lifetime as a GM designer, Bill Porter drew thousands of sketches of automobiles, like this effort made in the mid-60s of the proposed 1968 Pontiac mid-size Pontiac Tempest/LeMans. Some features were eventually used on the actual 1968 LeMans, including the loop chrome bumper.  But the hidden headlights atop the bumper were not used, nor were the twin bumps on the hood.

 In 1965 Bill was assigned to an advanced studio where he created the basic body shell that became the 1968 LeMans/GTO.  He was then promoted to head the Pontiac Studio and oversaw the design of all Pontiac automobiles from 1969 -1973.

During the remainder of the 1970s, Bill headed Advanced 1 studio where he created basic body shells and concept cars.   Says Bill of that time, “I had a ball!”

Later his talents would be appreciated by buyers of Buicks.  He was appointed chief designer of the Buick 1 studio in 1979.  He remained head of that studio until his 1996 retirement. 

Bill has his favorite vehicles that were designed under his watch.  Right at the top is the 1970 Pontiac Firebird, especially the Trans Am model; he was strongly involved with the development of the Firebird’s tremendously popular Trans Am model.   Bill was one of the pioneers in using wind tunnel data in the design of a vehicle.

Bill has favorite Buicks too.  The final Riviera, introduced in 1995 and discontinued in 2000, rates number one.  He is bringing his personal 1995 Riviera to the Concours.

As in past years, we hope to have 8 to 10 featured designer – created automobiles at the Concours for the Pass in Review event.  We are seeking owners who own the following Pontiac and Buick models: 1968-70 Tempests or GTOs, 1973 Grand Ams, 1985 Electra and 1986 or 1992 LeSabre.

I would need at least five of my car columns to adequately disseminate Bill’s lifelong accomplishments.  I recommend that readers take the time to read more about Bill Porter by searching “Bill Porter auto designer” on the Web.  The Internet is full of Bill Porter history and accomplishments.

Retired GM designer Bill Porter was responsible for the creation of dozens of Pontiac and Buick automobiles over his career.  One of his favorites is his last effort, the 1995 Buick Riviera.  Shown here is Bill (on the left) with a fiber-glass, non-running model of the car and Buick Interior Studio Chief Paul Tatseos.  The 1995 Riviera was intended as a 1993 model but GM financial difficulties postponed the intro.

Dar's and Chuck's top ten beautiful and homely cars

 

I’m writing this column in the south, enjoying 70-degree temps and observing from afar the frigid and snowy weather that engulfed the Midwest just after I departed St. Joseph.

Joining me is my good friend Chuck Hassel, a fellow car nut who grew up in the Chicago area but now resides in South Carolina.  We’ve make our visit south each January to escape the colder northern climes (well, at least I do) and, more importantly, to discuss cars.   We love all kinds of cars, be they new or old.

Chuck has been ogling cars since he was a little kid.   His education includes degrees in engineering from Purdue and product design from Art Center College in California.

I showed Chuck a copy of my last week’s column about the Hemmings Classic Car editorial with Richard Lenitello’s eight ugliest cars and my reaction to his selections.   Naturally we began coming up with ugly candidates of our own.   We agreed up with our top ten list.

We also thought it would be fun to see if we could come up with a list of the ten most beautiful cars.   It was a challenge, but we did it. 

So, behold, our list of the ten homeliest (ugly seems too cruel a word) and ten most beautiful American cars ever offered.  After each vehicle selected we have added a brief remark on why it was selected:

TEN HOMELIEST VEHICLES:

            1937 - ‘39 Willys (bug-eyed headlights and a pointed snout)

1958 Buick (massive looking, a ponderous chrome-mobile)

1958 Ford (a failed attempt to duplicate the look of the new 4-place T-bird)

            1958 Oldsmobile (see 1958 Buick above)

            1958 Packard (stacked fins and tacked-on quad headlights, a sorry end to a great marque)

            1961 DeSoto (unrelated dual grille openings, clunky-looking taillight housing)

            1961 Plymouth (cabbage grater grille with Halloween headlights that scared small children)

            1980 Ford Thunderbird/Mercury Cougar (the stylist must have lost their French curve, a box was their inspiration)

            2000 – ’05 Chevrolet Monte Carlo (a crisp design that obviously sat too long in the hot sun)

            2001 – ’05 Pontiac Aztek (not sure if it’s a van or a car but not Pontiac’s best effort)

High on many automotive lists of homely cars is the overwrought 1958 Buick, shown here in the Limited series.

           

The rather scary front end styling of the 1961 Plymouth has been said to be so ugly it scared small children.  It certainly wasn't designer Virgil Exner's best efforts.

TEN BEAUTIFUL VEHICLES:

           

            1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow (one of the first American vehicles to feature breathtaking aerodynamic lines that set it apart)

1936 Cord 810/812 (Gordon Buehrig’s Cord was a styling masterpiece, radical for its time, still eye candy today)

1939 Lincoln Continental Mk 1 (One of Edsel Ford’s best efforts, providing a must-buy luxury car for the Palm Beach set)

1953 Studebaker (Studebaker stunned American car buyers with Raymond Loewy’s European inspired design)

1955 Chevrolet (featured a Ferrari grille, V-8 power and all-new body of classic simplicity)

1960 Dodge Matador/Chrysler New Yorker (perhaps Virgil Exner, Sr.’s highest achievement and his most successful fin effort)

            1961 Lincoln Continental (award winning then, still stunning to look at)

            1966 Buick Riviera (Words like elegant, graceful and sophisticated are used to describe this Dave Holl’s masterpiece)

            1970 ½ Chevrolet Camaro (in production for 11 years, the crisp, clean  Italianate pony car was a huge favorite) 

1971 Plymouth Satellite coupe (a muscular yet elegant car, it’s bold loop bumper was a perfect compliment to the athletic car)

 This photo, taken at the Concours d'Elegance of Southwest Michigan in St. Joseph, shows me standing in front of one of Studebaker's prettiest coupes ever.  The 1953 - 54 Commander coupe was designed with input from internationally known Raymond Loewy.  Most best looking car lists include this design beauty.

Above is the iconic and great looking 1961 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible.   Considered by many to be the finest looking Lincoln ever introduced.   Wouldn't it be great if Lincoln could return to market a Town Car-like model that has the impact of this landmark luxury model.

If you don’t recall what some of our selections look like and a photo is not shown, use your computer’s search engine and type in the year and car.  Photos galore will appear to remind you just how ugly or beautiful these cars were.

I visited the AACA Fall Meet in Hershey and spotted these great automobiles.

This pretty Mercedes had a wood IP!

A classy Mercedes

This 1958 Dodge Sierra wagon was for sale and the price was right.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time a two-tone paint stripe was ringed by chrome trim.  I've read that Virgil Exner, Sr. was responsible for this colorful option.

An Exner-designed 1961 Chrysler New Yorker convertible. 

I've always loved gold nomenclature on a white painted automobile.  A 1962 Chrysler

Pretty pre-War Cadillac with two-tone paint.

I've always loved pastel pink and white paint jobs, especially on the 1958 Edsel Citation.

Only Cadillac could get away with offering fins like this and find so many buyers.

Most people like the fastback version of the 1967 - 69 Barracuda.  But I like the coupe look too.   The concave rear window was very unusual for a low priced car.

Gorgeous custom interior on 1966 Corvair 4-door Monza

Prettiest fins on the market.  1959 Buick LeSabre

Unusual trim piece on the 1962 Dodge Polara 500

Virgil Exner seemed to love placing headlights in unusual places.

Wish today's cars could be optioned with these colors.

Capturing the art of the auto

  

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The tail fin defined the Cadillac during the fifties and none shouted Cadillac like the P-38 Lightning aircraft-inspired tailfins found on the 1948 – 1956 models.  A close-up shot of this 1955 Cadillac Eldorado iconic fin best personifies the luxury brand’s tail fin legacy.

I’ve been eyeballing automobiles since 1954.  Regardless of where I am – in a parking lot, on the freeway or on Niles Avenue – my eyes screen each car that passes by.   I can’t help it.

In the 58 years since my automotive awakening I’ve acquired a fondness for a number of the older cars once spotted on the highways.  Of late I have made an effort, when attending car shows, to capture images of these favorites with my camera at car shows.

With some cars, I like only a portion of the overall design, like the grille or the rear taillight.  So over the past many years, I’ve been drawn to photograph only a section of the vehicle in an artistic fashion.   Some have actually come out pretty nicely and can almost be consider works of art – at least to my eyes. 

I was pleasantly surprised recently when someone visited the Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan’s Facebook page and wrote a complimentary remark about a photo I had posted of a 1955 Cadillac Eldorado rear quarter fender view.  I had used this particular photo when I announced the recent decision by the Concours National Advisory and Executive Boards that the Cadillac would be the featured marque in 2013 to commemorate the luxury automaker’s 110^th anniversary.

The Facebook visitor’s comment, “This picture in undeniably beautiful” made my day and got me to thinking about some of the other photos of cars that I’ve taken over the past 10 – 15 years. 

So I opened my iPhoto album – now filled with 5,452 images – and looked for my favorite pictorial “car parts,” so-to-speak.   I found a number that really ring my bell.

The aforementioned 1955 Cadillac photo is at the top of the list.   If you want a photograph of GM’s luxury division that say loud and clear “I’m a Cadillac,” then I feel this photo accomplishes the task.   I only shot the tail of the car and from slightly above.  The famous P-38 Lightning aircraft-inspired tail fins were used on the Cadillac from the 1948 original until through 1957 model.

This picture resonates even though the trunk on the vehicle in the photograph isn’t completely closed.  The strong sculptural statement of the finned taillight simply carries the day.

Another photo that garners comments when I share it is one I took many years ago while visiting Carlisle, (Pa.) Chrysler Nationals.  I’m a huge fan of Virgil Exner, Sr.’s 1955 cars that featured the “Forward Look.”  But what makes my photo of this particular Dodge notable isn’t the car’s handsome grille, but rather the dramatic effect caused by reflection in the chrome trim from the overhead stripped canvas tent.  It reminds viewers of peppermint candy and makes the photo memorable.

I often discover that shiny car surfaces make great mirrors for self-portrait.   In 2009 at Hershey, Pa., I came across a really nice black 1954 Buick Special. 

In 1954 GM introduced all-new Olds, Cadillac and Buick models.  I liked the cars a lot because they all featured the first mass-produced wraparound windshields.  Of the three GM luxury cars, I have always favored the Buick and its rear subtle fin.  When I spotted the black 1954 Special at Hershey, I had to take a photo of that fin.  The self-portrait was just a bonus.

I’m not savvy enough to use PhotoShop.   I take a photo and if it turns out great, it’s pure luck.   I attended the since-discontinued Venetian Festival car show some years back and took a photo of a nice two-tone 1955 Chevy Bel Air.  

This image isn’t quite a work of art but it captures perfectly the essence of the new, clean styling of the popular Chevy.  Most folks seem to like the 1957 Tri-Five Chevy better than the initial ‘ 55, but I’ve always been won over by the clean, pure lines of the original.  

Few cars are introduced that are perfect in every way.  With the ’55 Chevy I wouldn’t change a thing.  The 1955 Chevy is one of those perfect cars, in my opinion, and this photo shows why.  This cleanly designed, unadorned beauty represents the very best from GM’s top designer Harley Earl.

I admire all classic Packards and can understand why the luxury brand remains a favorite of serious collectors.  At Hershey this past fall I spotted a beautiful roadster from afar.   I wasn’t drawn to it because it was a Packard, but because of its beautiful color.  It shouted, “Look at me!” 

On closer inspection, I became enamored by the beautiful wheels on the 1929 automobile.   Disc-like, they were painted the same color as the car’s body.   Most importantly, in the wheel’s center, was the traditional Packard red hexagon.  This photo captures flawlessly the combination of colors and shapes that work beautifully together and pleases the eye.

Great art?  No, but it reveals perfectly the elegance of the era.

If you would like to see my photos that I’ve mentioned in today’s column in high definition, please visit my blog site at http://darscars.blogspot.com/.  I will post all the photos that I’ve mentioned.  I also welcome your comments on my blog. 

By the way, if readers use Facebook and have not yet visited the Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ConcoursSWMI), please do so.   And while on your visit, please “like” us.   It will keep you connected with the many activities of the fundraising event.

 Take a shiny, curved chromed surface and add color stripes from an overhead tent and you have a dramatic photograph.  This 1955 Dodge Royal Lancer was snapped by Dar at a Carlisle, Penn. Chrysler National show a few years back.

Whether up close or from afar, an automobile painted a gorgeous color will capture attention.   And none did it better than this 1929 Packard at Hershey.  Dar snapped the automobile’s wheel, capturing both the elegance of the wheel design and the stunning turquoise and red color combination.

 A 1954 black Buick Special rear fender makes for a perfect mirror to caption a self-portrait.  This photo may not be great art, but it speaks to the writer because the ’54 Buick is a favorite of his.

Both Dar’s grandfather and brother owned a 1955 Chevy.  The all-new car was one of Chevrolet’s most significant models, as it introduced not only its famous small block V-8 but also fresh, clean new styling, as shown in this rear quarter view that still looks fabulous 57 years later.

         

Shown with Dar and his 2013 Buick Verano at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan are (l. to r.) Steve Brock, Plant Manager; Matt Purdy, GM Vehicle Performance Manager for Small, Compact and Mini Cars and Carter Sperry, Quality Operations Manager.  The 1,824 workers at the Orion, Michigan auto plant assembled Dar's Verano on October 30 and Dar toured the plant and checked out his new car on November 1.

 GM gives Dar a royal welcome

There is nothing like a visit from Santa to lift one’s spirits…and boy, did I have a Christmas morning experience on November 1.  My “little boy” eyes opened wide and they stayed that way for two hours when at 10:10 a.m. I arrived at the expansive GM Assembly Plant in Orion Township, Michigan – just off I-75 in Lake Orion, north of Detroit - and began an experience of a lifetime.

Readers following this column know that back in September I finally ordered a new car to replace my now-sold Neon.  The process for me to decide which car to buy was a long and arduous journey.  Buying a new car is a pretty big deal for most of us but especially for someone like me who loves cars and buys them infrequently.

When it became known that I had settled on the American-made Buick Verano, I was given a tip from friend Steve Purdy of Williamsburg, Mich., a fellow auto journalist (he’s the Detroit Editor of TheAutoChannel.com website) and a charter member of the local Concours car show, that I should get in touch with his nephew Matt.  

As it turned out, Matt holds the title of Vehicle Performance Manager: Small, Compact and Mini Cars at General Motors and he helped oversee the development of the Verano.

I did contact him, and often.   The really kind man had to put up with me over a number of months as I emailed innumerable times to check on things.  I wanted to know what new colors would be added if I waited until the 2013 model year to order my Buick.   Would the 2013 model have a backup camera, I asked?

A most important question that I asked Matt was whether it would be possible for me to be at the plant when my new car was being assembled.   It has always been a dream of mine.  He wasn’t sure but he promised to check.  

Soon I heard from Phil Colley at Buick Communications and then I heard from Plant Communications Manager Kevin Nadrowski.

It wasn’t long before Kevin sent me a schedule.  The Verano build date would be just before or on Thursday, November 1 and I was to arrive at 10:10 a.m. on that date for a tour.

I’ve mentioned before that my son-in-law Tom Burch is a GM employee with an office in the corporate headquarters at the Renaissance Center in Detroit.  He, naturally, asked if he could accompany me on my visit.

After arriving at the Orion Assembly Plant on Giddings Road in Lake Orion, Tom and I were shown a short safety video in the plant’s lobby.  Soon after we were joined by Nadrowski and Purdy.  Next we were introduced to Tony Hufford, the UAW Local 5960 Communications Coordinator, and were given the required safety gear.

It was a good thing I had Tom along.  We walked along the floor of the 4 million-square-foot factory, and I had become completely mesmerized by the whirl of machine and man busy building an automobile.  I had forgotten that I had brought my camera and wanted lots of photos.   Tom took charge and took 74 photos.

With Kevin as our guide and Matt as an escort, Tom and I were given a thorough tour of the plant.  We were impressed with how efficiently the plant was laid out and how clean the site was.  Kevin pointed out the many changes at the plant that improved working conditions and added equipment that upgraded the quality of each car assembled.

As we concluded our walking tour, Kevin arranged for me to meet both Plant Manager Steve Brock and Quality Operations Manager Carter Sperry.  They took time and explained all that GM and the Orion management and labor team has done and is doing to build the best automobiles in the world. 

Carter, who is responsible for every vehicle that comes off the production line, patiently explained to me that GM and Orion have established clearly identifiable standards to meet so that dependable cars are built consistently.  And it’s his job that those standards are followed.  I was very, very impressed and have complete confidence that my Verano will be a car to be proud of.

Orion was opened in 1983 and has 1,824 hourly and salaried workers.  Over its lifetime it has built everything from luxury cars like Cadillac and Olds 98 sedans and mid-size models like Malibu and Pontiac G6.  Workers at Orion have built 4.6 million GM vehicles. 

Workers and management are proud of a safety record:  10 million man-hours of operation without a lost workday.  The plant also was the first GM facility to receive the Clean Corporate Citizen designation by the State of Michigan.

Following a massive, $545 million retooling in 2010, the plant now produces the Chevrolet Sonic sub-compact hatch and sedan and the compact Buick Verano.  Using a combination of up-to-the-moment modern robotic equipment and the deft hand of highly trained workers, Orion assembles 825 vehicles a day, one third being Buick Veranos.  The plants annual capacity is 160,000 units with workers presently putting in four, ten-hour shifts weekly.  That schedule will change early next year when the plant goes to a more traditional five day/eight-hour schedule.

Then – there it sat in a well-lighted space. My new Buick beckoned.  The GM team gave me plenty of time to examine and admire my new car.  I was introduced to Gary Jager, the team member who had just completed giving my car a thorough Global Customer Audit including a dynamic 15-mile road test, an eight-minute soaking in the water test and a 3-hour top-to-bottom examination. 

The final surprise?  Carter invited me to take my new car for a drive.  A quick spin on public roads near the plant in my new car was the final highlight of my visit.  I was very aware that this courtesy was a rare gift and I enjoyed every moment of it.
  
I was incredibly impressed with the GM team that met with me.   I’d need pages of space to write all that I want to share about my experience as a guest of these professional and committed GM employees.

We hear so much negative stuff about how poorly our domestic auto industry have done in the past.  What we don’t hear is news about how well the industry is doing today.   Gone are the days when management and unions were at loggerheads.  Today is a new era in union/management cooperation and the positive results of this development are American-built automobiles that are equal in style and quality to any vehicle built in the world. 

The men and women who now design and build cars for the Domestic Three automakers have a crystal clear vision of what needs to be done to succeed.  I’ve never been prouder of the accomplishments of our American workers, designers and engineers and know that my new Verano is well built and will provide me with years of dependable and satisfactory service. 

I can’t wait for it to arrive in my hometown for delivery. 

The choice: 1959 Buick vs. 1960 Dodge

I get asked a lot of car questions.  Some via email, some by phone and some by folks on the street.  Yesterday a bride-to-be emailed me to ask if I could help her locate a vintage car to transport her and the groom from the church to the reception hall.  No stretch limo for her, she wants a 1965 Mustang like the one her husband once owned.

Unless I know the owner of a specific requested model, I usually forward the request on to Ned Wollengslegel, president of the local Southwestern Michigan Car Collectors car club, hoping that he can be of assistance.

Another often-asked question is to name my favorite vintage car.  Over the many decades since I became enamored with automotive design, the answer to that question changes by the week, sometimes by the day! 

For the longest time my favorite cars were the 1957 Chrysler Corporation finned cars created under the direction of designer Virgil Exner, Sr.  One week my favorite would be the Desoto, only to be replaced by the Swept-wing Dodge.  And the 1957 Imperial has appeared at the top of the list many times. 

I’m also a huge fan of the dramatically new1959 GM models that were rushed to market in response to the overwhelming success of the 1957 Chrysler Corporation models.  All five GM models were redone that year with the wild bat-wing Chevy at the bottom of the rung and the iconic “spaceship” finned Cadillac at the top.  I like them all but my favorites have always been the Delta-winged Buick and Linear Look Oldsmobile.  Pontiac with its all-new split grille was easy on the eyes too.

The car that ultimately bumped the 1957 Chrysler Corporation offerings from the top of my Mopar list was another Exner effort that came out in 1960 to replace the by-then dated 1957 Chrysler models.  As I wrote a few weeks back in this column, I was never a big fan of the 1960 Plymouth until recent years, but I really loved the 1960 Chrysler and especially the Dodge Polara/Matador offerings from the get-go.

One only has to attend a vintage car auction to discover the fact that American-built cars from the mid-fifties to the early 70s are favorites of collectors.  And why not?  During that brief 15 years some of the most flamboyant and powerful autos ever to grace a dealership showroom were designed, produced and sold.

Not before and not since have the automakers produced a more varied assortment of models that delighted the eyes with stylistic features (fins, retractable hardtops, tri-tone colors, etc.) and affordable performance (GTO, Roadrunner, etc.)  It certainly is my favorite era of automotive design, bar none.

On my recent Great Smoky Mountains family vacation my daughter asked me to name my favorite car.  Brain freeze prevented me from picking a favorite from my top two picks:  the 1959 Buick and the 1960 Dodge Polara/Matador.  To me, they are both automotive perfection.

It is very rare that a new car comes along that is designed so perfectly (to my eyes) that I wouldn’t change a thing.  I saw the Buick months before its introduction in a summer parade in downtown Flint.  GM held a parade to commemorate it’s golden anniversary. 

The 1959 Buick was on a float and my eyes couldn’t believe that this beautiful car with the canted headlights in front and delta-wing fins in back belonged to a Buick. It look nothing like the bulbous and chromey 1958 model.  I was ecstatic when later that fall my uncle who resided across the road bought a 4-door Special.

Designer Virgil Exner, Sr. had his work cut out for him when he had to replace his successful 1957-59 Chrysler Corporation models.  By 1959 his highly recognized finned look had become passe.  What do you do for an encore?

Exner stuck with the fin look one more year and again produced some spectacular vehicles.  I’ve always loved the Chrysler and DeSotos of that year and I’ve grown to appreciate the Plymouth but I’ve always been gaga over the premium large Dodge Matador and Polara.

Dodge also built a full-size Dodge Dart in 1960 but on a slightly shorter wheelbase.  It shared the Polara/Matador front fenders, roofline and doors but received smaller fins out back and had a cheaper looking grille and was built on the Plymouth platform.  By the way, a nice 1960 red Dart convertible will be in this summer’s Concours d’Elegance in Lake Bluff Park.

The Dart is nice but its bigger brothers, the Matador and Polara, are way better.  That’s because Exner attached two beautifully proportioned and integrated fins on the car’s rear quarters.  Then he topped the new look off by putting gorgeous rocket-like taillights at the rear and a rich-looking grille at the front. A perfect looking car.

I simply can’t decide which I like best.  Guess I’ll have to buy both and get rid of my Neon…after winning the lottery.

Illinois collector owns two '62 Buick Specials

There are cars and then there are AUTOMOBILES. The former are appliances on wheels that we purchase and use to get from point A to point B. The latter are objects of desire. Our pulse increases when we see one and we have a great desire to own one. For me at least, it’s a practical matter as to why I don’t own the AUTOMOBILE of my dreams. I don’t have a multi-car garage, I don’t have a mechanic on my staff and I don’t have a whole lot of money for more than just one vehicle.

For car lovers like me, that’s why there are a growing number of car shows each year. Event organizers have discovered that by hosting a car show, it will attract people like me so we can spend a few hours in the hot sun and maybe, just maybe, come across the object of our desire. For most people who lust for cars, the object of their desire seems to fall into several categories: their first car, the car they lusted after when a young man or woman, the car they had a momentous occasion in (use your imagination on that one!) or the car they would like to be seen in if money was no object.

I have a rather large number of vehicles that I lust after. Some make sense, most don’t. Personally, I’m sick and tired of 100-point cars that are either a two-door hardtop or a convertible from the 50s and 60s. I’m more attracted to rarely seen two-door station wagons (like the 1954 Plymouth coral colored wagon at this past summer’s Krasl Concours) or to lowly bottom feeder four-door sedans like a 1958 Chevy Biscayne sedan with a six-cylinder engine and a three on the tree. Perhaps it’s because you seldom see them and when you do, they remind you of the car your best friend’s parents owned back in your youth. When I visit the big Auburn/Kruse auction each Labor Day weekend in Indiana, I head for the car corral and enjoy seeing all the less popular cars on display like a 1959 Rambler sedan, a 1958 DeSoto wagon or a 1962 Chevy Corvair 500 coupe. One car I’m always looking for a shows is the 1961 Buick Special Deluxe 4-door sedan. My mother and I pestered my poor dad into buying a turquoise and white ’61 Special and it remains one of my all time favorite cars.

That said, it was a thrill to get an email from a Coloma reader recently who wondered if I would be interested in chatting with his dad who lives in Illinois and owns not one but two Buick Specials. He had read my column a few weeks back that included a photo that showed me standing next to a 1962 Buick Special that I had spotted at the Hershey show in October and wrote about. It didn’t take me too long to get on the phone and track down this lucky guy who owns both a 1962 Buick Special Deluxe station wagon and a the same year Buick Special Skylark convertible.

Meet Frank Tarpey of Highland Park, Illinois. A Buick fan from way back, probably because his family owned Buicks over the year, and still loyal to the fading Flint brand. While he has the two Specials in his collection for fun and show, his daily driver is a last-of-its-kind-and-built-in-Texas 1996 Buick Roadmaster station wagon. Yes, a station wagon. Back when the auto industry still called vehicles with a storage room out back a station wagon and not a crossover or a SUV. The big V-8-powered Roadmaster has over 163,000 miles on the odometer and is still going strong. No word on if and when he will replace the dependable ride but I would bet the crossover Enclave will be on his short list.

Frank enjoys both of his Specials, but is partial to the little convertible. The Skylark, as readers may recall, was Buick’s response to the small sporty car craze that swept the auto industry in 1961 and 1962 after the huge success of the Corvair Monza introduced in mid year 1960. Chevy discovered that there was a market for a compact two-door with bucket seats and an upgraded interior. Soon all four U.S. automakers followed suit with similar models. Ford introduced the Falcon Futura, Plymouth made the Valiant into the Signet, Pontiac gave us the LeMans and so forth. Buick’s answer was the Special Skylark. The Skylark was especially attractive and was the best looking of the so-called B-O-P small senior compact cars (Buick-Olds-Pontiac) that GM introduced in the fall of 1960 after the success of the Falcon, Corvair and Valiant the year before. The Skylark was introduced in mid-model year 1961 as a coupe, and then added a hardtop and a convertible in the 1962 model year. It was a fairly popular car with production figures of 12,683 in 1961 (total Special sales were 86,868) and improving to 42,973 in 1962 (total Special sales improved to 153,843).

Like the regular Special sedans the Skylark featured the all-new 215 cubic inch aluminum V-8 engine initially. Only 2,871 of the Skylark convertibles were built in 1962. Frank’s ’62 Skylark convertible has the 190 horsepower 4-barrel V-8 (and not the famous V-6 engine Buick introduced in 1962 – and won Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award) plus the usual automatic transmission, power steering and brakes and it has a power top. He bought it in 1979 in really rough shape from a Chicago fire department caption (whose daughter drove it as a daily driver) for $125. It needed a lot of work. On the drive home he had to stop twice to fill the overheated car’s radiator. It is now restored and resides comfortably at Frank’s summer residence in Wisconsin.

While I’d take either Special, I’m really partial to his wagon. First it is really rare as only 10,380 were built. It, like my dad’s car, is turquoise with a white top. Lucky for Frank, the wagon has several useful options that add comfort and appeal to the car including air conditioning, a roof rake and the power operated rear window in the tailgate. Its aluminum V-8 engine has the 2-barrel carburetor and produces 155 horsepower. The wagon was purchased in 2000 from a member of the Buick Club of America and has 111,000 miles on the tires. He paid $2,200, which is an excellent price for such an unusual and rare car. The car listed for $2,890 without options in 1962.

My dad didn’t complain about it much but our little Buick’s engine was troublesome. I asked Frank if he had problems with his two aluminum V-8’s. He said no but he did know what the problem was. Apparently my dad’s Special was an early production model when Buick initially was careless about flushing out metal fillings from the engine block after casting. As a result, the filings found their way into the cooling system and caused overheating. The problem was eventually identified and immediately fixed.

So why did Frank end up with two Buick Specials? Easy answer. Frank’s first new car was a 1962 Buick Special convertible with a 3-speed stick shift and a manual top. He ordered it not with the newly available and popular V-6 engine, but with the aluminum V-8. It was burgundy in color and got great gas mileage. He likes best about his two cars the peppy yet economical V-8 engines. Next he finds both cars fun to drive. That’s what I remember about my dad’s car – it was light on its feet and a blast to drive. Lastly, Frank liked the styling. I totally agree. By far, the Special was the nicest looking of the B-O-P cars. I liked the pointed front fenders; the aggressive sculpturing alongside the car that reminded me of the dramatic side sweeps found on Buicks of the early and mid ‘50s and I especially liked the Skylark’s taillight design. Overall, Frank and I both agree that the Buick Special was, indeed, a special car. Let’s hope I can convince him to bring both cars to next year’s 5th annual Krasl Concours car show.

NAIAS Detroit Auto Show 2009 - Automakers feel blue but look green

The 21st annual North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit could have been a somber place this past weekend. But for an industry under seige for the better part of 2008, the annual media preview at the NAIAS last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday was an upbeat and fascinating place to be. Granted, the fancy vehicle displays that were the norm in past years were replaced with much simpler sets, especially those from the Domestic Three automakers. Gone were the elaborate and impressive exhibitions and in their place were dramatically simplified displays. This year the vehicles took center stage, not the ostentatious staging found in year’s past. Also missing at Cobo were the many amenities that were provided to the 6,000 + journalists and photographers in the past. The tasty free lunches and dinners were dropped by the automakers as a cost saving move. Gone, too, were the fancy productions that were used to introduce the many new vehicles. Instead of live bands, synchronized lighting and celebrities galore, the introductions were low key and business-like.

It was a terrible year for the automakers in 2008 with sales in the U.S. down over 3 million units. With profits a distant memory, some of the automakers cut way back on their car show efforts. There were exceptions. Foreign automakers like BMW, VW, Audi, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz sported brand new displays that undoubtedly cost millions of dollars to design, build and assemble. Elsewhere in the show, perhaps in response to the ire that the Domestic Three CEO’s drew from congressmen in D.C. for flying in corporate jets to attend hearings to obtain bridge-loan funds, the Domestic Three makers cut back on their display costs. Surprisingly, some automakers didn’t even show up. Japanese biggie Nissan was a no-show, as were smaller brands like Porsche, Suzuki and Land Rover.

But let’s forget the gloom and doom. The foreign and domestic automakers did have some new product to show and it was educational to attend the many press conferences. This year, like no other, was the year of the engineer. The push to make cars and trucks more Earth-friendly is placing a burden on all makers – foreign and domestic alike – to come up with propulsion systems that give improved gas mileage and also produce less emissions. The automakers certainly now see the task at hand and a massive effort is being made to bring low and zero emission vehicles to the market quickly. While designers and stylists will always be important, presently scientists, engineers and researchers are bearing the brunt of the burden to bring clean and efficient vehicles to market quickly and inexpensively.

Like in past years I had the opportunity to not only listen to the speeches and take photos but also to sit in many of the new vehicles – production and concept cars and trucks alike. It is not an exaggeration to say that the three-day media event at the NAIAS is one of my favorite times of the year. And why not! I get to see fabulous cars and trucks for the first time. I have the option to go up and talk to the bigwigs and designers if I wish. And I relish the chance to sit in the concept cars, a privilege given only to members of the media.

The NAIAS kicked off on Sunday morning with the announcement of the prestigious annual North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. This year’s car recipient was a surprise with the Korean upstart Hyundai winning with the four-door Genesis, a new top-end V-8 powered luxury sedan. Watch out Lexus, Mercedes, Cadillac and other luxury brands, there is new kid on the block. Not as surprising, taking the truck crown for the third time in 12-years was the Ford F-150.

In all, there were over 60 new production and concept vehicle debuts. Space doesn’t permit me to comment on all of the debuts but there were several significant vehicles that bear mentioning. I was most interested in seeing for the first time the several new domestic offerings. Creating the most excitement by far and my candidate for Best of Show is the highly appealing and expressive Cadillac Converj. Created with the Voltec system engineered for GM’s highly anticipated Chevy Volt plug-in electric car, the bean counters at GM should find it reasonably inexpensive to put the Converj into production and give Cadillac a nice competitor to combat the many hybrids offered by Lexus and other luxury makers. Without a doubt, the gorgeous new Caddy drew the biggest crowds at the show.

There were many other “green” cars at the show and I’d like to comment on two significant production vehicles. The Toyota press conference to announce the third generation Prius hybrid was filled to capacity with journalists wanting to get the first look at this segment-leading car. Toyota has produced the Prius since 1997 and has sold over 700,000 units in the States alone. With improvements, the 2010 hybrid will now deliver 50 mpg and offers many new features to attract more buyers. Not to be outdone, Honda introduced the second generation of their Civic hybrid, and an all new car getting the name once used on its two-passenger hybrid – the Insight. Both vehicles are distinctive looking and will undoubtedly be successful in the marketplace.

This post is getting long, but I do want to mention a few vehicles that readers should seek out if a Detroit Auto Show visit is in the works. Audi has a winner with the Sportback concept. Ford may have a homerun with its handsome new Taurus using design elements found earlier in the 2006 Interceptor concept. Close behind the Caddy Converj concept in star appeal is the Volvo S60 concept sedan. It’s Volvo’s version of the popular four-door coupe cars now offered by Europe’s luxury leaders. Caddy has two other winners worth looking at – the SRX crossover replacement and the CTS Sportwagon. Lincoln is finding its groove and the Flex-based crossover MKT is worth the look. If you like the boxy Scion xB, then you will also enjoy looking at Kia’s new sassy crossover, the Soul. Chrysler surprised everyone with a gorgeous looking sedan called the 200C. The car is rumored to be the candidate to replace the present popular 300 sedan. The four-door looker has a hybrid power system, one of three models that the company introduced to the media. The all-new Chevy Equinox and Buick LaCrosse will make those brand’s dealers happy when they arrive this summer. Buick designers have brought back the iconic side sweep found on all Buicks back in the 50s.

Want to take a spin in a low or zero emission vehicles? Be sure to venture into the basement of Cobo Center and be amazed at the “test track” created by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation folks. Amongst a forest of mature trees, water falls and blooming spring flowers is a winding road. It beckons a driver to follow it in a circuitous route the whole length of the huge but lovely space. Quite an experience! The MEDC hopes to promote to worldwide auto executives on hand at the car show Michigan’s strength in R&D and alternative energy innovation.

The Detroit car show opened yesterday and will run until Sunday, January 25. For ticket information and directions, go to www.naias.com or call (248) 643-0250. Tickets are $12 for adults. (Converj Concept image © GM Corp.)