Forward look virgil exner book

But as the chrysler brands design aesthetic would eventually change, so would the cars trademark fins. His amazing career was the subject of a book i recently viewed, modestly titled virgil exner. Sadly, most people in the industry have no idea of who virgil m. These idea cars went on to inspire exners forward look generation of chrysler automobiles, which hit american roads in 1955 most notably with the chrysler 300 that sported a muscular hemi v8. The fins came out of the theory that virgil exner had, says homer lagasseya plymouth designerin c. He wanted to move the stabilizing forces, the center of pressure, towards the rear of the car. A car so personal virgil exner named it after himself, the.

The forward look network welcomes our newest user, amoxnopy. Virgil exner, the father of the definitive automotive fins created a sensation in 1957 when they appeared on the allnew suddenly its 1960 models. Calling a car from this period a monster is not exactly uncommon or uncalled for. Part of the reason goes back to my first sentient memories of my dads 1956 plymouth belvedere. Collecting cars 1957 chevrolet auto design the new.

September 24, 1909 december 22, 1973 was an automobile designer for numerous american companies, notably chrysler and studebaker. The great designers virgil exner by vwlarry chrysler. A prime example of virgil exners forward look aesthetic of the 1950s and early 60s, this cars trademark fins now with the taillights moved to the bumper and replaced with indicators helped give the car its iconic shape. Exner page 10 for c bodies only classic mopar forum. The aesthetic was dubbed the forward look, which set new design. Up for offering is a rare pair of goldtone and black plymouth forward look promotional cufflinks in fantastic shape. Exner, who died in 1973, is the subject of a new book, virgil exner. Apr 22, 2020 automobile stylist virgil exner and the plymouth, dodge, desoto, chrysler and imperial automobiles he designed between 1955 and 1962. Virgil exner joined raymond loewys industrial design firm, raymond loewy. This book is a dream for all of us interested in automobiles, their design, and the process that brings them into being. Grist concludes the book with a look at another side of virgil exner, his.

There are not many photographs of exner, he wasnt realy photogenic, he had a unibrow. In the late 1950s, when chrysler executives asked virgil exner sr to show them what could be done with a highly personalized future car for the popularly priced plymouth brand, the chrysler design chief took them at their word and came up with something so personal that he named it xnr, after himself. His first production cars for chryslerthe 1955 forward look lineboasted the. However, his auto design career started long before his years at chrysler and continued after he left. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.

In 1958, the fargo pickup, identical to the dodge d100, received the sweptside styling that its sibling received a year earlier to match the forward look cars that virgil exner had styled. The official biography of virgil m exner, designer extraordinaire begins with a foreword by virgil m exner jr, himself a automotive designer but now retired. He was born september 24, 1909 in ann arbor michigan, and adopted almost immediately by george and iva exner. Exner, designer extraordinaire kindle edition by grist, peter. The 1957 dodge coronet the forward look auto museum online. The history of the 1955 chrysler forward look models, including the 1955 300 and 1956 300b. Forward look was a design theme employed by virgil exner in styling the 1955 through 1961 chrysler corporation vehicles. Curious beauty the cars of virgil exner auto cars fans.

Exners distinguished career, one can see how influential this man was in the industry, and on the shape of cars that we drive to this day. To the most of us moparstyle kind of guys, virgil exner is most famous for his forward look years at chrysler. Exner, proudly posing with his landmark 1957 chrysler new look lineup. Exner is widely known for the forward look he created for the 19551963. His work there, including the forward look models of the 1950s, would.

The university of notre dame took the chance to honor the creator of the forwardlook with a unique carshow, put together by the famous designers son. Exner felt that those tall, upsweeping fins actually stabilized an automobile in crosswinds. Vintage 1950s chrysler virgil exner forward look logo, employee service pin, jet age, rarein 1955, chrysler used whats known as the forward look logo, designed by virgil exner. The brand was used to sell commercial trucks but eventually it was eclipsed by dodges line of trucks, later to be revived as a canada only brand. Stutz, the copper development association, and renwal models design of powerboats. The younger exner, who till lives in south bend, earned degrees at notre dame in the 1950s, and briefly designed for studebaker before going on to work for gm. And he waved his hand through the air in an upswinging arc. The story goes that back in 1953, one of chryslers newest hires, designer virgil exner, said, lets try giving the quarter panel this treatment. Although exner s forward look cars transformed automotive design, sales started to fall off, partly because of problems with the cars quality, and by 1960 exner was on his way out.

On september, 29th, 2007, peter grist, and virgil exner, jr. Virgil exner, the designer behind the clean forward look styling of chryslers 1955 models and the spectacular fins of the 1957 that caught general motors off guard, is born on sept. Although exners forward look cars transformed automotive design. This car made such a large impression i can remember it. The chrysler products were produced under the inspiration and leadership of virgil exner. What made him distictive was that he designed cars that were plugugly, and was paid for it. Grist concludes the book with a look at another side of virgil exner, his beautiful. He studied art at notre dame and started as advertising artist at an agency handling the studebaker.

For details on production records and how these numbers were calculated, see the first article in this series, plymouth u. Virgil exner retrospective, notre dame university, 929. It hit the showrooms for the 1957 model year as a brace of lower and. With a straight face, exner then claimed they were rooted in aerodynamics and highly functional. But the finswithapurpose that dominate his car could be misinterpreted as slavish duplication of those on his fathers 57 chryslers. Reminiscence from the 1989 interview with virgil max exner, jr. At the stepan center the visitors had the chance to see. To build these tables, i examined all of the sources of information on each make and model, and tried to determine the most. Veloce publishing limited parkway farm business park.

Daring new dodge for 55 with brilliant new motiondesign styling for the forward look. Virgil exner retrospective, notre dame university, 9292007. It seems exner ran hot and cold in his designs, and for the cars that actually went into production in the forward look years from 1955 through 1961, it was really the studio designs with input from tex colbert and other management that really were responsible for the greatness of those cars and not so much exner. Instead, they make the younger designers car look light, fast and compact. Exner is famous for many things, including his forward look designs of 19551957, his classic 1970s stutz blackhawk, and his concepts for bugatti, duesenberg and mercer. Born in ann arbor, michigan, virgil exner was adopted by george w. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading virgil exner. Virgil exner is a littleknown design giant petrolicious. Exner is famous for many things, including his forward look. Giovanni savonuzzi, and felice mario boano at ghia, and the spectacular forward look production cars. Virgil exner, the designer behind the clean forward look styling of chryslers 1955 models and the spectacular fins of the 1957 that caught. Exners striking studebaker starlight coupe design september 26, 2016 in the postworld war ii period most domestic automakers dusted off their prewar designs and maybe changed the grille and added a few chrome trim strips here and there and called it the new 1946 model. Information on the 300, 300b, and the 1955 forward look including the earlier chrysler styling efforts of virgil exner, sr.

I just finished reading virgil exner, visionary, by peter girst. Virgil exner, noted chrysler designer who shook up 1950s styling, is. The forward look was that of any production chrysler product, model year 1955 until the end of exners career with chrysler. Virgil max exner 19091973 was a us automotive designer, born in ann arbor, mi. Curious beauty the cars of virgil exner chris on cars. Exner really pushed the envelope for 1957 for plymouth, dodge, desoto, chrysler, and imperial. Yet this man, who was born in ann arbor, mi, in 1909 and died in 1973, rose from a hardscrabble background to become the firstever vice president of design at chrysler, and member of that companys board of directors.

Chrysler book virgil exner visioneer plymouth dodge imperial desoto forw. Exner is widely known for the forward look he created for the 19551963 chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetics and aerodynamics. It was called the forward look, chryslers entry into a race with general motors to see who can build the biggest tail fins. Exners influence on auto design went far beyond towering tail fins. Virgil exner was the mastermind behind the forward look era at chrysler corporation so he is a lifetime hero to me because i truly believe fins were the coolest styling cues ever put on a car. With that, chryslers socalled forward look was born. Imperial history and production numbers, 19551983 allpar. Rare 1950s plymouth forward look promotional cufflinks.

I am about a third of the way through, and i find it fascinating as well. Robert ackerson, chrysler 300 americas most powerful car godmanstone, england. New models advertised in chryslers forward look campaign that were designed by virgil exner, the automakers chief designer, were trumpeted as three years ahead of their time. As is so important to those of us who delight in the visual aspects of the automobile, pictures are important. He enjoyed the left bank in paris and haunting various book shops and art galleries in. With imposing front ends and tall fins, they looked great, it was the apex of the forward look. Virgil exner is most famous for his forward look years at chrysler. The forward look styling of the 1957 dodge coronet. Mario boano at ghia, and the spectacular forward look production cars. Vintage 1950s chrysler virgil exner forward look logo.

Virgil exners forward look cars rocket upward in a down market. Virgil exner, noted chrysler designer who shook up 1950s. Virgil exners forward look cars rocket upward in a down. Exner is widely known for the forward look he created for the 19551963 chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetics and aerodynamics exner introduced the forward look at chrysler and was copied before the. However, his auto design career started long before his years at chrysler and continued after he left chrysler. The redesign took chrysler into the future, dropping the medallion in favor of the space age symbol with 2 chevrons superimposed on one another.