ddd777

Does anybody know who the design director was for the 70-72 Cutlass body style?

Ed Welburn didn't get there until 1972.

Some quick internet searching didn't yield an answer...

Bens71442

I met Bill in the late 8o’s when he and his wife opened a automotive art and hobby shop in Downtown Rochester MI that my dad had taken me and my brother over the next few years to visit. Back then I was really into my parents 78 Toronado, where
I found a Tomica 1977 Toronado XSR matchbox size diecast car that we bought from Bill at his store. He never told me at the store, that he was retired GM design staff from the GM Tech center in Warren. About 20 minutes from Rochester.

It wasn’t until a local car show at the Tech center that Bill popped up once: years after closing his quaint little store in downtown Rochester Hills MI. I was showing my first 1970 W-31 I had recently bought that followed a 1971 442 W-30. I had the W-30 by that time approximately 12 years.

I recognize Bill and he remembered me and my family when we used to shop at his store when we were kids. At this show I was attending with the W-31, Bill said to me “ Is this your 70 Cutlass?” Which I responded yes! It is...... that of which he than quietly said too me, “ I designed this car.” At that point I had to ask him to repeat what he said as I looked at him as if he was serious. He then began to tell me he was a retired GM design staff and that Bill Mitchell himself seen his renderings that he did at Pratt University- and then said to Bill, you are hired and you are in charge of the 1970 Cutlass “ re-do” as Mr Mitchell called it.

I stood before Bill at that very moment and realized this mans contribution and talent for it was him whom conceived the very car that for the past 12-14 years that I admired because at that point I had owned my W-31 that replaced my 71W30 for a total of 14 years owning this slick body style fastback design.

Follow the link I posted below these comments and direct your mouse to click and open the concept sketches in particular second row from top: second design sketch from left to right, done in 1967 of the new design for the 1970 model year Olds A body. Silver car with the scallops on the left front fender. That was the sketch that led to the 1970 Cutlass- and subsequently the Cutlass Supreme etc...... He also did the the preliminary design sketches for the 69 H/O.

Ive known Mr Michalak now for approximately 30 years....after initially meeting him in about 1989-1990 and so on from his store.

Bill has has been and always was the most humble and modest gentleman I have ever met and is The Godfather of the cars we admire.

I seen and spoke to him just two weekends ago. Great guy and still active at a local antique toy show where he sets up a table and continues to sell his automotive art and models and various car shows where I take pictures of him next to my now 3rd W-31. He can be found Father’s Day Sunday, in Grosse Pointe MI skulking about the grounds of the Edsel and Eleanor mansion at “ Eyes on Design” a concours automotive event. As well as the Plymouth “ Concours deElegance”

you are welcome

http://www.deansgarage.com/2013/gm-d...bill-michalak/

vette442

Wow!!!!! Fantastic information that I never knew in my 30 years of Olds fandom and ownership. Thank you!

Terry

1969w3155

Great link that you posted. Thanks.

11971four4two

WOW

I think I saw some of those drawings / sketches in old car magazines from my uncle and daddio
Cool stuff
Thanks for sharing it with us

ddd777

Many thanks for that great info!

ddd777

@Bens71442
Any chance you could get contact info for him?
Would love to purchase a drawing....

Bens71442

I’ve asked him before..... but at this time no sketches and drawings in the Deans Garage profile are for sale.

bry593

Thanks! Very interesting to learn the history and see sketches of this GM designer. Also a pretty incredible background story.

Warren Seale

Interesting story. I always here about Bill Mitchell getting all of the credit for most of the 60s and early 70s GM car designs. And prior to him it was Harley Earl.

Warren