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The following men were part of the design team that helped create what we know today as the 1955 Chevrolet. It should be noted that while these men are more well known, there are hundreds more that offered their creative impute into the designing of this American classic. To all of them we offer our thanks.

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Harlow H. Curtice - (GM's Executive V.P.) see separate story to learn more about Mr. Curtice in our article titled "Harlow Curtice - The Force Behind The 1955 Chevrolet "

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cole.jpg (2810 bytes)Ed Cole - (Chief Engineer of Chevrolet) In his career with GM prior to assuming this position, he helped develop Cadillac's overhead-valve V8 in 1949 and was in charge of GM's military tank plant in Cleveland in 1951/52. Mr. Cole was a motivating force behind the development of the '55 Chevrolet (especially the new lightweight V8 engine) and realized that he alone could not bring this automobile to production so he assembled a team of GM's best and brightest engineers for the Chevrolet division. Within a few months he increased Chevrolet's engineering staff from 850 to about 3,000 people.

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Harry Barr - (Chevrolet's Asst. Chief Engineer) Mr. Barr was put in charge of the 1955 V8 engine and the passenger-car chassis ("chassis" covered the frame, suspension and running gear).

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premo.jpg (2829 bytes)Ellis Premo - (Chevrolet's Asst. Chief Engineer) Mr. Premo was put in charge of body development for passenger-cars and trucks. He also was Cole's liaison between Chevrolet Engineering, GM Styling and Fisher Body Division (division that actually built the bodies).

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Maurice Olley - (Chevrolet's Director of Research and Development) Mr. Olley was known as one of the world's foremost suspension engineers. His career started at GM in 1930 where he helped develop GM's independent A-arm front suspension.

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earl.jpg (3142 bytes)Harley Earl - (Director of GM Style Section ) Mr. Earl during the time the 1955 Chevrolet was in development was in charge of GM's Style Section. It was this division that would take the ideas presented by Chevrolet Engineering and Fisher Body and develop the scale drawings and design sketches so that the Chevrolet stylists could fashion the final look of the 1955 Chevrolet.

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Charles Stebbins - It was Mr. Stebbins team of talented draftsmen, designers, and clay modelers that worked in GM Styling "A" body room who took those ideas from Chevrolet Engineering and Fisher Body in 1951/52 and fashioned an over-all shape of the 1955 Chevy-to-be.

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mackichan.jpg (2920 bytes)Clare MacKichan - ( Chevrolet Exterior and Interior Design Studio Chief ) Mr. MacKichan took over the Chevrolet Styling Studio in April 1951 and under the direction of Harley Earl was responsible for the final appearance of the exterior and interior of the 1955 Chevrolet.

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renner.jpg (2638 bytes)Carl Renner - (Chevrolet Assistant Chief Designer) Joined MacKichan in 1951 and had an active part in the design of the 1955 Chevrolet. Some of his contributions included the Nomad wagon, the "bird" hood ornament,  the "dipped" beltline and the deluxe steering wheel. He is also credited with the design of most of the 1955 Chevrolet's instrument panel.

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Edward J. Donaldson - (Chevrolet Interior Designer) Worked on the design and development of the interior soft trim (seats, door panels, etc.)

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Duane L. Bohnstedt - (Designer in Chevrolet Studio) Remember the bowtie trim inserts that decorated the 1955 Chevrolet's dash? Yep, this was Mr. Bohnstedt.

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