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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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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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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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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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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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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