Chuck Jordan (automobile designer)
Charles Morrell "Chuck" Jordan | |
|---|---|
 Chuck (right) next to Nuccio Bertone at Stile Bertone | |
| Born | October 21, 1927 |
| Died | December 9, 2010 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Automobile designer |
| Known for | GM VP of Design (1986-1992) |
Charles Morrell "Chuck" Jordan (October 21, 1927[1] – December 9, 2010[2]) was an American automotive designer who was born in Whittier, California.[3] He is best known for his work on the 1959-1960 Cadillac Eldorado and the 1992 Cadillac Seville STS as well as being the vice president of design for General Motors from 1986 to 1992.
Education
He graduated with honors from Fullerton Union High School in 1945. Before joining GM in 1949, he studied at MIT.
Career
While a junior at MIT, Chuck entered the first post war Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild competition, winning first prize and a $4000 scholarship. At the award ceremony, Chuck later accepted an invitation from Harley Earl's assistant Howard O'Leary, who invited him to come to GM when he completed his studies. The acceptance of the invitation led to Chuck beginning his career at GM in 1949.[4]
One of his first projects was the Aerotrain, completed when he was 28 years old. He rose to director of design for Cadillac in 1957,[1] being chief designer of the 1959 Cadillac,[2] an epitome of fin design (although it was well underway when he arrived.) He also spent time with GM Europe as head of design for Opel.
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He was vice president of design for General Motors from 1986 to 1992. Only six people, including Harley Earl and Ed Welburn, have held the position in GM's history.[5]
Some of Jordan's work included the following cars:
- 1959-1960 Cadillac
- 1968-1973 Opel GT
- 1971-1975 Opel Manta A
- 1971-1975 Opel Ascona A
- 1973-1977 Opel Commodore B
- 1991-1996 Oldsmobile 98
- 1992-1994 Chevrolet K1500 Blazer/GMC K1500 Jimmy
- 1992-1997 Cadillac Seville STS
- 1992-1999 Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Suburban
- 1993-1996 Cadillac Fleetwood
- 1994-1999 Cadillac DeVille[1][5][6]
- 1995-2001 Chevrolet Lumina
- 1995-2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
Personal life
His son, Mark Jordan, is an automobile designer for GM and Mazda. Chuck died in December 2010 in Rancho Santa Fe, California of lymphoma.[2]
References
- ^ a b c AutoWeek Magazine "Legendary GM design chief Chuck Jordan dies at 83 - AutoWeek Magazine". Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
- ^ a b c Los Angeles Times http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/19/local/la-me-chuck-jordan-20101219
- ^ "Interview: Chuck Jordan, GM's Chief Designer". Motor Trend. January 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ Tremont, Marianne; Lamm, Michael (Spring 1987). "The Biography of C.M.Jordan". Car Styling. Car Styling Publishing Co. 58: 30–36.
- ^ a b USA Today. "Retired GM Design Boss Chuck Jordan Dies After Decades of Stunners" http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/12/retired-gm-design-boss-chuck-jordan-dies-after-decades-of-stunners/1
- ^ Jeff Glucker. "Fabled GM design chief Chuck Jordan dead at 83". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
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