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Chuck Jordan (automobile designer)

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American automobile designer For other people with this name, see Charles Jordan.
Charles Morrell "Chuck" Jordan
Chuck (right) next to Nuccio Bertone at Stile Bertone
Born(1927-10-21)October 21, 1927
Whittier, California
DiedDecember 9, 2010(2010-12-09) (aged 83)
Rancho Santa Fe, California
OccupationAutomobile designer
Known forGM VP of Design (1986-1992)

Charles Morrell Jordan (October 21, 1927 – December 9, 2010) was an American automotive designer, born in Whittier, California.

Jordan is widely known for his work on the 1959-1960 Cadillac Eldorado and the 1992 Cadillac Seville STS — and his role as vice president of design for General Motors from 1986 to 1992.

Background

Noted for sketching during school classes, as young as age eight, Jordan graduated with honors from Fullerton Union High School in 1945, studying at MIT before joining GM in 1949.

Jordan died in December 2010 in Rancho Santa Fe, California of lymphoma, survived by his wife Sally, two daughters, and son, Mark Jordan, a designer for GM and Mazda.

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, Jordan accepted an invitation from Harley Earl's assistant Howard O'Leary, inviting Jordan to come to GM when he completed his studies. Jordan accepted in 1949, leading to his career at GM.

One of his first projects was the Aerotrain, completed when he was 28. He rose to director of design for Cadillac in 1957, being chief designer of the 1959 Cadillac, 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.

1960 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

He was Vice President of Design for General Motors from 1986 to 1992, one of seven to have held the position, including Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, Irv Rybicki, Wayne Cherry, Ed Welburn and Michael Simcoe.

Jordan's design work includes:

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-dec-19-la-me-chuck-jordan-20101219-story.html
  3. "Interview: Chuck Jordan, GM's Chief Designer". Motor Trend. January 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. Tremont, Marianne; Lamm, Michael (Spring 1987). "The Biography of C.M.Jordan". Car Styling. 58. Car Styling Publishing Co.: 30–36.
  5. ^ 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
  6. Jeff Glucker. "Fabled GM design chief Chuck Jordan dead at 83". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2011-12-31.

External links

General Motors vice presidents of design
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