A walk on “hallowed ground” of Corvette design.
Dateline: 11.18.17 – My monthly column in VETTE Magazine, “The Illustrated Corvette Series” is now in its 21st year. I’m in the middle of a series I’m calling, “The Corvette’s Founding Fathers” that covers the careers of Harley Earl, Ed Cole, Bill Mitchell, Zora Arkus Duntov, Larry Shinoda, and Peter Brock. Each of these men played a foundational roll in setting the pattern and personality of the Corvette. Without them, the Corvette might not have survived the 1950s.
I’m now working on installment number three, covering Bill Mitchell that will appear in the May 2018 issue of VETTE Magazine and will be out in March 2018. While researching Mitchell I found this short, delightful YouTube video clip from the popular car TV show, “Americarna” on the Velocity Channel.
The series host was given a tour of Bill Mitchell’s “Secret Garage” by former VP of GM Global Design, Ed Welburn. This garage is the home of the 1959 Stingray Racer, the 1961 Mako Shark-I, a 1963 Split-Window Coupe, and the 1969 Manta Ray. Oh, if GM would only offer tours of this special place for Corvette fans and lovers of Bill Mitchell’s most stunning designs. Enjoy the show! – Scott
PS – And here’s a video from the National Corvette Museum’s 1998 induction of Mitchell into the NCM’s Hall of Fame.