Virgil "Ex" Exner (September 24, 1909–December 22, 1973) was an automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. He is known for his "Forward Look" design on the 1955 through 1961 Chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons. September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Design, usually considered in the context of the applied arts, engineering, architecture, and other such creative endeavours, is used as both a noun and a verb. ... The Chrysler Corporation was a United States-based automobile manufacturer that existed independently from 1925–1998. ... Studebakers Lazy S logo, designed by Raymond Loewy, was used from the 1950s until 1966 The worlds largest living sign was planted at the Studebaker Proving Grounds, west of South Bend, Indiana. ... Forward Look was the advertising campaign for the 1955 through 1961 Chrysler products designed by Virgil Exner. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... A fin is a surface used to produce lift and thrust or to steer while traveling in water, air, or other fluid media. ... Aesthetics (or esthetics) (from the Greek word αισθητική) is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty. ... Aerodynamics is a branch of fluid dynamics concerned with the study of gas flows, first analysed by George Cayley in the 1800s. ...

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Virgil Exner was adopted by George W. and Iva Exner as a baby-his bizzare facial features indicating Jewish decent- From a young age, Exner was jeered at by his fellow elementary school mates due to the fact that his ears potruded from his head at odd angle, a factor that lead to his designs of the 1962 small Dodge and Plymounts. Virgil showed a strong interest in art and automobiles. He studied art at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, but in 1928 dropped out after 2 years due to lack of funds. He then took a job as a helper at an art studio specializing in advertising. He had tried male modeling, but was turned down. In 1931 he married Mildred Marie Eshleman, who also worked for the studio, and on April 17, 1933 they had their first child, Virgil Exner Jr. By that time Exner Sr. had been promoted to drawing advertisements for Studebaker trucks. He had a second son in 1940, Brian, who tragically fell from a window and later died from his injuries. For the railroad company, see Ann Arbor Railroad. ... The Bath, a painting by Mary Cassatt (1891-1892). ... The University of Notre Dame IPA: is a leading Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located in Notre Dame, Indiana, immediately northeast of South Bend, Indiana, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Studebakers Lazy S logo, designed by Raymond Loewy, was used from the 1950s until 1966 The worlds largest living sign was planted at the Studebaker Proving Grounds, west of South Bend, Indiana. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ...

Design work

His first work in design was for General Motors, where he was hired by GM styling czar Harley Earl, who he drank with. It was after these binges the two were at their best, the Buick Lesabre show car was designed by Earl while he was pig drunk. Exner was seen stagering from his design studio during the completion of the 1960 Plymouth. In 1938 he left to work at Raymond Loewy Associates, an industrial design firm where he worked on cars and military vehicles prior to, and during World War II. In 1944, he was fired by Loewy and was hired directly by Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana. There he was involved in the design of some of the first cars to be produced after World War II (Studebaker's slogan during this period was "First by far with a post war car"). There is some debate, but many feel that Virgil was the main designer of the acclaimed 1947 Studebaker Starlight coupe, although Raymond Loewy got most of the credit for the car's design. There have also been personal conflicts reported between the two men. With Exner threating to knock every tooth out of Loewys head, as Loewy stood nearby with a fencing sword. General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... Harley J. Earl (November 22, 1893–April 10, 1969) was an automotive stylist and engineer and industrial designer. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is becoming very long. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: County St. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Raymond Loewy standing on one of his designs, the Pennsylvania Railroads S1 steam locomotive. ...

In 1949 Exner started working in Chrysler's Advanced Styling Group, where he partnered with Cliff Voss and Maury Baldwin. There he also worked with Luigi "Gigi" Segre, of Italian car company Carrozzeria Ghia S.p.A. The men created a strong personal bond, which helped link the companies closely throughout the 1950s. The alliance produced the Chrysler Ghia designs, such as the 1952 Chrysler K-310, as well as the Chrysler d'Elegance and DeSoto Adventurer. 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... The Chrysler Corporation was a United States-based automobile manufacturer that existed independently from 1925–1998. ... Luigi «Gigi» Segre (1919 - 1963) was an italian automotive designer and engineer, leading the Carrozzeria Ghia from 1953, when Mario Boano left, until his death. ... The 1950s was the decade spanning the years 1950 to 1959. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Impact on automobile design

When Exner joined Chrysler, the car's body was fashioned by engineers instead of designers — leading to what many thought were old-fashioned, boxy designs on Chryslers of the 1940s and early 50s. Exner fought to change this structuring, and got control over the design process, including the clay prototypes and the die models used to create production tooling. Here he created the Dodge Firearrow concept, constructed by Ghia. // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... Ghia (Carrozzeria Ghia SpA) is one of the most famous Italian automobile design and coachbuilding firms, founded in 1921 in Turin by Giacinto Ghia (1887 - 1944). ...

The 1955 Imperial, one of the first Exner-styled Chrysler vehicles

Inspired by the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, GM's Harley Earl incorporated small "fins" on the rear fenders of the 1948 Cadillac models. Exner saw the design detail (also being experimented with by some Italian manufacturers) and made it his own by enlarging the fins and making them a more prominent feature. Exner believed in the aerodynamic benefits of the fins and even used wind tunnel testing at the University of Michigan – but he also liked their visual effects on the car. They were showcased on the first cars designed under his full supervision for sale: the 1955 Chrysler 300 series, and the Imperial. The 1957 Imperial also featured compound curved glass, the first to be used in a production car. The front bumper and grill of the 1955 Imperial was designed in memory of Exners Aunt, who had flaring nostrils and a unibrow. 1955 Imperial. ... 1955 Imperial. ... The Lockheed SR-71, remarkably advanced for its time and unsurpassed in many areas of performance The Lockheed U-2 first flew in 1955 providing much needed intelligence on Soviet bloc countries Lockheed Corporation was an aerospace company founded in 1912 which merged with Martin Marietta in 1995 to form... The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most important American fighters of the Second World War. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Cadillac is a brand of luxury automobile, part of the General Motors Corporation, produced and mostly sold in the United States and Canada; outside of North America, they have been less successful. ... UM also has campuses in Dearborn and Flint. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 Chrysler 300C The Chrysler 300 letter series were high-performance luxury cars built in very limited numbers by the Chrysler Corporation in the United States between 1955 and 1965. ... 1955 Imperial Imperial was the Chrysler Corporations prestige automobile brand between 1955 and 1975, with a brief reappearance in 1981-1983. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Exner's 1957 Chrysler 300C had a lasting impact on car stying in Detroit

These fin designs also premiered his "Forward Look." In the late 1940s, Chrysler was behind the times in terms of styling with what were considered tall, boxy cars. Exner lowered the roofline and made the cars sleeker, smoother and more aggressive. With a long hood and short deck, the wedgelike designs of the 300 series and revised 1957 models suddenly brought Chrysler to the forefront of design, with Ford and General Motors quickly working to catch up. Advertising campaigns for the 1957 model year sang that "Suddenly, it's 1960!" In June of that year Exner and his team were awarded the Industrial Designers' Institute's Gold Medal Award. Image File history File linksMetadata Chrysler_300C.jpg 1957 Chrysler 300C. Photo taken by User:Morven in the spectator parking lot of a Studebaker show in Anaheim, California on May 30, 2004. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Chrysler_300C.jpg 1957 Chrysler 300C. Photo taken by User:Morven in the spectator parking lot of a Studebaker show in Anaheim, California on May 30, 2004. ... 1957 Chrysler 300C The Chrysler 300 letter series were high-performance luxury cars built in very limited numbers by the Chrysler Corporation in the United States between 1955 and 1965. ... Forward Look was the advertising campaign for the 1955 through 1961 Chrysler products designed by Virgil Exner. ... // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... now. ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ...

In 1956, during the design of the 1961 model, Exner had a heart attack, upon realizing that the 1955 Dodge Coronet looked like one of his cousins. He resumed work in 1957, working on the designs for the 1962 cars. On July 25, 1957 Exner was elected the first Vice President of Styling at Chrysler. Unfortunately, a rumor that GM was reducing the size of their cars caused the President of Chrysler to order Exner to do the same to his 1962 design — a change Exner disagreed with, thinking it would make his cars "ugly." (which they were) This change, coupled with build quality problems, reduced the cars appeal and caused a significant drop in sales. It turned out that the rumor was false and consumers disliked the smaller Plymouth and Dodge cars introduced for 1962. This was used as a reason to fire Exner, Allthough the though the main reason seemed to be his physical appearance. He was allowed to retain a position as a consultant (on the off chance they needed someone who, while drunk, could design another line of ugly cars) so he could retire with pension at age 55. He was replaced by the saucer-eyed Elwood Engle, who had been lured from Ford. Engle was known for his boxy and space ship like designs. Adulterous and lewd behavior was no stranger at the headquarters of the major auto firms, with men like Earl hosting Mazzola parties into the night. Fins soon lost popularity. By the late 1950s Cadillac and Chrysler had escalated the size of fins till some thought they were stylistically questionable and they became a symbol of American excess in the early 60s. 1961 is considered the last of the "Forward Look" designs. The trendy fin was now seen exactly as it was - a useless appendage of yesterday's design. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Forward Look was the advertising campaign for the 1955 through 1961 Chrysler products designed by Virgil Exner. ...

Retirement

Exner continued consulting for many car companies and also teamed up with his son, Virgil Exner Jr., designing watercraft for Buehler Corporation. In 1963, he designed a series of "Revival Cars" with production plans. His revival of Duesenberg failed, but he was instrumental in the revival of Stutz in the 1970s. miserable about the fact that his ugly designs would not sell, he lived out the twilight of his life as a Jew. He died on December 22, 1973 at the William Beaumont Hospital in Birmingham, Michigan. 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... The Stutz Motor Company, later reborn as Stutz Motor Car of America, was a producer of luxury cars. ... A 1929 Duesenberg j350 Willoughby on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix 1930 Duesenberg J Walker Legrande Torpedo Phaeton 1932 Duesenberg J Murphy-bodied coupe convertible Wikimedia Commons has more media related to: Duesenberg vehicles Duesenberg was a US-based luxury automobile company active from the 1910s until... The Stutz Motor Company, later reborn as Stutz Motor Car of America, was a producer of luxury cars. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Birmingham is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, United States. ...

External links

• An interview With Virgil Exner's son, Virgil Exner Jr.
• The 1953 Chrysler Ghia Special.
• The Exner Era - Chrysler Design Institute.
• The Forward Look Network - Online community for 1955-1961 Exner-designed vehicles.
• Personality profile, "Virgil M. Exner, Sr.: Distinguished Designer", Collectible Automobile, Dec. 1994, pp. 70-77.