Date of Entry:   20:31:32 7-18-2000  
Name:   John Houlihan
Website Address:    
Comment:
HELLO,

I SURFED ONTO THIS WEBSITE TO FIND A CAR THAT I HELPED DESIGN. I WAS PART OF JERRY HIRSHBERG'S DESIGN STAFF IN 1968 WHEN THE '71 BOATTAIL WAS DESIGNED. AS JERRY STATES IN THE "HISTORY' SECTION OF THIS SITE, THE CAR ORIGINALLY STARTED OUT AS A VERSION OF AN "A" BODY (BUICK SPECIAL SIZE IN THOSE DAYS) BUT EXTENDED TO A LITTLE SMALLER THAN AN "E" BODY (OLDS TORONADO SIZE). WHILE IT WAS, INDEED, BILL MITCHELL'S DREAM WITH A "SWEEP SPEAR" AND CURVES REMINISCENT OF DELAHAYES AND DELAGE'S, THE CONCEPT CAME FROM A 3/8 SCALE MODEL DESIGNED BY A FELLOW NAMED DON DEHARSH. HIRSHBERG AND TEAM ADAPTED DEHARSH'S STRIKING CONCEPT INTO FULL SIZE THEN, AT BUICK MANAGEMENT'S INSISTENCE, CONVERTED THIS SPECTACULAR DESIGN TO A FULL SIZE "B" BODY (LESABRE SIZE) USING THE FULL SEATING PACKAGE AND, WORST OF ALL, THE FULL GLASS. THE ONLY NEW GLASS ALLOWED WAS THE REAR QUARTER WINDOWS AND BACKLIGHT (WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT MANUFACTURING TASK). IT'S A CREDIT TO HIRSHBERG AND HIS TEAM THAT THE CAR LOOKS AS GOOD AS IT DOES. MAYS SAYS HE CAN FIND NO ONE TO ADMIT THEY DESIGNED IT - CHECK THIS SITE MR. MAYS. HIRSHBERG AND I BOTH ADMIT IT AND, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR DESIGN PROJECT. I STILL HAVE SOME ORIGINAL SKETCHES FROM THE PROJECT. PERHAPS I COULD SCAN AND SEND THEM TO THOSE INTERESTED. LET ME KNOW. THANKS FOR HAVING SUCH AN EXCELLENT SITE.




JOHN T. HOULIHAN - GM CAR DESIGNER FROM 1966 THROUGH 1970