William Porter The Designer Of The GTO and Firebird
William Porter has passed away. Please understand, I had never heard of him until the other day when I happened upon the above article discussing his contributions to automobile design. He was the design head for the ’68 Pontiac GTO. The GTO ignited the muscle car era and gave America a certain identity all across the world. Speed and power. Muscle. The Firebird and Trans AM were cars that captured our imaginations and culminated in Smokey And The Bandit.
Volkswagen Beetles were “cool”, but muscle cars were a different kind of cool. They were an Americana cool. Mr. Porter oversaw the design of these muscle cars, but he also designed the Park Avenue and Riviera. Luxury and power for everyone.
Art is a fickle thing. So many times, we get caught up in “traditional” art by “traditional” artists. Of course, van Gogh’s Starry Night is beautiful. Without doubt it is breath taking. But Porter’s drawings are beautiful as well. Please Scroll Through These Designs because you will see the part of the Batmobile design. You will see the design that I believe inspired the Alfa Romeo Giulia and many other familiar pieces.
Cars used to be so much more than just transportation. They were a lifestyle and Mr. Porter helped create that lifestyle. Mr. Porter’s designs fueled the imagination of a movement and a nation.
