Virgil Exner: Visioneer: The Official Biography of Virgil M. Exner, Designer Extraordinaire

By Peter Grist

Book Overview

The official biography the man who brought his own personal style to the world of industrial design, from automobiles to powerboats. Some 50 years after his design masterpieces wrested styling leadership away from General Motors' Harley Earl.

Thirty four years after his untimely death, Virgil Exner's name still remains inexorably linked to the Chrysler Corporation in the minds of car enthusiasts worldwide. For an all too brief period, Exner's name epitomized all that was great and exciting in America.

His thrilling automobile designs from the mid-fifties took the world by storm and put Chrysler at the top. His work was nothing less than a revolution. Exner introduced to Chrysler, first with his "idea cars" then with production models, vehicles that were wanted for their looks but at the same time, were soundly engineered; automobiles that carried classic proportions and gave the illusion of movement even while stationary. His design of the 1947 Studebaker established the design pattern for all modern cars and was a huge success.

With many previously unseen works of art and family photos among the 150 color images throughout, this is a unique and fascinating insight into a pivotal player in the development of the modern automobile.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845841182
• ISBN13: 9781845841188
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Veloce Publishing
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.5" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

An excellent template for business biographys

An excellent presentation of the life and work of an important figure in the history of automotive styling in the U.S. It was written with extensive support of the Exner family which gave the author access to many drawings and to their memories of key aspects of Exner's life. It shows that there was much more to Exner than the Ghia show car. A major strength of the book is the insights it gives into the corporate/industry environment that automobile stylists operated in during the post-war period. The conflicts between engineering, manufacturing, and styling departments at several manufacturers are shown clearly. The book also shows how and why people moved among companies in a close knit industry. The placing of credit or blame for sales success or failure on the stylists - especially a new department head - by top management is another aspect of the industry that is presented well. The latter portions of the book covering Exner's work after he left Chrysler is as interesting as his work for the auto manufacturers. We need more books like this about important figures in the history of the auto industry

Well written, and very informative

Whether a Chrysler fanatic, or if you just are interested in the history of American Automotive design, this book is a great addition to the auto enthusiast library.

My hero!

I seem to be reading about my heros, this year. First, the material made available recently, again, by artist and writer Jack Kirby, and now, the long-neglected Virgil Exner. Though not, exactly, a thing of design beauty itself, the book paints Exner as a fine man as well as a fine designer. It also shows a hint of his early-'60s work for Chrysler Corporation that never made it to production.

Good Book on a Great Designer

Virgil Exner has to be ranked as one of the great automotive designers of all time. This is a fairly comprehensive story of his life and his work. Most of the time the book is quite readable, although some errors in spelling and grammar show up. There is very little written information on Exner, so this book fills a critical need. If you are a Mopar fan, and just a fan of great automotive design, this is a must-have book.

The Vision Caught Indeed

The midfifties were a watershed in auto design. Who can forget the first sight of the dazzling fifties Chevies and Fords but most of all the very dramatic and elegant Chrysler products from 1955 on. The Chrysler products were produced under the inspiration and leadership of Virgil Exner. This book is a dream for all of us interested in automobiles, their design, and the process that brings them into being. As is so important to those of us who delight in the visual aspects of the automobile, pictures are important. This volume documents the genesis, development and implementation of the great Chrysler designs of the fifties and sixties. As few other books have done so succesfully, these pictures allow my mind's eye to explore the dynamic forms and lucious, subtle lines of both the development and design study cars and the production cars. I was especially taken with the gold and white 1956 D500, it logically flows from Exners show car explorations of the automotive form. This book also allows us to see the relationship of his early years to his later work, and Exner's relationship to his work at Chrysler. Also covered are his subsequent efforts in other design projects. If you like cars, admire the geat designs of the fifties and sixtiesVirgil Exner: Visioneer: The official biography of Virgil M. Exner, designer extraordinaire, or are fascinated by the creative process you will like this book.