Phantom Pontiac Sleek Coupe Concept

author: FutureCar Staff    

Bill Mitchell, a designer who joined General Motors in 1935, played a significant role in the automotive industry. Throughout his career, he worked his way up to become the vice president of design for all of GM's divisions. Mitchell was responsible for designing iconic cars such as the Pontiac Firebird, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, and Buick Riviera, with his designs eventually influencing over 100 million cars.

In 1957, Mitchell returned from the Turin motor show with the idea of combining the Corvette's design with some inspiration from his trip to Italy. However, American automakers were facing restrictions on performance and racing-related development due to a ban imposed by the Automobile Manufacturer's Association. This ban was a response to the tragic crash at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, which resulted in the death of 83 spectators and numerous injuries.

Despite the ban, Mitchell was determined to keep the Corvette alive. He set up a secret studio called Studio X in a basement file room, away from the prying eyes of GM's legal team. With a small team of trusted designers, Mitchell prepared GM for when the racing ban would eventually be lifted. Studio X became the birthplace of several futuristic designs, including the Monza Shark, the Mako Shark, and the Monza GT, over the next decade.

In 1967, Irv Rybicki took over as head of styling for GM and decided to close down Studio X. However, Mitchell reopened the studio ten years later for one final project before his retirement. This project marked the end of an era for Mitchell, who had made a significant impact on the automotive world throughout his career.

FutureCar Staff