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Larry Shinoda - The racing driver with the pencil

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Created on April 4, 2024

Reading time 16min

Written by:

Karl Ludvigsen (Übersetzung: Paul Krüger)

Photos:

Ludvigsen Partners

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Karl Ludvigsen

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Theodore W. Pieper / RM Sotheby's

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Ford Motor Company

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Archiv

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Ludvigsen Partners

31

Karl Ludvigsen

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Theodore W. Pieper / RM Sotheby's

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Ford Motor Company

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Archiv

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Chevrolet XP-777 (1962) – hier noch als Corvair 2900 bezeichnet, wurde später zum Corvair Monza GT, daneben Designer Larry Shinoda

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Ford Model A Roadster "Chopsticks Special" (1929) – Rennwagen mit Oldsmobile-Rocket-Motor, hinten links der spätere Corvette-Designer Larry Shinoda

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Ford Model A Roadster "Chopsticks Special IV" (1929) – die Weiterentwicklung des "Chopsticks Special"

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Ford Model A Roadster "Chopsticks Special IV" (1929) – Larry Shinoda präsentiert stolz seine Trophäen

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Watson John Zink Special (1956) – Indy-Rennwagen mit Karosserie von Larry Shinoda (rechts)

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Watson John Zink Special (1957) – Troy Ruttman und seine Mannschaft bei den 500 Meilen von Indianapolis 1957

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Chevrolet CERV-1 (1960) – Zeichnung von Larry Shinoda, datiert auf August 1960

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Chevrolet CERV-1 (1960) – Zeichnung von Larry Shinoda

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Chevrolet CERV I (1961) - die erste Variante der Karosserie von Shinoda

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Chevrolet XP-720 (1960) – Entwurfszeichnung von Larry Shinoda für die Corvette Sting Ray

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) – Entwurfszeichnung von Larry Shinoda für den XP-720, datiert auf Februar 1960

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) – Entwurfszeichnung von Larry Shinoda für den XP-720, datiert auf Februar 1960

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) – verschiedene Varianten von Rückleuchten, Stossfänger und Auspuff, datiert auf März 1960

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) – Konzeptzeichnungen für einen Rückspiegel auf dem Dach

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) – Entwurfszeichnung von Larry Shinoda für den XP-720, datiert auf März 1960

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) – kunstvolle Zeichnung von Larry Shinoda, datiert auf den 10. März 1960

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) – Entwurfszeichnung von Larry Shinoda für den XP-720, datiert auf April 1960

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) - friedlich vereint - Coupé und Convertible des Jahrgangs 1963

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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (1963) - die 63er Corvette als Spot Coupé irgendwo im rauhen Westen der USA

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Chevrolet XP-777 (1962) – daneben die beiden Designer Larry Shinoda und Anatole Lapine

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Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT (1962) – mit kappbarer Kabine statt gewöhnlicher Türen

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Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport II (1964) – Shinoda-Entwurf irgendwo zwischen Chaparral und Porsche Carrera GTS

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Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport III (1964) – jetzt als offener Rennwagen im Can-Am-Stil

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Chevrolet X-15 (1968) – Entwürfe von Larry Shinoda

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Chevrolet X-15 (1968) – Konzeptfahrzeug auf Basis des erfolglosen Scarab F1 von 1960

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Larry Shinoda (Mitte) und zwei Kollegen beim Bau eines Tonmodells im "Research & Development Department"

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Chevrolet Mako Shark II (1965) – Stilstudie für die dritte Corvette-Generation

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Chevrolet Corvette (1968) – das Serienmodell als gemässigte Version des Mako Shark II

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Ford Mustang Boss 302 (1969) - mit mattschwarzer Motorhaube

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Ford Mustang Boss 429 (1969) – Blutorange-metallic mit orangegelbem Dekor, ein Entwurf von Larry Shinoda für Bob Tasca

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Ford Mach 2 (1967) – Prototyp eines Corvette-Konkurrenten mit Mittelmotor

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Ford Mach 2 (1967) – Prototyp eines Corvette-Konkurrenten mit Mittelmotor

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Ford Mach 2 (1967) – Corvette-Gegner, entworfen vom Corvette-Designer Larry Shinoda

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Rectrans Discoverer 25 (1971) – Shinoda-Entwurf für ein Luxus-Wohnmobil

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Jeep Concept 1 (1989) – der letzte Auto-Entwurf von Larry Shinoda

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Larry Shinoda visualisiert einen Entwurf mit der Sprühpistole

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Ron Hill (links) und Larry Shinoda neben dem Entwurf für einen Chevrolet Corvair Roadster

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Larry Shinoda bei Windkanalversuchen mit Spielzeugautos

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Larry Shinoda entwarf die Details des Mustang Boss, etwa den Frontspoiler

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Larry Shinoda, ca. Mitte der Siebzigerjahre

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Mercury Colony Park (1959) – Die Tortenstück-Rückleuchten erbt der '59er Mercury von der Turnpike-Cruiser-Studie, eine Idee vom späteren Corvette-Designer Larry Shinoda

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Mercury (1957) - mit V-förmigen Heckleuchten - Genfer Autosalon 1957

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Summary

For almost 20 years and two generations, the Chevrolet Corvette bore his signature. But the portfolio of the American designer with Japanese roots encompassed much more: Larry Shinoda designed everything from racing cars and concept vehicles to construction machinery. This portrait takes an in-depth look at his life's work.

This article contains the following chapters

Under the sign of the ray
The experimental phase
Between internment camp and race track
To General Motors and on to Ford
The final battle

Estimated reading time: 16min

Preview (beginning of the article)

I just missed Larry Shinoda back then. I left the General Motors styling department in September 1956, just before he joined. When I returned to GM in 1961 in my new role as PR man, however, I soon made the acquaintance of the young Japanese-born designer. Under the guidance of GM styling chief Bill Mitchell, Larry and his colleagues worked in the "Hammer Room" in the basement below the lobby, where they designed radical new cars in complete secrecy. Shinoda had a round face and spoke in a low voice, delivering his words with a haste that gave the impression that he was divulging important secrets. At the same time, he was known for his frankness, which did not bother him, as he once said: "I have always said what I thought. If a design is no good, I say so. I'm also not known for being very flexible. I once had a sign above my workspace that said: 'If you don't like it, you obviously have bad taste'. Little things like that add to your reputation." Despite - or perhaps because of - his unruly nature, leading figures across the world of car design were willing to entrust Shinoda with their design needs.

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