Bill Mitchell on C4
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Pearland TX
Re: Bill Mitchell on C4 (Strick)
Bill Mitchell was an arrogant a**.
'Nuff said.
-keith
edit - maybe not 'nuff said - he was a person who thought VERY highly of himself, and would not listen to others' advice or criticsm very well.
I think if he were still running the show, the C4 and C5 would look like the Saleen S7 or some other hideous uselessly designed abortion.
What he did might have worked in the 50s or 60s, but his comments reflect highly on the earlier observation of if he didn't design it, then he doesn't like it.
[Modified by keefyboy, 11:46 PM 8/10/2003]
'Nuff said.
-keith
edit - maybe not 'nuff said - he was a person who thought VERY highly of himself, and would not listen to others' advice or criticsm very well.
I think if he were still running the show, the C4 and C5 would look like the Saleen S7 or some other hideous uselessly designed abortion.
What he did might have worked in the 50s or 60s, but his comments reflect highly on the earlier observation of if he didn't design it, then he doesn't like it.
[Modified by keefyboy, 11:46 PM 8/10/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 5,297
Likes: 0
From: Stamford VT
Re: Bill Mitchell on C4 (rocketfinger)
The engineers ran the whole damn show. They wouldn't have done that with me.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 32,739
Likes: 19
From: Try not to complain so much....
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: Bill Mitchell on C4 (rocketfinger)
His quotes totally irritate me....
Its too easy to rip on cars from yesterday when you are looking at newer styles and newer cars today. The C4 was a revolution in 84. It was designed in the late 1970's and its straighter lines reflected the time and the design "trends" of the period. Targa top, frameless windows, handling and stability etc. Take a look at other late 70's and early 80's design and we see many of the same cues.
More curves ?? How much more curvy could you make a shark; straight was in !
I love all Corvettes, but the C4 put the car back on the map to compete with where the Germans and the Japanese were going; the C3 couldn't do that. The C4 was evolution and revolution put together, and 20 years later, I still get stairs and questions on the car, so potato be damned !
Its too easy to rip on cars from yesterday when you are looking at newer styles and newer cars today. The C4 was a revolution in 84. It was designed in the late 1970's and its straighter lines reflected the time and the design "trends" of the period. Targa top, frameless windows, handling and stability etc. Take a look at other late 70's and early 80's design and we see many of the same cues.
More curves ?? How much more curvy could you make a shark; straight was in !
I love all Corvettes, but the C4 put the car back on the map to compete with where the Germans and the Japanese were going; the C3 couldn't do that. The C4 was evolution and revolution put together, and 20 years later, I still get stairs and questions on the car, so potato be damned !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: walled lake MI
Re: Bill Mitchell on C4 (GTrain)
More curves ?? How much more curvy could you make a shark; straight was in !
most of the C4 concept sketches that i've seen emphasize simple, straight lines.
I'm just waiting for someone to change their Forum name to.. " Fast Tater "..
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: Bill Mitchell on C4 (Fuzzy Dice)
I'm just waiting for someone to change their Forum name to.. " Fast Tater "..
:D
[Modified by Fuzzy Dice, 12:12 PM 8/11/2003]
:D
[Modified by Fuzzy Dice, 12:12 PM 8/11/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC USA
Re: Bill Mitchell on C4 (rocketfinger)
This has to be one of the most interesting threads I've read in quite some time. I'm afraid I must agree with the idea that Bill Mitchell was an arogant a** who did not care for anything he didn't design. I've watched too many shows on GM, the Corvette and auto design and evolution with interviews of people who once worked for the man not to see that he was the type.
How about "Blackened Grouper"?
:cheers:
How about "Blackened Grouper"?
:cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 45
From: Farmington Hills MI
Re: Bill Mitchell on C4 (rocketfinger)
The new Corvette is engineering perfect, but design? No. The engineers ran the whole damn show. They wouldn't have done that with me.
One of Mitchell's other quotes was "Engineering doesn't sell cars, design does" or something along those lines. At least in the Detroit area, times have changed.
Today's sports car drivers are quite a bit different than those in the Shark era. Don't get me wrong, I thing that body style is a real statement. Todays market is filled with other cars competing for the same buyer and the competition is cut-throat.
We'll see what comes out of the design studios at the Tech Center when those guys are reporting to Bob Lutz.
It should get interesting around January 2004 when the C6 comes out. Mitchell probably won't like that one either.....
Time (and design staff) marches on. Get over it. If you stand still, you stagnate and in this industry, you die.
HoldHard
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