This is the single greatest honor in the motor vehicle industry, intended to honor a career and/or lifetime achievement. To become a "Hall of Famer" the nominee must be either retired or deceased. Recipients must have significantly impacted the development of the automobile or the motor vehicle industry. Typically, four to eight individuals are inducted each year.
Served General Motors as Vice President of Design from 1959 through 1977
Designed many of GM's legendary automobiles including the Cadillac Eldorado, the Buick Riviera and the Corvette Stingray
Bill Mitchell brought power into motion with designs for some of General Motors most spectacular production cars.
The son of an auto dealer, Mitchell loved cars and had a talent for art. After studying with the New York Art Students League and at the Carnagie Institute of Technology, he found employment as an illustrator in an advertising agency. In his spare time, Mitchell sketched racing scenes and ?€œdream cars.?€? Industrialist Walter Carey saw some of Mitchell's drawings and suggested that Mitchell send samples to Harley Earl, who headed General Motors?€™ Art and Color section. Joining GM under Earl in 1935, Mitchell enjoyed his first design success with the 1938 Cadillac 60 Special. In 1958, Earl selected Mitchell as his successor and Mitchell was named GM's Vice President of Design.
Mitchell's inspiration, guidance and talent were responsible for the design of such automotive legends as the Corvette Stingray, Buick Riviera, Oldsmobile Toronado, Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird.
Expressing the principle that guided his work, Mitchell remarked, ?€œIt?€™s a sin to design an ugly car. The cost of designing, engineering and manufacturing are virtually the same, beautiful or ugly.?€?
