For 2020 the League of Retired Designers solicited artwork for a contemporary Pontiac GTO. Dean’s Garage recently posted the submissions — and they are well worth viewing (go here). When introducing the submissions, David Mcintosh (2020) said that the GTO was selected “mainly to excite the designers and appeal to car enthusiasts.”
My favorite rendering was by Bob Munson. His design doesn’t evoke a GTO per se, but it is much more beautiful than recent sporty coupes such as the disjointed Lexus CL500. Commentator Dick Ruzzin (2020) quite rightly suggested that it was unfortunate that Munson “couldn’t retire later as he is obviously on top of the game.”
Looking at the drawings got me to thinking about how I might envision a modern GTO that was fully faithful to the qualities that made it iconic during the late-60s. One thing that struck me is how much automobiles have changed over the last 50 years. That makes the assignment quite difficult.
What qualities made the late-60s GTO iconic?
For one thing, the GTO didn’t have unique sheetmetal like a 1970 Pontiac Firebird. Indeed, the GTO shared almost all of its sheetmetal with mid-sized family cars. These were fairly roomy five-passenger daily drivers. Thus, the GTO’s genius was that it looked sporty despite its fairly utilitarian origins.
I find the late-60s GTOs iconic because designers did interesting things with the standard coke-bottle shape. In addition, the 1966-67 models had a particularly memorable front end that somehow made vertical stacked headlights look sporty. The shape of the headlight frames, front bumper, grille and hood scoop were exceptionally well integrated.
Then, in 1968, designers gave the car’s sides lovely rounded contours. I’m hard pressed to point to other American cars made either before or since that had such a subtle and uncluttered look.
Can those qualities be translated into a modern car?
Not literally. For one thing, a coupe derived from a sedan has become an endangered species. Perhaps the most comparable car to a GTO might be the Honda Civic. This is today’s version of a mid-sized car — and has been one of the few nameplates that still offers a coupe.
Of course, for 2021 the Civic coupe is being dropped due to declining sales. This body style does not possess the cachet that it once did with people who want a sporty car.
In addition, the Civic’s much smaller size and front-wheel-drive packaging creates different stylistic opportunities and challenges. Even so, it would be interesting to apply “the GTO look” to a Civic. Imagine more rounded contours that balanced muscularity and understatement.
I grant you that it is hard to see Honda — or most other major automakers — embracing that kind of styling. Volkswagen and Jaguar are among the few brands that have not heavily creased, folded and mutilated their recent designs.
The good news is that auto industry design fads invariably come and go. So perhaps ideas generated by today’s retired designers might someday inspire the next generation.
RE:SOURCES
- Mcintosh, David; 2020. “League of Retired Designers 2020.” Dean’s Garage. Posted October 18; accessed October 24.
- Ruzzin, Dick; 2020. Commentator in “League of Retired Designers 2020.” Dean’s Garage. Posted 10:33 a.m, October 19; accessed October 24.
I can see why you appreciate the Munson GTO design, it’s very clean, powerful and uncluttered. It’s a pity more contemporary car designs don’t exhibit this same sensibility.