APRIL 15, 2020

(GM images)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Last week, I began to talk about the hot Corvair-based concepts that emerged from GM Styling under Bill Mitchell's tutelage. The mildly customized 1961 Corvair Sebring Spyder was the first, followed by the more radical and much more attractive 1962 Corvair Super Spyder concept. Those two concepts set the table for what was to come: The 1962 Corvair Monza GT (above) and 1963 Monza SS concepts. The designs were the work of two of the most famous designers of the era, Larry Shinoda and Tony Lapine (who went on to find fame at Porsche after his GM stint), who worked for Bill Mitchell at GM Styling. The mid-engined Monza GT (painted, of course, in Bill Mitchell's favorite German racing metallic silver) was the more radical of the two cars, with its (stock) Corvair engine mounted ahead of the rear transaxle and turned around 180 degrees to enable the mid-engine configuration. It was sixteen inches shorter than the standard Corvair (on a 92-inch wheelbase) and just 42 inches tall. Other notable features included a front-hinged cockpit canopy, a rear engine cover hinged at the rear, fixed seats with adjustable pedals, four-wheel disc brakes and magnesium alloy wheels. The stunning car influenced many future designs to come out of GM Styling; it even heavily influenced Shinoda's designs for the Chaparral 2 and Chaparral 2D racing cars (see below). The beautiful Monza SS (it was painted a bright red in tribute to Ferrari competition spyders) left the stock Corvair powertrain location intact, although it sat on an even shorter 88-inch wheelbase. The two cars together were an emphatic statement of GM Styling's prowess during that era, and cemented Bill Mitchell's status as one of the all-time design greats. I was fortunate to ride in both cars with Mitchell at the wheel. -PMD

The entire cockpit canopy on the Monza GT raised up and forward.

Another look inside at the Monza GT.

The overhead rear view of the Monza GT influenced many cars, including the Lamborghini Miura. (See Reader Mail -WG)

The Monza SS.

The Corvair Monza SS and GT concepts were two of the most stunning cars to come out of GM Styling during the Bill Mitchell era.

Famed GM designer Larry Shinoda stands by the clay model of the Monza GT concept in the GM Styling viewing courtyard, 1962.

Larry Shinoda's sketch for the Chaparral 2D Coupe with its internal Chevrolet engineering designation - "Corvette GS II" - displayed prominently in 1965. The front end design of the Chaparral 2 was a direct lift from the Monza GT and SS. When the Chaparral 2D first saw the light of day, its resemblance to the Monza GT was unmistakable.

 Larry Shinoda's more detailed rendering of the Chaparral 2D Coupe, 1966. Jim Hall's relationship with Chevrolet Engineering and GM Styling has been well-documented. It was a mutually beneficial partnership.

The Chaparral 2D Coupe at Sebring, 1966.

(Cadillac images)
Cadillac has announced that the fourth generation of its V-Series sub-brand, currently spearheaded by the 2020 CT4-V and CT5-V, will eventually include ultra-performance variants that carry the Blackwing name. The future, track-capable vehicles will be called CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing, "representing the apex of Cadillac performance and driver engagement," according to Cadillac PR minions. The V-Series Blackwing models will have limited availability and feature specially tuned chassis, vehicle control technologies and engines. Each model will also be offered with a manual transmission – a feature most luxury brands no longer offer but continues to be a strong desire for many performance driving enthusiasts. The CT4-V Blackwing (shown in Blue, below) and CT5-V Blackwing (shown in Red, below) have been undergoing testing that includes sessions at tracks and road courses around the country. Earlier this year, at Virginia International Raceway, each car set lap times seconds faster than the legendary ATS-V and CTS-V. Information about the current V-Series vehicles, the 2020 CT5-V and CT4-V, can be found on Cadillac.com, and more V-Series Blackwing information will be made available at a later date. 

(Porsche images)
Porsche Cars North America Inc.  and RM Sotheby’s will host a unique charitable auction with a money-can’t-buy package for Porsche enthusiasts. With proceeds, excluding taxes and fees, being donated to United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund, the auction’s sole lot will be the last-ever 991 generation 911 to enter and pass down the serial production line within serial production at the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen factory. The one-week auction in the U.S. will be held via RM Sotheby’s Online Only auction platform to adhere to social distancing guidelines without delaying the charitable fundraiser. The auction vehicle is a unique 911 Speedster, one of 1,948 examples, created to mark 70 years of Porsche sports cars. Porsche Design is supporting the auction with the creation of a bespoke addition to the package: a 911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph. The watch incorporates the vehicle’s historic design features, including a strap made in the exact same cognac leather as that applied to the interior of the sports car and a silver winding rotor that mirrors the car’s unique wheels. Created exclusively for 911 Speedster customers and made in Switzerland, the limited-edition and COSC-certified timepiece with flyback function will feature the chassis number of the final 991 generation 911, making it unique. The winning bidder and a guest will be invited to take a personal, behind-the-scenes tour of the Porsche AG Weissach development headquarters – including experiencing the test track – on a 1:1 basis with Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser and Andreas Preuninger, heads of the 911 and GT model lines respectively. The car will also be accompanied by a one-of-a-kind book illustrating the assembly and completion of the last 991, including photographs and an original sketch by the Speedster design team. Finally, the handover of the vehicle will be hosted by Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA, which will take place at a dedicated event in the U.S. Finished in GT Silver Metallic paint, the 911 Speedster remains unregistered, having covered just 20 delivery miles. It’s powered by a 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated flat six engine developing 502HP, connected to a six-speed manual gearbox. Accompanying the car is a letter of authenticity from Porsche confirming the chassis number applied to this car is indeed the last of the 991 generation to enter and pass down the serial production line. United Way Worldwide will be the beneficiary of the auction, with funds being donated to its COVID-19 Fund in the U.S. The auction follows PCNA’s ramping up to support Atlanta Public Schools (APS) in its U.S. hometown. Starting next week, employee volunteers from the North American headquarters of Porsche in Atlanta will help APS deliver daily meals to students at home who require nutrition assistance while the district is closed due to COVID-19. The auction will open for bidding on RM Sotheby’s Online Only platform at 11:00 am EDT on Wednesday, April 15, closing at 1:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 22. The 911 Speedster is offered without reserve, selling to the highest bidder. Potential bidders can find more information on the unique package being offered and the registration process at https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/0020.

AE Song Lyrics of the Week:

Sometimes late at night 
I lie awake and watch her sleeping 
She's lost in peaceful dreams 
So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark 
And the thought crosses my mind 
If I never wake up in the morning 
Would she ever doubt the way I feel 
About her in my heart 
If tomorrow never comes 
Will she know how much I loved her 
Did I try in every way 
To show her every day 
That she's my only one 
If my time on earth were through 
And she must face the world without me 
Is the love I gave her in the past 
Gonna be enough to last 
If tomorrow never comes 
'Cause I've lost loved ones in my life 
Who never knew how much I loved them 
Now I live with the regret 
That my true feelings for them never were revealed 
So I made a promise to myself 
To say each day how much she means to me 
And avoid that circumstance 
Where there's no second chance 
To tell her how I feel 
If tomorrow never comes 
Will she know how much I loved her 
Did I try in every way 
To show her every day 
That she's my only one 
If my time on earth were through 
And she must face the world without me 
Is the love I gave her in the past 
Gonna be enough to last 
If tomorrow never comes 
So tell that someone that you love 
Just what you're thinking of 
If tomorrow never comes

"If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks, from the album "Garth Brooks" (1989)* Watch a video here. 

*This was Garth Brooks' first country No. 1. In 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Brooks said: "There are a lot of great writers in Nashville and Kent Blazy... had been trying to make a living from... songwriting. Kent had had some stuff recorded by Gary Morris but he hadn't had a No. 1. I thought we had something when we completed the song but I didn't really know it would be a hit until I heard it by chance on the radio in my truck and I knew we had something. There was something in it that moved me and I could feel the tears come to my eyes." This was the song that earned Garth Brooks a recording contract. Kent Blazy shared the story with Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International."We pitched it around town for about a year and nobody was interested. We were going to get together and rewrite it, to see if we could get it better. About a week before that, he (Brooks) got a call to come play at the Bluebird to fill in for somebody who was sick. They let him do one song, and he played 'If Tomorrow Never Comes.' Linda Schultz from Capitol Records, who passed on him for the third time that week, heard something (in that song). She said, 'Why don't you come back? Maybe we missed something.' He came in and got a record deal. It was his second single, my first No. 1 and his first No. 1." (Courtesy of Songfacts.com)