How did a forgotten folder of car sketches end up rewriting American automotive history?
Sometimes, the most remarkable discoveries come from the most unlikely places. Case in point: a dusty New York barn, where enthusiast Josh Quick was hunting for antique tractor parts. Instead, he stumbled across a treasure trove—over 80 car design sketches from 1940, tucked away and all but forgotten. At first glance, they seemed like just another piece of automotive ephemera. But a closer look revealed names that would soon become legends in the world of car design.
What makes these sketches so significant for car enthusiasts and historians?
These aren’t just random doodles. They’re the work of students from the Detroit Institute of Automobile Styling, a program launched by GM’s Harley Earl in 1938. Earl, often called the father of modern automotive design, envisioned a pipeline for nurturing young talent and shaping the future of American cars. The 1940 semester assignment? Dream up a Buick for the 1942 model year. The result? Sleek, futuristic designs with integrated fenders and backgrounds filled with monorails and airplanes—visions of tomorrow’s world, drawn before the United States even entered World War II.
What’s wild is that these sketches predate the styling trends that would dominate Detroit by nearly a decade. The so-called “pontoon” look, with its smooth, flowing lines, wouldn’t become mainstream until the late 1940s. Yet here it was, already alive on paper, years ahead of its time.
Who were the creative minds behind these early designs?
Flip through the 80-page folder and you’ll spot signatures that read like a who’s who of American automotive design. Ed Glowacke, who would later help steer Cadillac through its iconic tailfin era. Clare MacKichan, the genius behind the beloved 1955-57 Chevrolet sedans and the early Corvette. Ned Nickles, whose work on the 1963 Buick Riviera still turns heads today.
But the influence didn’t stop at GM. Joe Oros, another name in the folder, would go on to help create the original Ford Mustang—a car that practically defined a generation. Gene Bordinat became a vice president at Ford, and Elwood Engel would eventually lead Chrysler’s design department through the swinging sixties. These sketches are more than just student projects; they’re the first sparks of creativity from designers who would shape the look and feel of American cars for decades.
How did these sketches survive, and what’s being done to preserve them?
The story of how this folder ended up in a barn is still a bit of a mystery. The family who sold the estate had no idea how it got there or why it was saved. But thanks to Quick’s sharp eye and curiosity, the collection is now in good hands. GM’s archivists have digitized every page, ensuring that these pieces of history are preserved for future generations. The originals are now stored alongside other priceless works from the Detroit Institute of Automobile Styling, finally back where they belong.
What can we learn from this unexpected discovery?
This find isn’t just a neat story for car buffs—it’s a reminder of how innovation often starts quietly, in classrooms and sketchbooks, long before it hits the showroom floor. It also highlights the importance of preserving our creative heritage, even when it seems ordinary or out of date. Who knows what other gems are waiting to be found in barns, attics, or forgotten filing cabinets?
The big takeaway? Automotive history isn’t about perfection—it’s about uncovering the stories and ideas that drive progress. Start by looking at the overlooked details in your own world, and you might just stumble onto something extraordinary.