<VV> Fitch, was: Styling: Camaro, Corvair & John Fitch.

[airvair at earthlink.net]

James,

I never said Fitch was a "stylist", rather that he was a man who was "know
for his taste in styling", something you acknowledge. Then you go off on a
tangent......

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> From: James P. Rice <ricebugg at mtco.com>
> Subject: <VV> Styling: Camaro, Corvair & John Fitch.
>
> Mark said: "And John Fitch was known for his taste in styling."  Really?
> I'll gladly admit - and admire - his style as a human being, but he
wasn't a
> stylist as we understand the term in relationship to cars.  The roof line
of
> the LM Sprint was lifted off the Porsche 904 GTS and/or the Ferrari 250LM.
> Both appeared in late '63.  John did not style his Phoenix either.  Colby
> Whitmore did.  Whitmore was a painter of some note, and they were good
> friends.  It is reported Mitchell and Jordan borrowed the Phoenix for a
> couple hours when John drove it to the Tech Center.  It is very unlikely
the
> Phoenix contributed to the C3 Corvette roof line either.  It already was a
> work in process, and GM Design lifted the C3's roof line from the before
> mentioned Porsche and/or Ferrari.
>
> If you want to see the something ungainly, go find a picture of John's
> effort with the EM Firebird.  It was called the "Fitchbird."  Pontiac had
> the good sense to do the TA instead.
>
> Please understand John Fitch is one of my heroes, not for his Corvairs,
but
> for his service in WWII from day one till the end.  He has never talked
> about it.  His autobiography is about 300 pages, only 10 of which are
about
> the war.  His exploits in the 50's as a race car driver and team manager
> were exceptional.  He has been a first rate engineer along the way.  He is
> the inventor of the yellow sand filled barrels we see along interstate.
> Used his own money and drove the crash test car.
>
> During the several times I've been the same place with him, including a
hour
> long interview in the late 80's, he has been modest, kind and a gentleman
of
> the first order.  But please, just don't get me started about how much I
> admire him....but a stylist he isn't.  "Merely" one of the  greatest human
> being I've ever met.
>
> Historically Yours,
>                    James Rice
>
> Original Message-----
> Subject: Styling: Camaro, Corvair & John Fitch.
>And John
> Fitch was known for his taste in styling.
>
> -Mark
> 4doors 4ever!