Vice President of General Motors Design (1977–1986)
Irvin Walter Rybicki (September 16, 1921 – July 24, 2001[1]) was an American automotive designer widely known for his career as a designer with General Motors and his tenure as the corporation's Vice President of Design from 1977–1986, succeeding Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell in that role.[2]
Over a career spanning 43 years with GM, Rybicki contributed significantly: from his work on the 1953 Cadillac Le Mans; his forecasting the potential market for an inexpensive, sporty four-passenger car, what would become the first generation 1967 Chevrolet Camaro (i.e., a Ford Mustang before there was a Ford Mustang); his contributions to the successful 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and, as Vice President, his design leadership on the 1982 Chevrolet Camaro, 1984 Chevrolet Corvette, 1984 Pontiac Fiero and the 1985–1990 GM C-bodies: the Buick Electra, Oldsmobile 98 and Cadillac Deville/Fleetwood among others.
Having served successfully as a styling director for each of GM's five brand divisions, Rybicki assumed the corporate design leadership just as the industry entered a period of tremendous pressure: in quick succession, the federal government mandated waves of increasingly strict and comprehensive automotive emissions, fuel efficiency and safety standards[3] – severely hindering the industry's ability to adapt – a period that became widely associated with austere and ungainly design, referred to in retrospect as the Malaise era.
Rybicki's legacy is tied to his numerous innovations, his excellent design credentials, his collegiality and support of his designers, and yet simultaneously his acquiescence to corporate finance management and product engineers – and his limited success in elevating General Motor's styling direction during his tenure as Vice President of Design to the level of his predecessors.
^"Irvin W. Rybicki". Genealogy Bank. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
^"Rybicki, Irvin W." General Motors.
^"Two years that changed cars forever: 1974 (bumpers) and '75 (smog)". Hagerty Media. 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
Irvin Walter Rybicki (September 16, 1921 – July 24, 2001) was an American automotive designer widely known for his career as a designer with General Motors...
a sea change for General Motors and Cadillac. Under the direction of IrvRybicki, GM completely redesigned the DeVille, downsizing the model yet again...
Kansas, U.S. Oshawa Car Assembly in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Designer IrvRybicki Body and chassis Body style 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station...
1994 Model years 1990–1994 Assembly Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Designer IrvRybicki (1985) Body and chassis Body style 2-door notchback coupe 4-door notchback...
1985–1992 Assembly Lake Orion, Michigan, U.S. (Orion Assembly) Designer IrvRybicki Body and chassis Body style 4-door sedan 2-door coupe Layout Transverse...
seven to have held the position, including Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, IrvRybicki, Chuck Jordan, Wayne Cherry and Ed Welburn. Schuppan 962CR (1992) Holden...
Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) Designer John Manoogian II, IrvRybicki (1977) Body and chassis Class Compact executive car Body style 4-door...
Run Assembly) Mexico: Ramos Arizpe (Ramos Arizpe Assembly) Designer IrvRybicki Body and chassis Class Compact Body style 2-door notchback 3-door hatchback...
Buick Studio One Team, led by Bill Porter under the design direction of IrvRybicki Body and chassis Body style 4-door sedan 2-door coupe Layout Transverse...
(Orion Assembly), Wentzville, Missouri (Wentzville Assembly) Designer IrvRybicki Body and chassis Body style 2-door coupe 4-door sedan Layout Transverse...
year later at the 1983 with its much improved Cd of 0.14. Designed by IrvRybicki, it was to influence the 1984 Chevrolet Citation IV Concept Aerodynamics...
(1982–1987) Kansas City, Missouri (Leeds Assembly) (1982 only) Designer IrvRybicki (1977) Body and chassis Body style 2-door coupe 2-door convertible 3-door...
on-demand production to 1992) Assembly Madison Heights, Michigan Designer IrvRybicki Body and chassis Body style 4-door limousine Layout FF layout Platform...
Assembly Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly, Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S. Designer IrvRybicki Body and chassis Body style 2-door coupé Layout Transverse front-engine...
share the same body shell and lightweight engine. Oldsmobile designer IrvRybicki began work on the Olds model in 1957. It finally went on sale in 1960...
seven to have held the position, including Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, IrvRybicki, Chuck Jordan, Ed Welburn and Michael Simcoe. While Cherry Vice President...
seven to have held the position, including Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, IrvRybicki, Chuck Jordan, Wayne Cherry, and Michael Simcoe. His designs have set...
United States: Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly, Hamtramck, Michigan Designer IrvRybicki (1982) Body and chassis Body style 4-door sedan Layout Transverse front-engine...
Model years 1989–1993 Assembly Lake Orion, Michigan, United States Designer IrvRybicki Body and chassis Body style 4-door sedan Layout Transverse front-engine...
finished art for hundreds of advertising accounts. Noted students included IrvRybicki, automotive designer and later Vice President of Design General Motors...
Model years 1953 Assembly Clark Street Assembly, Detroit Designer Harley Earl IrvRybicki (interior) Body and chassis Class Concept luxury roadster Body style...
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