Automotive designer Chrysler Vice President of Design
Virgil Max "Ex" Exner Sr. (September 24, 1909 – December 22, 1973) was an automobile designer for several American automobile companies, most notably Chrysler and Studebaker.
Exner is widely known for the "Forward Look" he created for the 1955–1963 Chrysler products and his fondness of tailfins on cars for both aesthetics and aerodynamics.
Prior to the 1955 model year, Chrysler products were considered solid and well-engineered, but with dull styling. But for 1955 and 1956, Chrysler introduced the first set of cars with Exner's stylish and popular Forward Look. These models were very popular and greatly improved Chrysler's image.
1955 Plymouth Belvedere, featuring the 1955-56 "Forward Look" design.1957 Plymouth Belvedere, featuring the second-generation "Forward Look" design of 1957-59.
But for 1957, Chrysler launched all-new models again, introducing cars that were long, low, wide, and featured sweeping tailfins—designs that caused a sensation within the North American auto industry.
When GM designer Chuck Jordan peered through a fence—thanks to a tip he received—and spied Chrysler's soon-to-be-launched 1957 Chrysler lineup, it prompted Bill Mitchell, Jordan's boss at General Motors styling, to convince GM top executives and styling chief Harley Earl to re-open the already-completed designs for the 1959 models and create "an alternate design for each car line, Chevrolet through Cadillac."[1] Exner's work effectively "change[d] the course of automotive design" during that period.
^Garrett, Jerry (October 21, 2007). "Where Credit Is Due: A Fresh View on the Exner Designs". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
Virgil Max "Ex" Exner Sr. (September 24, 1909 – December 22, 1973) was an automobile designer for several American automobile companies, most notably...
themes developed previously by Mario Boano. According to VirgilExner's son, Virgil M. Exner Jr., Giovanni Savonuzzi was tasked with scaling down the...
Plymouth XNR is a concept car developed by Chrysler. It was designed by VirgilExner, and first shown in 1960. Also called the XNR 500, the car is an open...
styling can be attributed as much to the Chrysler parts bin as designer VirgilExner. The front clip, including the grille, was taken from the Imperial of...
coachbuilders: Gangloff [de], Guilloré, Antem and Ghia, the last to a design by VirgilExner. The 101 was powered by the 3.3 L (3,257 cc or 199 cu in) straight-8...
He joined forces with retired Chrysler stylist VirgilExner who designed the new Blackhawk. Exner's design included a spare tire that protruded through...
Conservatory VirgilExner (1909–1973), American automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker Call-Exner bodies, granulosa...
Exner Revival Cars were created by noted automobile designer, VirgilExner. He produced a series of "Revival Car" concepts for a December 1963 issue of...
1955 on its Champion and Commander model series. It was designed by VirgilExner, formerly of Raymond Loewy Associates along the lines of the ponton style...
Lancer, and La Femme. Bodies were restyled with help from newly hired VirgilExner to be lower, wider, and longer than the lumpy prewar style, which in...
2-door or 4-door sedan body designs with the 1962 models designed by VirgilExner with the 1963 and 1964 models revised under Elwood Engel. The 330 name...
1956 model year's design "PowerStyle," a product of Chrysler designer VirgilExner. The New Yorker gained a new mesh grille, leather seats, pushbutton TorqueFlite...
began to change by 1953 under the direction of corporate design chief VirgilExner. However, the deluxe Coronet series, introduced for 1949, offered extra...
Segre would travel to the United States to meet Chrysler's chief stylist VirgilExner and CEO K. T. Keller. Segre served as Ghia's interlocutor as Boano did...
designer was Chrysler group's designer VirgilExner, who developed the Forward look design in the mid-1950s. Exner is also credited with using wind tunnel...
trim, controls, and displays were those used on the U.S. Plymouth. VirgilExner's 1961 styling with its reverse fins, rear fender scalloping (the taillights...
The concept car was lost during the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria. VirgilExner, working in Chrysler's Advanced Styling Group, developed lower, sleeker...
Rambler and upcoming entries from GM, Ford and Studebaker. Design chief VirgilExner created a car that was smaller and lighter than a full-size car without...
In 1955, all Chrysler cars were completely restyled with styling by VirgilExner, sharing some visual similarities with the all-new Imperial which became...
its features reappeared on later Chrysler designs. Automobile designer VirgilExner left Studebaker to join Chrysler in 1949. Chrysler's previous designers...
Engel replaced chief stylist VirgilExner, who had designed the successful "Forward Look" models of the latter 1950s. Exner was responsible for the era...
company's attempts at automobile production were halted. In the 1960s, VirgilExner designed a Bugatti as part of his "Revival Cars" project. A show version...
to who designed the Plymouth Belmont. VirgilExner was originally identified as the designer. However, in Exner’s 2007 biography, he attributed the design...
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