Gordon Buehrig was one of the great automobile designers of the 20th Century. His work began in the 1920's and continued into the 1980's. He designed the Model J Duesenberg, the Auburn Speedster and, his crowning glory, the Cord 810/812. In 1949, Buehrig joined Ford, working on the 1951 Victoria Coupe and the 1956 Continental Mark II. He invented and copyrighted the removable T-top that later became identified with the Porsche Targa.

Gordon Buehrig died in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan on January 22, 1990 at the age of 85; appropriately the Gordon Buehrig Gallery of Design at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana, is now open. The ACD Museum's executive vice president, Matthew Short, said "the Buehrig family gave us unprecedented access to Gordon's library, personal diaries and effects. We were able to paint a more complete and personal picture of this legendary designer." An animated video details the creation of the 810 from clay to production, while a touch-screen display allows visitors to hear Mr. Buehrig speak - in his own voice - on many automotive related topics.

Seeking an image for this blog I've chosen a photo that I took in the late 70's as creative director of Esso's (the Canadian Exxon subsidiary) ad account. It was part of a campaign developed during the second energy scare under the theme "We're Working to Keep You Moving." Not the cleverest ad line I'd ever written but with huge corporations compromises must be made and the client loved it. Because the commercial had an historic aspect I chose a scenario involving a Cord. The car came from Seattle in a trailer with glass windows, allowing the curious to see inside.

[Photo: Philip Powell]

[Thanks to Richard Lentinello of Hemmings for this lead.]