GM Designer John Schinella & the Le Sabre - Crossing the USA 2023 - Ep 6: Classic Restos - Series 54

Fletch meets with GM design legend – John Schinella. John’s career began with GM in the Cadillac styling department in 1960, and after four years was seconded to GM In Australia to head up the design department for a 6-month assignment that ended up being five years.

In the five years that John spent in Australia, he played an influential role in the design/styling of some of the most iconic cars built by GM: the 1968 HK Monaro, the LC & LJ Torana and the 1971 HQ Holden. John reflects on his time in Australia; the design team needed ‘to get more excited about their projects and like what they were doing’, which was his role.

The LC Torana was originally based on the British Viva, but in testing, it was unsuitable for Australian roads and provided the opportunity to create something new that saw the development of the Torana.

Another hallmark of his career was the ‘Screaming Chicken’ emblem design that adorned the bonnet of selected Pontiac Trans Am’s and became famous when featured in the Burt Reynolds movie ‘Smokey & The Bandit’. John tells the story of road testing the bonnet design down the famous Woodward Avenue in Detroit, where he received overwhelming approval whenever he stopped at gas stations and dinners along the route.

John retired in 1999 and summed up his time in Australia as very rewarding: the cars designed during his time there and particularly the talented people he worked with at GM. Great memories.

Next is a visit to the General Motors Tech Center. GM was, at one time, the world’s largest auto car maker and manufacturer of household appliances, locomotives, and aircraft. GM’s mantra was that they ‘built a car for every purse and purpose’.

Fletch gains rare access to the GM Tech Centre in Warren, Michigan, which is the home of the showstopping 1951 Le Sabre Concept Car, considered the most important show car of the 50s. The Le Sabre was the brainchild of Harley Earl, an experimental engineering & design project, a revolutionary jet fighter-inspired design. Powered by a supercharged 215 V8 that generated 335 hp, that was ahead of its time. There are so many features, including the first wrap-around glass windshield. But the futuristic design turned heads back then and still does today.