Cadillac Retractible Top Dream Car Concept Art

Book Description

Detroit: 1949. Colored pencil on paper. Initialled "H. S." and dated "5 - 17 - 49" With a five point description and a diagram of how the retractable roof would work. 19 1/4 x 25 1/4 inches. Framed. Post-war design concenpt incorporating many features of future Cadillacs by a great American aviator This is an early design for a retractible roof concept that did not reach production until 1957 when it was introduced in the Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner. The drawing also illustrates many features that appeared much later in late 50's and early 60's Cadillacs. Interestingly enough, concept car designing for GM was only a minor part of Hervey Stockman's life, who is an American military hero. Stockman was born in Andover New Jersey in 1922. He attended Princeton until 1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. He flew 68 missions in Europe, returning to America in 1945. He attended Pratt Institute and then joined the design department at GM, where his design was done. In 1951, Stockman was called back into service. He was one of six men selected to fly U-2 missions over the Soviet Union in 1956 for the CIA. He was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War as well. In 1967, he was shot down and imprisoned for the remainder of the war, more than six years. He lives in New Mexico.

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