10 Car Designers Who Marked Automotive History Those who doubt that car design is an art should look at the portfolios of these creative geniuses

Harley Earl

Harley Earl left his imprint all over American car design in the 1950s, with creations that were downright spectacular. He was behind everything from the Chevrolet Corvette to the introduction of wings on several of Chevy’s models to the curved windshield.

But there’s even more to Harley Earl than that. He pioneered the use of a clay model in the conception of a car’s design, for instance, and he also had the bright idea of presenting early concept-car versions to give people an idea of where the company was going. His 1938 Buick Y-Job prototype also served as his personal car for a good 15 years. A true pioneer.