Payne: Eyes on Design this weekend celebrates racing, Corvettes and Peter Brock

Posted by Talbot Payne on June 20, 2022

The 2022 Eyes on Design show promises a full weekend of activities, culminating in a concours Sunday at the Ford House in Gross Pointe Farms.

Dedicated to showcasing the art of auto design, Eyes’ theme this year is “Designed for Speed” — appropriately following the Detroit Grand Prix and showcasing 200 significant race car design of the past, present and future — including the 2023 IMSA-prototype Cadillac GTP Hypercar, making its first public appearance.

The program will also celebrate the work of Peter Brock — noted Corvette and Shelby designer – and hold a symposium at General Motors’ Design dome featuring top Corvette designers weighting in on Chevy’s first mid-engine Corvette.

A Shelby Daytona Coupe and designer Peter Brock.

“Many of the nearly 200 vehicles are rare, significant race cars that the general public have never seen up close,” said Glen Durmisevich, Eyes on Design design and theme director, in an interview. “Individual descriptor signs will be placed in front of the cars at the Ford House, telling the unique story and significance of each vehicle.”

Among the race cars on display will be:

1955 Lancia D50 Formula 1 car bought and campaigned by Enzo Ferrari and driven to world title by Juan Fangio in 1956.

1955 Lancia D50 Formula 1 car. Campaigned by Enzo Ferrari and driven to world title by Juan Fangio in 1956.

 2016 Ford GT GTLM class #66 Livery – Developed by Multimatic for Ford’s ambitious return to Le Mans 50 years after the Ford GT-40 won in 1966, the ’16 GT placed first, third and fourth in class. The #66 car was the fourth-place finisher driven by Billy Johnson, Stefan Mucke and Olivier Pla.

 1970 Plymouth Superbird. The legendary Superbird featured an extended nose, high-mounted rear wing, fender air extractors, and hidden headlights to give it a significant edge on the track. It ran away with 21 NASCAR wins for Plymouth in 1970 before being outlawed.

 2023 Cadillac GTP Hypercar Concept. Eyes on Design will mark the first public viewing of Cadillac’s new IMSA prototype. Unveiled to media earlier this month, the Hypercar Concept previews the hybrid V8-powred race car that Cadillac will campaign at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans next year.

Jim Hall's Chaparral 2 from the Petroleum Museum.

Other notables are Jim Hall’s Chaparral 2 from the Petroleum Museum; 1952 “Fabulous” Hudson Hornet; 1964 Shelby Daytona “Brock” Coupe; 1988 Corvette GTP Prototype from Hendrick Motorsports Collection.

1952 "Fabulous" Hudson Hornet owned by Alan Schultz just got in the National Automobile Registry as its 31st car.

The weekend kicks off at M1 Concourse Friday night with an event honoring Brock as a Lifetime Design Achievement Recipient.

A visionary designer who penned early Corvette designs as well as the notorious Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe fastback that won Le Mans in the 1960s, Brock was feted by dignitaries like Amelia Island Concourse founder Bill Warner and Jack Roush.

Eyes on Design moves Saturday to the GM Design Dome in Warren for two design symposiums. The first honors the work of Strother MacMinn, a founder of Toyota’s Calty Design Research studio in California. Over a 50-year teaching career at the Art Center in Pasadena. MacMinn influenced many future designers, including J Mays, Chris Bangle and Wayne Cherry.

“If you are in a car today, Mac probably influenced its design,” said former GM Vice President of Design Chuck Jordan. “No one influenced car design more.”

An example of his renowned Le Mans Coupe will be on display. It will be a central focus of a panel discussion featuring Le Mans Coupe builder Dennis Kazmerowski; Stewart Reed, Art Center’s head of transportation design; designer Steve Pasteiner and Peter Brock.

Eyes on Design events:

Saturday

“The Influence of Strother MacMinn and the influence of the Le Mans Coupe”

GM Design Dome, 9-11 a.m.

$50/person

“Stingray Racer to C-8, from a Design perspective, featuring the Kings of Corvette Design”

GM Design Dome, 1-4 p.m.

$100/person

Sunday

Ford House, Gross Pint Shores

Designed for Speed car show

Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tickets: $35 per person. Children 10 & under free w/adult.

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.

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