Frank Hershey
Encyclopedia
Frank Hershey was an American automobile designer and student of General Motors Vice President of Design Harley Earl
. Hershey is best known for his 1932 Peerless
V-16 prototype, 1949 Cadillac
tailfin
s and the 1955 Ford Thunderbird
.
Born Franklin Quick Hershey in Michigan
, and raised in Beverly Hills and La Puente, California
, Hershey began his career at Murphy Coach Works of Pasadena, California
under the guidance of Frank Spring. While at Murphy, Hershey was assigned the task of designing the 1932 Peerless
X-D V-16 prototype
.
From Murphy, Hershey went to work for GM where he focused on the 1933 Pontiac
; in designing the 1935 Pontiac, Hershey introduced the silver streak design theme that the make would continue until 1956. He also was assigned to GM's Opel
design offices in Germany in 1936, and GM's Holden
make in Australia
.
After leaving GM, Hershey set up his own design firm. Harley Earl attempted to lure Hershey back to GM; Hershey chose not to return only to learn years later that had he returned he would have been Earl's first choice to replace him as GM's Vice President of Design.
After several years with Packard
, Hershey went to Ford
where he designed the 1953-1957 full sized Fords. According to an interview given by Hershey to James W. Howell in 1995, George Walker
had been hired as the public face of Ford design. Hershey designed the landmark Ford Thunderbird, and admitted so in a 1954 interview, which created friction between Walker and Hershey.
After leaving Ford, Hershey also worked for Kaiser Aluminum and Rite Autotronics, heading design effort in both companies.
Hershey attended Occidental College
where he majored in forestry. Hershey served in the Navy during World War II
. While married and the father of two children, Frank Hershey was openly gay.
Frank Hershey died in California
on October 20, 1997.
Harley Earl
Harley J. Earl was first Vice President of Design at General Motors. He was an industrial designer and a pioneer of modern transportation design. A coachbuilder by trade, Earl pioneered the use of freeform sketching and hand sculpted clay models as design techniques...
. Hershey is best known for his 1932 Peerless
Peerless
Peerless was a United States automobile produced by the Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 to 1931. The company was known for building high-quality, precision luxury automobiles. Peerless' factory was located at 9400 Quincy Avenue in Cleveland...
V-16 prototype, 1949 Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
tailfin
Tailfin
The tailfin era of automobile styling encompassed the 1950s and 1960s, peaking between 1957 and 1960. It was a style that spread worldwide, as car designers picked up styling trends from the US automobile industry where it was the golden epoch of American autodesign.General Motors design chief...
s and the 1955 Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
.
Born Franklin Quick Hershey in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and raised in Beverly Hills and La Puente, California
La Puente, California
La Puente is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 39,816 at the 2010 census.* City flower: The Golden Hibiscus* City colors: Green and White.-History:...
, Hershey began his career at Murphy Coach Works of Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
under the guidance of Frank Spring. While at Murphy, Hershey was assigned the task of designing the 1932 Peerless
Peerless
Peerless was a United States automobile produced by the Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 to 1931. The company was known for building high-quality, precision luxury automobiles. Peerless' factory was located at 9400 Quincy Avenue in Cleveland...
X-D V-16 prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
.
From Murphy, Hershey went to work for GM where he focused on the 1933 Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
; in designing the 1935 Pontiac, Hershey introduced the silver streak design theme that the make would continue until 1956. He also was assigned to GM's Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
design offices in Germany in 1936, and GM's Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
make in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
After leaving GM, Hershey set up his own design firm. Harley Earl attempted to lure Hershey back to GM; Hershey chose not to return only to learn years later that had he returned he would have been Earl's first choice to replace him as GM's Vice President of Design.
After several years with Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
, Hershey went to Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
where he designed the 1953-1957 full sized Fords. According to an interview given by Hershey to James W. Howell in 1995, George Walker
George Walker
George Walker may refer to:In arts and letters:*George Walker *George Walker , English chess player and writer*George Walker , American composer...
had been hired as the public face of Ford design. Hershey designed the landmark Ford Thunderbird, and admitted so in a 1954 interview, which created friction between Walker and Hershey.
After leaving Ford, Hershey also worked for Kaiser Aluminum and Rite Autotronics, heading design effort in both companies.
Hershey attended Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
where he majored in forestry. Hershey served in the Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While married and the father of two children, Frank Hershey was openly gay.
Frank Hershey died in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on October 20, 1997.