Jan Wilsgaard (23 January 1930 – 6 August 2016) was an American-born Norwegian automotive designer. He was the head of design at Volvo Cars from 1950 to 1990.
Jan Wilsgaard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 January 1930 Brooklyn |
| Died | 6 August 2016 (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Car designer |
| Employer | |
Wilsgaard was one of twenty-five designers nominated for Car Designer of the Century.[citation needed]
Background and career
editWilsgaard studied at the Gothenburg School of Applied Arts (now HDK, Högskolan för Design och Konsthantverk, at the University of Gothenburg) before joining Volvo when co-founder Assar Gabrielsson still headed the company.[1]
As Chief Designer, Wilsgaard designed all Volvo's projects during his tenure, with few exceptions (e.g., the Volvo P1900 Sport and P1800 Coupe). One of Wilsgaard's first jobs was to design better rear windows for the PV Duett Van,[1] a prophetic project, given that Wilsgaard went on to design the estate versions of the company's Amazon, 145, 760 and 850 Series — during a period which saw Volvo become closely associated with the station wagon / estate body type.[2]
In addition to designing the Amazon, and 144, Wilsgaard also designed the highly regarded Volvo 164, as well as his successful estate adaptation, the 1800ES, of the company's P1800 Coupe.[3][4] According to Simon Lamarre, chief studio designer, "the 1800ES has become one of the icons for Volvo",[4] inspiring the design of the Volvo C30.[4]
When he designed the Volvo 140 Series,[5] Wilsgaard employed a credo, "simple is beautiful". [6] The design symbolized the car's robust, restrained quality. Regarding the enormous success of the Volvo 240 series in worldwide, Wilsgaard is said to have remarked "It might be because the car is a little square and sluggish, just like the Swedes themselves."[3] He was followed at Volvo by the British designer Peter Horbury.[citation needed]
Wilsgaard died on 6 August 2016.[7][8]
Volvo cars styled by Jan Wilsgaard
edit- P179, better known as the 'Margaret Rose'
- Volvo Philip (1950)
- PV 179 (1952)
- Volvo Amazon (P1200/120)
- Volvo P1400 (1967)(Volvo 140)
- Volvo 164
- Volvo 140
- Volvo 240
- Volvo 262C
- Volvo 740
- Volvo 760
- Volvo 780
- Volvo 850
Personal life
editWilsgaard was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1930, to a Norwegian mother and father.[3] His father was a Norwegian sailor. During World War II, his family fled from Norway to Sweden. Wilsgaard died on 6 August 2016.[7][8]
Gallery
edit-
The Volvo 145, designed by Jan Wilsgaard -
The Volvo 144, designed by Jan Wilsgaard -
The Volvo 164, designed by Jan Wilsgaard -
The Volvo P1800ES, adapted to an estate by Jan Wilsgaard -
Rearview of the Volvo P1800ES, as adapted to an estate by Jan Wilsgaard -
The Volvo 740, designed by Jan Wilsgaard -
The 850 was Wilsgaard's last design at Volvo
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Jan Wilsgaard, Designer – the man who turned the van into a station wagon" (PDF) (Press release). Volvo Press Release, 50250-HR, 38400-JTR/ kse, Sep 2, 1985.
- ^ Petrany, Mate (2 September 2016). "There Are Still More Than 24,000 Volvo Amazons on Sweden's Streets". Road & Track. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Jan Wilsgaard,Presentation of new Honourable Member, 2005". Volvo P1800 Club of Sweden. Archived from the original on August 27, 2010.
- ^ a b c "From the Past: Volvo 1800ES, Combination of a Wagon and Sports Car Flopped in the Market, but Became Influential". The Wall Street Journal, Dan Carney, June 30, 2007. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008.
- ^ "So good a million people bought one". The New Zealand Herald. August 19, 2006.
- ^ "Volvo 760 – the car that formed the foundation for the modern Volvo". Topspeed, 02.6.2007, by Simona. 6 February 2007.
- ^ a b "Jan Wilsgaard är död". 23 August 2016.
- ^ a b "in memoriam of Jan Wilsgaard". Archived from the original on September 15, 2016.