As is true for many automotive designers, Mr. Jordan was an avid enthusiast since he began sketching cars in grade school. It was a model car for Fisher Body Craftsman Guild and a degree from MIT in mechanical engineering that started his 43-year career with GM. The 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier and the 1959 Cadillac along with the 1992 Cadillac Seville models were just a few of Jordan's achievements to make their way out of the GM design center.
Chuck Jordon won a scholarship in the 1947 model car competition and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon graduating he became a member of the General Motors Styling Staff and today is Chief Designer of the Cadillac Studio.
In 1962, Mr. Jordan was named executive in charge of car design at GM and Life magazine named him one of the nation's 100 most important young men and women. From 1967 to 1970 Mr. Jordan was design director for GM subsidiary Adam Opel AG in Russelsheim, Germany. There he was responsible for a number of designs including the very popular 1968 production model GT sports car. When Irv Rybicki retired in October 1986, Mr. Jordan was appointed Vice-President of Design. Under his direction, GM introduced some of its best designs and concept designs throughout the industry. Ranging from exciting sports cars like the Camaro Firebirds to classic automobile designs like the Cadillac STS, Chuck left his mark on GM’s design legacy. Chuck, retired from General Motors on November 1,1992 and after years of great designs he spent much of his time inspiring a new generation by teaching car designs to high school art students in Southern California.
I had the opportunity to meet Chuck Jordan, along with Packard Automotive designer Richard A Teague, 35 years ago at a toy car show. I would gladly take advantage of the opportunity to converse with this strong automotive design giant. We would discuss automotive history from Corvettes to Cadillac show cars and so on. Chuck was a walking encyclopedia from his early design years with GM. Chuck not only had a special feel for automotive design,but also for the people who loved cars, as well. I guess that's what made him so unique. People say that the good ones always have to leave. In my heart, Chuck is not gone because he has left me something forever. Even so, it is hard to say good by to a good friend,who has achieved so much!
The family will begin the planning of his memorial service at the GM Heritage Center in Warren, Michigan on January 28th, 2011. For further information contact gmhc@gm.com.
Special Thanks to Bob Tate, Automotive Historian Researcher, for the featured story.
For more information on other auto heritage sites, visit www.motorcities.org