JoeBortzPressRelease2_Layout 1 4/27/12 11:10 AM Page 1 JJooee BBoorrttzz ttoo HHoosstt HHiissttoorriicc DDrreeaamm CCaarr DDiissccuussssiioonn PPaanneell aatt 22001122 PPOOCCII In addition to being the son of the legendary Chrysler designer, Virgil M. CCoonnvveennttiioonn iinn Exner, Jr. is also a very accomplished designer in his own right, having worked with his father early in his career and later on his own. He will Designer Ray Koenig started at GM Styling in the "Class of '56." While there, be offering a unique view on Pontiac design- from the standpoint of a he worked under Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell, along with Chuck Jordan, competing designer. SStt.. CChhaarrlleess,, IIlllliinnooiiss Wayne Cherry, Larry Shinoda, Bill Porter and current head of GM Design, ream car collector and his- Ray Koenig started at GM Styling Ed Welburn. He also worked with John DeLorean, Pete Estes and Bill Collins. For Immediate Release: torian Joe Bortz has pre- in the "Class of '56" and remained ast, Hemmings Classic Cars, Car Bortz on the panel. Joe will then as- Contact: pared a special treat for there until 1977, when he left to D Collector and countless others. His sume the role of Master of Cere- Don Keefe participants at the 40th Annual accept an assignement at GM’s book GM's Motorama: The Glam- monies. He will then question the Pontiac-Oakland Club International International Group. While at GM Keefe Media International orous Show Cars of a Cultural Phe- panel and direct the conversation. Convention in St. Charles Illinois, Styling/Design Center, he E-mail: [email protected] nomenon, is unquestionably, the The Bortz Dream Car panel disus- this coming July 17-21. In addition worked under Harley Earl and Bill Phone: (585) 489-9826 definitive work on the topic and rep- sion will follow Don’s Department X to bringing his four historic Pon- Mitchell, along with Chuck Jor- resented more than six years of re- seminar on Pontiac concept cars tiac Dream Cars, he has also as- dan, Wayne Cherry, Larry Shin- Contact: Debbie Powless search. from 1980 to the end of the mar- sembled a panel, conisisting of two oda, Bill Porter and current head Bortz Auto Collection Rounding out the panel discus- que’s run. noted designers, a retired engi- of GM Design, Ed Welburn. He sion is noted Pontiac author and Be sure to plan ahead as, seating E-mail: [email protected] neer and two veteran authors to also worked with John DeLorean, POCI Smoke Signals Editor-in-Chief is already filling up for this historic Phone: (847) 433-7776 examine the topic of Pontiac’s Pete Estes and Bill Collins. Mr. Don Keefe. A veteran automotive event. To join POCI and/or register early concept vehicles. The panel Koenig retired in 1991 and was journalist, photographer and histo- for the convention, go to www.poci.org discussion will be held on Friday, profiled in the April, 2011 issue rian, Don will act as moderator for www.poci.org and fill out the conven- July 20th at 1:30 pm and is open of Collectible Automobile. www.takeyourcartoauction.com the first half of the discussion and tion application. to all POCI members. will then switch places with Joe POCII “As the seminar plans were Joe Bortz’s Dream Car panel discussion Bill Collins’ reputation as an engi- being laid out, it sort of developed seminar will be one of the “must-see” neer at Pontiac is nothing short a life of its own,” Bortz said. “Pretty attractions of the 2012 POCI Convention of legendary, having worked soon, a simple one-man presenta- in St. Charles, Illinois. closely with General Managers tion had evolved into a panel dis- Most auto enthusiasts are aware Semon E. “Bunkie” Knudsen, El- cussion with some of the biggest of the elder Exner’s storied history liott M. “Pete” Estes and John Z. names in the business- I couldn’t be with Chrysler but few people are DeLorean. He was part of the team happier.” He added that, “This panel aware that he was also the lead de- that brought the Super Duty Catali- is comprised of not only those who signer at Pontiac in the early nas and Tempests to fruition in the were in the design and engineering 1930s. Even fewer know that he early 1960s, as well as having de- fields at the time, but also two au- rose to that position before the age veloped the race-only PowerShift thors with vast research experience of 30! transaxle. After GM pulled out of on the subject.” Virgil Exner Jr’s career began racing in 1963, he went on to help working with his father. Gradually, develop the 1964 GTO and the XP- Virgil M. Exner, Jr., son of the leg- he came into his own, having 833 Banshee, among others. endary “Forward Look” designer worked as a design consultant for Bill Collins is a retired GM Engineer and part of the “Dream Team” that de- and a renowned designer himself, Ghia, Pininfarina, U.S. Steel and Riva David W. Temple is a veteran auto- veloped such legendary vehicles as the early ‘60s Super Duty Catalinas Mr. Exner will provide a unique per- Boats before beginning a long ca- motive historian and journalist, David Temple is a noted automotive historian and is the author of GM's Mo- and Tempests, the GTO and of course, the XP-833 Banshee. He is also the spective to the Pontiac discussion, reer with Ford, both in the U.S. and whose bylines have appeared in torama: The Glamorous Show Cars of a Cultural Phenomenon. He will be in original owner of the lone Banshee roadster. the view from the competition. with Ford of Europe. such magazines as Pontiac Enthusi- St. Charles for the POCI Convention and the panel discussion. .