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Some content includes interviews and actual lectures of William L Porter.
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clasiq designer series sEASON 3 EPISODE 10 : BILL PORTER

Ferbuary 14, 2020 – Bill Porter Bill Porter is a legendary automotive designer. Bill is best known as the designer behind the iconic 1968 Pontiac GTO. He has gotten many designs in production credited by his leadership and design contributions that have followed much of his career at General Motors spanning 40 years! As Chief Designer in both the Pontiac and Buick studios Bill has led the production design for cars such as the Pontiac GTO, Firebird, Catalina, Bonneville, Le Mans, and Grand Am as well as Buick Electra, Le Sabre, Regal, Park Avenue, and Riviera. Watch as Bill tells us about specific facts that went into the making of the all new 1970 ½ Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, while he shows us his personal 1973 Firebird.
Video Credit: Julie Hyde-Edwards and Robert Edwards. Clasiq production series. Sponsored by Farmers Insurance. Linked from https://youtu.be/QX5jG_-gjeY?si=X6PjwR4tsPlB-Mxh

Clasiq released additional videos of this interview series under BONUS videos which are gathered nicely on Dean's Garage:
https://www.deansgarage.com/clasiq-designer-series-bill-porter/

KENTUCKY TO THE WORLD: THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSCLE CAR, BILL PORTER

January 4, 2019 – Kentucky to the World's mission is to showcase the talent, ingenuity, and excellence of outstanding men and women with strong Kentucky ties. By doing that, Kentucky is a catalyst for inspiring everyone to become changers themselves.
Bill Porter was born and raised in Louisville KY, and earned a Bachelor Art Degree from University of Louisville, Majoring in Painting & Art History, Graduated Class Salutatorian, Woodcock Honor Society.

Kentucky to the World choose to interview Bill in a series of eight video clips that highlight his career and influence on the World of Design.
https://youtu.be/nlNWI9gPM3E?si=YHs4mBS9v4s75Pc0

Kentuck to the World

July 22, 2015 – Bill Porter discussed the creative evolutionary journey and inspirational recipes for the fusion of engineering and art that sparked some of the world’s hottest automobile designs and trends. Kay Grubola moderated the Kentucky to the World event.
https://kentuckytotheworld.org/speaker-series/william-bill-porter/

INSIDE LOUISVILLE: A LOOK BACK AT LEGENDARY DESIGNER AND LOUISVILLE NATIVE BILL PORTER

July 21, 2015 – Our conversation began with Porter describing how Louisville played a role in developing the design skills he would take with him to Detroit years later: It all started when, as a child, Porter won an art contest, and the prize was free weekend classes at the Louisville Visual Arts Center.
https://insiderlouisville.com/business/a-look-back-with-legendary-automotive-designer-and-louisville-native-bill-porter/

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PONTIAC BY BILL PORTER: RECORDED DURING 2017 GTOAA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, SPRINGFIELD IL

2015 – Bill began his career as an automobile designer when he joined General Motors as a junior designer in 1958 and worked in Harley Earl’s Research Studio and soon thereafter in Pontiac Studio. In the late 1960’s he became chief designer of Pontiac Studio under Bill Mitchell. He directed the design of several well-known Pontiacs of the era, including GTO’s, Firebirds, Catalinas, and Bonnevilles. In 1979 he was named Chief of Buick One studio and held that position for 17 years, overseeing the design of Buick Park Avenues, Le Sabres, and Rivieras until his retirement in 1996.
https://youtu.be/bE-HXQ6CDmc?si=Jf38B1GNOtX9l9_r

American Dreaming: Detroit automotive styling

September 17, 2014 – “American Dreaming” is a full-length documentary about American automotive styling featuring interviews with artists and designers of the time. The producers are looking for funding, and the announced release date is Summer 2015.
http://www.carbodydesign.com/2014/09/american-dreaming-detroit-automotive-styling-1946-1973/

The Herald Palladium: Meet Bill Porter -- Mr Concours 2013

April 28, 2013 – This year retired GM designer Bill Porter accepted our invitation to be featured designer. A great number of Pontiac and Buick nameplates from the '70s, '80s and '90s bear the stamp of Porter's design touch.
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/features/automotive-meet-bill-porter---mr-concours/article_242ceaae-4521-528c-9eb3-c64ca5df9f94.html

BOMBS AND FINS: AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN IN THE 1050'S

September, 2013 – The evolutionary process that moved American car design in the 1930s and '40s toward the streamlined teardrop shape ended abruptly at the start of the 1950s. When you saw a new car coming down the street, you could tell immediately which of the "Big Three" made it even before you could distinguish the individual brand. Corporate identity ruled.
Credit: From Bill Porter's family archives - this Talk was presented in several venues.
https://youtu.be/9kmUvOMO6BU

FRIENDS OF BILL PORTER: GATHERING AT THE LINGENFELTER COLLECTIONS, BRIGHTON MI, OCTOBER 13, 2023

October 13, 2023 – Bill was grateful to be recognized by his friends during a gathering at the unique and spectacular automotive collection of Ken Lingenfelter. the event was spearheaded by fellow automotive designer, Dick Ruzzin and curator Brian Baker.
Video Credit: Guest Steve Rohde
https://youtu.be/udtsx1l55UE?si=hCWnL-pPkf05XvRU

PONTIAC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: PONTIAC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION

September 2023 – Bill was inducted into the Pontiac Preservation Association Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Brand throughout his carrier at GM Design Staff. Bill was the Chief Designer of Pontiac Studio 1967-1972 where he directed the design of many memorable Pontiacs of that era, including Firebirds, LeMans, GTOs, Catalinas, Bonnevilles, and Grand Prixs.
https://youtu.be/C-VhkMLtwmA

dean's garage: Inside buick studio

January 13, 2015 – Bill Porter tells his story of his years as Chief Designer of Buick I Studio from 1980 to 1996. 47 minutes. I was a designer in Buick I in 1974/75 and from 1977 to 1985, so many of these scenes are quite familiar.This video was part of Buick’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. It was presented in Bowers Theater, Flint Michigan, July, 2003. 49 minutes.
http://www.deansgarage.com/2015/bill-porters-inside-buick-studio/

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Bill Porter, Designer of Pontiac GTO, Moves to a New Biorhythm

April 17, 2012 – Bill Porter, the former General Motors designer credited with the 1968 Pontiac GTO, has become something of a trend spotter in retirement. On April 13, at a meeting of the Society of Automotive Historians, he explained in the lecture, “The New Biomorphs: An Emergent Trend on the Automotive Design Scene,” what had caught his eye in recent years.
https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/bill-porter-designer-of-pontiac-gto-moves-to-a-new-biorhythm/

Dean's garage: '73 GTO/Grand Am Development

December 15, 2009 – The 1973 Pontiac Grand Am started out in the development stages as a GTO. But the muscle era was drawing to a close and, very much aware of that, Pontiac decided to change the car’s character. Instead of continuing to make the GTO a stoplight drag star, the next iteration was to be more European—more along the lines of a luxury sport sedan. With that in mind, Pontiac designers and engineers examined Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Volvo as likely targets.
http://www.deansgarage.com/2009/%E2%80%9973-gtogrand-am-renderings/

THE NEW YORK TIMES: SKETCHES OF OPTIMISM FROM DETROIT'S GLORY DAYS

August 26, 2007 – When Ms. Grubola, now the curator of the Louisville Visual Art Association in Kentucky, learned last year that a legendary General Motors designer of that period, William Porter, was one of the city’s natives, she was inspired. Mr. Porter, 76, had created some of the most magical drawings of the era that had fascinated Ms. Grubola. Designer of distinctive shapes like the 1968 Pontiac GTO, Mr. Porter went on to head the Pontiac and Buick studios.
https://nyti.ms/2KVJJJ8

HOTROD Network: Pontiac FirebIrd History -- Designing a Legend

Pontiac Designer Bill Porter's Influence On The Development Of The Second-Gen Firebird
July 1, 2007 -- Rarely does an automobile gain legendary status, but Pontiac’s Second-Gen Firebird has aptly earned that title. The body style ran for 12 consecutive years-a monumental feat for any vehicle, considering the direction of the mid-’70s performance car market and that the popularity of the performance-flagship Trans Am is as high today as it has ever been. While powerful engines and superb suspension packages have without doubt contributed to the vaunted status, arguably the most critical element to its success is the timeless body styling.
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hppp-0707-pontiac-firebird-designer-bill-porter/

High Performance Pontiac: Interview with Bill Porter, Pontiac Design in the '60s

June 2000 – High Performance Pontiac caught up with former Pontiac Chief Designer William “Bill” Porter in New York City recently. Over breakfast, he discussed his role at Pontiac during the early and mid 19605, his involvement with what became the 1968 GTO and LeMans, the 1970 112 second generation. Firebird; the part he played in the creation of the 1973 Trans Am’s “screaming chicken” hood decal and the “polycast” honeycomb wheel—to mention just a few of the now-famous’icons of the Pontiac Motor Division that trace their origins back to the pencil of Bill Porter.
http://www.deansgarage.com/2012/an-interview-in-2000-with-bill-porter-about-pontiac-design-in-the-60s/