Automobile Racing Club of America Event
(0002-5504)

Sketch by William L. Mitchell of the auto racing action at an ARCA event in 1933.

William L. Mitchell (1912-1988) was vice president of design for General Motors from 1958 to 1977. During his 42 years at GM, Mitchell was responsible for designs that produced 72 million cars, including the Buick Riviera, Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Cadillac Seville, and, his personal favorite, the Corvette. From a young age, Mitchell had a talent for drawing and a passion for race cars. After work with the Barron Collier advertising agency in New York and art and graphic design studies, he landed a job in 1935 working for the legendary Harley Earl, General Motors’ first vice president of design. Within a year, Mitchell was head of the Cadillac design studio. In 1958 he became GM’s second vice president of design, following Harley Earl. Mitchell’s best work combined a sleek, sharp-edged appearance with the sensation of great power and speed.

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