Edmund E. Anderson
Encyclopedia
Edmund E. Anderson was an industrial designer in the North American automotive industry, notably as the lead designer for American Motors Corporation
(AMC) from 1950 to 1961. He was born in Boston. Anderson also worked in automotive design
at General Motors
until 1950, when he was recruited by George W. Mason
, the president of Nash Motors
, to develop the independent automaker's own in-house design studio - which became known as Nash Styling.
From 1950 to 1955, Anderson worked with Helene Rother
who was under contract for the company and responsible for interiors that offered beautiful designs. Anderson also hired Bill Reddig, a talented former Ford Motor Company
designer, who made important contributions to the 1954 Rambler line.
’s best designer, the celebrated Battista Farina
, as a consultant. Even with a new Nash Styling department in-house, the company continued to hire outside stylists (including Detroit
-based William J. Flajole) to work on special projects such as the Nash Metropolitan
.
Anderson was also responsible for the Pininfarina Nash of 1952. He revised the highly acclaimed Italian designer's contracted work for a more American look. However, the "Pininfarina" logo remained on the car because of its marketing value.
After Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors in 1954, Anderson set up separate design studios for Nash, Hudson, and Rambler. However, following the introduction of the landmark 1956 Rambler designed by Anderson, AMC dropped the Nash and Hudson brands to focus on the popular Rambler. The Rambler Styling Studio was given full responsibility for designing the company’s cars and Farina was released from his exclusive design agreement with AMC.
Anderson was largely responsible for some rather brilliant re-designs of existing AMC products during his tenure as AMC's Director of Styling. He is also blamed for the "V-Line Styling" on the 1956 Hudsons. However, the 1956 and 1957 Hudson cars were actually designed by independent industrial designer Richard Arbib
.
Other notable achievements included the revamped 1955 Nash Rambler
that became the 1958-1960 Rambler American
(first generation). With its subsequent 1961 restyle, Anderson gave the second generation Rambler American an entirely new look without any major re-tooling costs. This allowed AMC to make money in a very tight, competitive market. The third generation of the compact 1964 Rambler American was also unique. It used some of the larger 1963 Classic
body components, and this was also Anderson's work.
After asking to be named Vice President of Styling, and being rebuffed, Anderson resigned from the company effective December 1961, and retired to Mexico
. His replacement as AMC's principal designer was Richard A. Teague
.
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
(AMC) from 1950 to 1961. He was born in Boston. Anderson also worked in automotive design
Automotive design
Automotive design is the profession involved in the development of the appearance, and to some extent the ergonomics, of motor vehicles or more specifically road vehicles. This most commonly refers to automobiles but also refers to motorcycles, trucks, buses, coaches, and vans...
at General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
until 1950, when he was recruited by George W. Mason
George W. Mason
George Walter Mason was an American industrialist. During his career Mason served as the Chairman and CEO of the Kelvinator Corporation , Chairman and CEO of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation , and Chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation .- Early life :George W. Mason was born in Valley...
, the president of Nash Motors
Nash Motors
Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors CorporationNash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. From 1938 to 1954, Nash was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation...
, to develop the independent automaker's own in-house design studio - which became known as Nash Styling.
From 1950 to 1955, Anderson worked with Helene Rother
Helene Rother
Helene Rother was the first woman to work as an automotive designer when she joined the interior styling staff of General Motors in Detroit in 1943...
who was under contract for the company and responsible for interiors that offered beautiful designs. Anderson also hired Bill Reddig, a talented former Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
designer, who made important contributions to the 1954 Rambler line.
Anderson designs
Before Anderson joined Nash, the company had relied on outside designers. Nevertheless, Nash retained EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
’s best designer, the celebrated Battista Farina
Battista Farina
Battista "Pinin" Farina was an Italian automobile designer, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company, a name associated with many of the best-known postwar sports cars....
, as a consultant. Even with a new Nash Styling department in-house, the company continued to hire outside stylists (including Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
-based William J. Flajole) to work on special projects such as the Nash Metropolitan
Nash Metropolitan
The Nash Metropolitan is a car that was sold, initially only in the United States and Canada, from 1954–1962.It conforms to two classes of vehicle: economy car and subcompact car. In today’s terminology the Metropolitan is a “subcompact”, but this category had not yet come into use when the car was...
.
Anderson was also responsible for the Pininfarina Nash of 1952. He revised the highly acclaimed Italian designer's contracted work for a more American look. However, the "Pininfarina" logo remained on the car because of its marketing value.
After Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors in 1954, Anderson set up separate design studios for Nash, Hudson, and Rambler. However, following the introduction of the landmark 1956 Rambler designed by Anderson, AMC dropped the Nash and Hudson brands to focus on the popular Rambler. The Rambler Styling Studio was given full responsibility for designing the company’s cars and Farina was released from his exclusive design agreement with AMC.
Anderson was largely responsible for some rather brilliant re-designs of existing AMC products during his tenure as AMC's Director of Styling. He is also blamed for the "V-Line Styling" on the 1956 Hudsons. However, the 1956 and 1957 Hudson cars were actually designed by independent industrial designer Richard Arbib
Richard Arbib
Richard Arbib visionary American industrial designer.-Family:Richard Henry Arbib was the son of Robert Simeon Arbib, Sr...
.
Other notable achievements included the revamped 1955 Nash Rambler
Nash Rambler
The Nash Rambler was a North American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation from 1950–55.The Nash Rambler established a new segment in the automobile market and is widely acknowledged to be the first successful modern American compact...
that became the 1958-1960 Rambler American
Rambler American
The Rambler American is an automobile manufactured by the American Motors Corporation between 1958 and 1969. The American was the second incarnation of AMC's forerunner Nash Motors second-generation Rambler compact that was sold under the Nash and Hudson Motors marques from 1954 and 1955.The...
(first generation). With its subsequent 1961 restyle, Anderson gave the second generation Rambler American an entirely new look without any major re-tooling costs. This allowed AMC to make money in a very tight, competitive market. The third generation of the compact 1964 Rambler American was also unique. It used some of the larger 1963 Classic
Rambler Classic
The Rambler Classic was an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from model year 1961 to 1966...
body components, and this was also Anderson's work.
After asking to be named Vice President of Styling, and being rebuffed, Anderson resigned from the company effective December 1961, and retired to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. His replacement as AMC's principal designer was Richard A. Teague
Richard A. Teague
Richard A. Teague , born in Los Angeles, California, was an industrial designer in the North American automotive industry...
.