Richard A. Teague
Encyclopedia
Richard A. Teague (December 23, 1923 - May 5, 1991), born in Los Angeles, California
, was an industrial designer in the North American automotive industry. He held automotive design
positions at General Motors
, Packard
, and Chrysler before being named Vice President of Design for American Motors Corporation
(AMC).
, playing the role of Dixie Duval, a girl. However, he suffered a tragedy at the age of six. A car accident near Pasadena, California
, caused by a drunk driver
left his mother an invalid, while the young Teague sustained serious injuries after he went through the windshield, including the loss of sight in his right eye. A year later his father was also killed in another automobile crash that was also caused by a drunk driver.
Exempt because of his limited eyesight
, he could not join the armed forces during World War II
. Instead, he worked as an aircraft technical illustrator for Northrop Corporation
. His boss was Paul Browne, a former designer at General Motors
, and he suggested that Teague take night classes at the Art Center College of Design
.
, Teague penned a design for a pre-Henry J
economy car for Kaiser Motors
. In 1948, he accepted a position in the General Motors design studios headed by Edmund Anderson. He started as an apprentice stylist and eventually graduated to the Cadillac
advanced design group. Teague also worked on the famed 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket. During the 1950s outlandish use of chrome on cars, Teague described how two sets of overlay designs were made for Harley Earl
to choose from. Both chrome trim sets had been put on one Oldsmobile prototype by mistake. Earl saw it and ordered it produced that way although the stylists were horrified.
In 1951, The Packard Motor Car Company
recruited Teague and offered him the position of Chief Stylist following John Reinhart's resignation. The first design work he did was a minor facelift on the Packard line for 1953, and he successfully visualized the separating of the Packard and Clipper that had been initiated by Packard management under James J. Nance
. The restyled Packard line for 1955 was the outcome of Teague's keen eye for detail and his ability to produce significant changes based on limited budgets. The facelift made Packard’s 1951 body shell look almost new. However, the company was not doing well following the purchase of struggling Studebaker
. The last Teague design for Packard was the Executive
, introduced mid-1956 and derived from the Clipper Custom. However, sales of the luxury Packard collapsed during 1956. Teague also designed the last Packard show car
, the Predictor, and conequently, a new Packard and Clipper line for 1957 that would have followed the general lines of the Predictor. When Detroit Packard operations were shut down completely in mid-1956, that meant the end of that design, too.
By 1957, the entire Packard styling team moved to Chrysler Corporation. Consequently, Teague became chief stylist of Chrysler's studio. However, because of management conflicts, Teague decided to work on non-automotive assignments for an independent design firm.
Eager to get back to designing automobiles, Teague joined American Motors Corporation (AMC) as a member of Edmund E. Anderson
's design team in 1959. When Anderson left AMC in 1961, Teague was named principal designer. The first cars influenced by Teague's styling were the 1963 Rambler Classic
and Ambassador
, the first all-new cars from AMC since 1956. Teague was promoted to the post of Vice President in 1964. He held that executive position until he retired from AMC in 1983. At his retirement, Teague joked that the only Detroit
auto company he had not worked for was Ford
.
Teague was often quoted as referring to his many years at AMC years as "Camelot
", although he faced very stiff budget restrictions at the small independent automaker. Nevertheless, Teague worked out relative miracles compared to the spending norms in this industry. With limited budgets, many of Teague's designs reconfigured existing parts in new ways. For example, he was able to design the totally new 1964 compact Rambler American
by using the doors from AMC's large-sized automobiles. Teague was a master of designing many variations of cars for AMC from a very limited number of basic stampings.
The AMC Cavalier
was a mid-1960s concept car developed to demonstrate this technique of interchangeable body panels and design symmetry
. The right front and left rear fenders were identical, as well as the panels for doors, hood, and deck lid all interchanged. The automobile platform
s designed by Teague featured numerous interchangeable door skins, glass, and more. For example, the front and rear bumpers on the 1970 AMC Hornet were cleverly made from the same stamping. This design talent yielded significant cost savings for the company.
, Pacer
, as well as the Matador coupe
. His successes also included the Rambler American, AMC Javelin
, AMX
Hornet
, and subsequent successful transformation of the compact platform into the Concord
, Spirit
and Eagle
. Teague was also responsible for a number of concept cars and often lobbied for their production, such as the compact Tarpon
that ultimately led to the large Marlin, and continuing production of the two-seat AMX
models after 1970. According to experts, many of Teague's designs still look fresh.
Many concept cars bore his signature design ideas that were later incorporated into production models. Among these were the 1968 AMX GT
. Teague styled a truncated kammback
rear for this short wheelbase sports car that was then used on the 1970 Gremlin. A series of "Concept 80" show cars also addressed models that AMC was considering in the future. They were Teague's variations on the company's existing vehicle platforms.
His last handiwork can be seen in the highly popular downsized Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
, a "masterpiece" design and paradigmatic model that was built in the United States from 1983 through 2001 and in China to 2005. The last cars he worked on were AMC's new large platform (Premier) that was scheduled to debut in 1988. Teague was able to fashion a very roomy interior for these cars. His design was very aerodynamic and the two-door model was to feature hidden headlamps. However, the coupe was never produced. Instead, Giorgetto Giugiaro
was contracted to provide sharper edges for the four-door sedan that came out as the Eagle Premier
.
along with most of his papers.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, was an industrial designer in the North American automotive industry. He held 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...
positions 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...
, Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
, and Chrysler before being named Vice President of Design for American Motors Corporation
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).
Early life
Teague's mother worked in the motion picture industry during the silent movie era. At five years of age Teague appeared in five episodes of Our GangOur Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
, playing the role of Dixie Duval, a girl. However, he suffered a tragedy at the age of six. A car accident near Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, caused by a drunk driver
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
left his mother an invalid, while the young Teague sustained serious injuries after he went through the windshield, including the loss of sight in his right eye. A year later his father was also killed in another automobile crash that was also caused by a drunk driver.
Exempt because of his limited eyesight
Visual perception
Visual perception is the ability to interpret information and surroundings from the effects of visible light reaching the eye. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision...
, he could not join the armed forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Instead, he worked as an aircraft technical illustrator for Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
. His boss was Paul Browne, a former designer 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...
, and he suggested that Teague take night classes at the Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
.
Early work
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Teague penned a design for a pre-Henry J
Henry J
The Henry J was an American automobile built by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation and named after its chairman, Henry J. Kaiser. Production of six-cylinder models began in July 1950, and four-cylinder production started shortly after Labor Day, 1950. Official public introduction was September 28, 1950....
economy car for Kaiser Motors
Kaiser Motors
Kaiser Motors Corporation made automobiles at Willow Run, Michigan, United States, from 1945 to 1953. In 1953, Kaiser merged with Willys-Overland to form Willys Motors Incorporated, moving its production operations to the Willys plant at Toledo, Ohio...
. In 1948, he accepted a position in the General Motors design studios headed by Edmund Anderson. He started as an apprentice stylist and eventually graduated to the Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
advanced design group. Teague also worked on the famed 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket. During the 1950s outlandish use of chrome on cars, Teague described how two sets of overlay designs were made for Harley Earl
Harley Earl
Harley J. Earl was first Vice President of Design at General Motors. He was an industrial designer and a pioneer of modern transportation design. A coachbuilder by trade, Earl pioneered the use of freeform sketching and hand sculpted clay models as design techniques...
to choose from. Both chrome trim sets had been put on one Oldsmobile prototype by mistake. Earl saw it and ordered it produced that way although the stylists were horrified.
In 1951, The Packard Motor Car Company
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
recruited Teague and offered him the position of Chief Stylist following John Reinhart's resignation. The first design work he did was a minor facelift on the Packard line for 1953, and he successfully visualized the separating of the Packard and Clipper that had been initiated by Packard management under James J. Nance
James J. Nance
James J. Nance was an American industrialist who became president of Studebaker Packard. Later, he was chief executive of the Central National Bank of Cleveland, chairman of the executive committee of Montgomery Ward and chairman of the board of trustees of Cleveland State University and a major...
. The restyled Packard line for 1955 was the outcome of Teague's keen eye for detail and his ability to produce significant changes based on limited budgets. The facelift made Packard’s 1951 body shell look almost new. However, the company was not doing well following the purchase of struggling Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
. The last Teague design for Packard was the Executive
Packard Executive
The Packard Executive was an automobile produced by the Packard-Clipper Division of the Studebaker-Packard Corporation in 1956.The Packard Executive was introduced on March 5, 1956 to fill a perceived price gap between the prestige Packard line and the new Clipper brand, which was in its first year...
, introduced mid-1956 and derived from the Clipper Custom. However, sales of the luxury Packard collapsed during 1956. Teague also designed the last Packard show car
Show car
A show car, sometimes called a dream car, is a custom-made automobile created specifically for public display, rather than sale. They are shown at auto shows and other exhibitions.Show cars generally fall into one or more of three categories:...
, the Predictor, and conequently, a new Packard and Clipper line for 1957 that would have followed the general lines of the Predictor. When Detroit Packard operations were shut down completely in mid-1956, that meant the end of that design, too.
By 1957, the entire Packard styling team moved to Chrysler Corporation. Consequently, Teague became chief stylist of Chrysler's studio. However, because of management conflicts, Teague decided to work on non-automotive assignments for an independent design firm.
American Motors
Edmund E. Anderson
Edmund E. Anderson was an industrial designer in the North American automotive industry, notably as the lead designer for American Motors Corporation 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...
's design team in 1959. When Anderson left AMC in 1961, Teague was named principal designer. The first cars influenced by Teague's styling were the 1963 Rambler 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...
and Ambassador
AMC Ambassador
- 1958 :American Motors planned to produce a stretched a wheelbase version of the Rambler platform for Nash dealers to be the new Nash Ambassador, and another for Hudson dealers...
, the first all-new cars from AMC since 1956. Teague was promoted to the post of Vice President in 1964. He held that executive position until he retired from AMC in 1983. At his retirement, Teague joked that the only 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...
auto company he had not worked for was Ford
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...
.
Teague was often quoted as referring to his many years at AMC years as "Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
", although he faced very stiff budget restrictions at the small independent automaker. Nevertheless, Teague worked out relative miracles compared to the spending norms in this industry. With limited budgets, many of Teague's designs reconfigured existing parts in new ways. For example, he was able to design the totally new 1964 compact 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...
by using the doors from AMC's large-sized automobiles. Teague was a master of designing many variations of cars for AMC from a very limited number of basic stampings.
The AMC Cavalier
AMC Cavalier
The AMC Cavalier was a concept car built by American Motors in 1965. It was innovative by its symmetrical design and use of interchangeable body parts.- Origin :...
was a mid-1960s concept car developed to demonstrate this technique of interchangeable body panels and design symmetry
Symmetry
Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection...
. The right front and left rear fenders were identical, as well as the panels for doors, hood, and deck lid all interchanged. The automobile platform
Automobile platform
An automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques...
s designed by Teague featured numerous interchangeable door skins, glass, and more. For example, the front and rear bumpers on the 1970 AMC Hornet were cleverly made from the same stamping. This design talent yielded significant cost savings for the company.
Teague designs
Teague was responsible for the design of many AMC cars and Jeep vehicles. He developed the characteristic and now legendary GremlinAMC Gremlin
The AMC Gremlin is a two-door subcompact car produced in the United States and Canada by the American Motors Corporation between 1970 and 1978. AMC reduced its development and manufacturing costs by adapting a shortened Hornet platform with a Kammback-type tail...
, Pacer
AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980.Its initial design idea was started in 1971. The car's unusual rounded shape with massive glass area greatly contrasted with the three-box architecture with "square,...
, as well as the Matador coupe
AMC Matador
The AMC Matador is a mid-size car that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from 1971 to 1978. The Matador came in two generations: 1971 to 1973 and a major redesign from 1974 to 1978...
. His successes also included the Rambler American, AMC Javelin
AMC Javelin
The Javelin was a production version of one of the AMC AMX prototypes shown during the 1966 AMX project nationwide tour. Intended to rival other pony cars such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. American Motor's Javelin debuted on 22 August 1967, for the 1968 model year...
, AMX
AMC AMX
The AMC AMX is a two-seat GT in style and approach sports car that was produced by American Motors Corporation for the 1968 through 1970 model years. The AMX was also classified as a muscle car, but "unique among other American cars at the time due its short wheelbase"...
Hornet
AMC Hornet
The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation in one generation beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. The Hornet replaced the compact Rambler American marking the end of the Rambler marque in the American and Canadian markets...
, and subsequent successful transformation of the compact platform into the Concord
AMC Concord
The AMC Concord is a compact car produced by the American Motors Corporation for the 1978 through 1983 model years. The Concord replaced the AMC Hornet and to some extent the mid-size AMC Matador, discontinued after 1978 in a market moving to downsized automobiles...
, Spirit
AMC Spirit
The AMC Spirit was a subcompact marketed by American Motors Corporation from 1979 to 1983 as a restyled replacement for the Gremlin. The Spirit shared the Gremlin's platform and was offered in two hatchback variations, each with two doors — marketed as sedan and liftback...
and Eagle
AMC Eagle
The AMC Eagle is a compact-sized four-wheel drive passenger vehicle that was produced by American Motors Corporation . The AMC Eagle line of vehicles inaugurated a new product category of "sport-utility" or crossover SUV....
. Teague was also responsible for a number of concept cars and often lobbied for their production, such as the compact Tarpon
Rambler Tarpon
thumb|305px|AMC press release photo of the TarponThe Rambler Tarpon was a concept car, a sporty youth-oriented 2 plus 2 hardtop coupé developed in 1963 by American Motors Corporation .-The Tarpon:...
that ultimately led to the large Marlin, and continuing production of the two-seat AMX
AMC AMX
The AMC AMX is a two-seat GT in style and approach sports car that was produced by American Motors Corporation for the 1968 through 1970 model years. The AMX was also classified as a muscle car, but "unique among other American cars at the time due its short wheelbase"...
models after 1970. According to experts, many of Teague's designs still look fresh.
AMC AMX-GT
The AMC AMX-GT is a 1968 concept car developed by American Motors Corporation . A rear-wheel drive pillarless coupe of monocoque construction with two doors and a truncated rear end treatment, its design was influenced by AMC stylist Richard A...
. Teague styled a truncated kammback
Kammback
A Kammback is a car body style that derives from the research of the German aerodynamicist Wunibald Kamm in the 1930s. The design calls for a body with smooth contours that continues to a tail that is abruptly cut off. This shape reduces the drag of the vehicle."Kammback" is an American term...
rear for this short wheelbase sports car that was then used on the 1970 Gremlin. A series of "Concept 80" show cars also addressed models that AMC was considering in the future. They were Teague's variations on the company's existing vehicle platforms.
His last handiwork can be seen in the highly popular downsized Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
The Jeep Cherokee is a unibody compact SUV. It shared the name of the original full-size SJ model, but without a body-on-frame chassis, it set the stage for the modern SUV. Its innovative appearance and sales popularity spawned important imitators as other automakers began to notice that this...
, a "masterpiece" design and paradigmatic model that was built in the United States from 1983 through 2001 and in China to 2005. The last cars he worked on were AMC's new large platform (Premier) that was scheduled to debut in 1988. Teague was able to fashion a very roomy interior for these cars. His design was very aerodynamic and the two-door model was to feature hidden headlamps. However, the coupe was never produced. Instead, Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
was contracted to provide sharper edges for the four-door sedan that came out as the Eagle Premier
Eagle Premier
The Eagle Premier was a full-size automobile developed by the American Motors Corporation and Renault partnership, inherited by Chrysler Corporation when it acquired AMC in 1987, and marketed from 1987 through 1992...
.
Historian and collector
Teague was a noted automobile historian and collected classic and rare vehicles, as well as other auto memorabilia. He restored old cars as a hobby, including a 1904 Packard, one of the first produced, and had already owned 285 cars by 1970. At retirement he mentioned that he had owned "400 or 500" cars. Teague's collection included a rare AMX/3. It was donated to the San Diego Automotive MuseumSan Diego Automotive Museum
The San Diego Automotive Museum in San Diego, California is a museum that features a collection of cars and motorcycles that highlight automotive culture throughout history...
along with most of his papers.
Awards
- Chilton's Automotive Industries magazine named Teague the 1976 "Man of the Year" for his designs and work on the AMC PacerAMC PacerThe AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980.Its initial design idea was started in 1971. The car's unusual rounded shape with massive glass area greatly contrasted with the three-box architecture with "square,...
. In the award's 12 year history, this was the first time an automotive stylist was so honored.
- Teague was honored with the EyesOn DesignEyesOn DesignEyesOn Design are a series of events including an annual car show and a fundraiser for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology. It has become a national event focused on the emotion and character of automotive design.- History :...
1999 "Lifetime Design Achievement Award" for his accomplishments as an automotive designer.
Family
Teague's son, Jeff Teague, is also an industrial designer and established two automotive and product design services firms: "Teague Design" and "JTDNA Design".External links
- 1999 Lifetime Design Achievement Award, retrieved on September 21, 2007.
- Teague's masterly job on a AMC/Renault Pace Car, retrieved on September 21, 2007.