Artistes

1960 · 61481 — Lansing MI & Los Angeles CA: Oldsmobile Division General Motors Corp.; E. Parke Branson Van Ness Oldsmobile Sept. 1960. 4to. 9 x 11.25 in. 31 1 pp. With colour illustrations & designs throughout some double-page self-printed colour-illustrated softcovers w/ cover art by Fitzpatrick & Kaufman minor shelfwear slight rubbing still VG copy w/ dealership label on front cover. First edition of this stylish dealer’s showroom brochure for the 1961 Oldsmobile automobiles which featured the introduction of the unique mid-size F-85 powered by a aluminum 215 cubic inch V-8 trying to compete with similar offerings by Buick and Pontiac. Featuring illustrations by Fitzpatrick & Kaufman who were able on occasion to include their initials AF/VK hidden in their General Motors artwork. The full size line-up models featured an all-new smaller streamlined and rounded body and chassis with perimeter “Guard Beam†frame and all-coil suspension replaced the leaf springs. All of the full-size Oldsmobiles were powered by the 394 cubic-inch Rocket V8 with the Dynamic 88 featuring a 2-barrel 250 horsepower version. The Super 88 could be purchased with a 4-barrel 394 Skyrocket V8 rated at 325 horsepower. Fitzpatrick b. 1919 launched his career by apprenticing under John Tjaarda at the Briggs Body Co. as a designer in 1937 and later designed the Darrin Packard One-Eighty sedan before working for General Electric during World War II. After the War Fitzpatrick illustrated for Mercury Lincoln Nash & Plymouth before being recruited for the 1953 Buick portfolio and later granted exclusive contract with GM. Kaufman b. 1918 was a Disney animator who worked on Fantasia and Dumbo and later with the Army Air Corps First Motion Picture Unit and teamed up with Fitzpatrick in 1951. Their original artwork created for GM through 1970 remain some of the most desired automobile art of the 20th Century. Worldcat locates 1 copy Lib. of MI similar brochure/poster at Hagley See: Illustrious Duo: The Art of Fitz and Van Driven to Write 2022. Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corp.; E. Parke Branson, Van Ness Oldsmobile, paperback