Creative Industries of Detroit: The Untold Story of Detroit’s Secret Concept Car Builder


Price: $39.54
(as of Dec 06, 2023 18:45:53 UTC – Details)


This is a print on demand (POD) book with color photos. The paper and photo quality in this book, although good, often does not match the original version but the information remains the same.

The most exhaustive and complete account of the Creative Industries’s 40-plus-year history of creating dream, prototype, concept, and one-off cars.

Get the exclusive story behind the automotive creations at Creative Industries of Detroit from Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1950 Presidential Limousine to the 1993 Mustang Mach III concept cars and more.

Dream cars examined, with great detail, in this volume include the Ford Atmos-FX, Mercury XM-800, Dodge Granada, Packard Balboa, Packard Panthers, Packard Request, Ford Mystere, Corvette Corvair, Dodge Daytona, Plymouth Superbird, DeLorean, and many more. An amazing amount of hardware was constructed, each made separate from the other and with a high level of secrecy. The careers of the company’s founder, Fred Johnson, and his successor, Rex Terry, are featured to show how two former Chrysler employees led the most diverse automotive firm in all of Detroit.

As America entered the postwar 1950s, a resurgence by the auto manufacturers enabled them to create the most eccentric and extravagant automobiles of all time. Fierce competition between designers from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and independents, such as Packard, all turned to one car builder nestled firmly in America’s bustling automotive mecca to help design the most elaborate prototype and concept cars ever: Creative Industries of Detroit.

This all-inclusive book is the first ever on the subject and features behind-the-scenes images and interviews that have never before been published. Whether you are a Creative Industries of Detroit guru, fan of concept cars, or a general automotive enthusiast, this book is an excellent addition to your shelf.


From the Publisher

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As America entered the postwar 1950s, a resurgence by the auto manufacturers enabled them to create the most eccentric and extravagant automobiles of all time. Fierce competition between designers from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and independents, such as Packard, all turned to one car builder nestled firmly in America’s bustling automotive mecca to help design the most elaborate prototype and concept cars ever: Creative Industries of Detroit.

This all-inclusive book is the first ever on the subject and features behind-the-scenes images and interviews that have never before been published. Whether you are a Creative Industries of Detroit guru, fan of concept cars, or a general automotive enthusiast, this book is an excellent addition to your shelf.

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Dapper Detroit dressers and Chrysler connection. Fred H. Johnson (left), founder of Progressive Welder Company and Creative Industries, stands next to his luxurious 1951 Chrysler New Yorker convertible. Fred’s Chrysler was done in a special copper color. Rex is on the right beaming.

Ford Motor Company technician demonstrates sectional latching of Creative-designed components Eisenhower Cosmo top. (Photo Courtesy Thomas A. McPherson Collection)

Journalists criticized XM-800’s Dagmars, calling them “battering rams,” possibly one reason why “Javelin” name was dropped. Bumper was chrome-plated fiberglass, a Creative Industries idea.

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Quarter view of FX-Atmos reveals driver position in center front. Close inspection here reveals center section of bubble canopy is missing. Doors were only simulated. Occupants at shows or photos were lowered into interior from above. Driver here is often mistaken for famous pinup model Bettie Page but reportedly was actually a Ford Motor Company secretary. (Photo Courtesy Ford Motor Company)

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Mitchell Panther after 1955 re-styling by Creative Industries. Photo reveals a lot. Roll-up side windows (side curtains are shown here) and vents were engineered and installed by Creative at same time they were doing likewise on Corvettes. Two-toning rage included here with color changed from Danube Blue to Roman Copper and Corsican Black. Unlike today, roof was originally black for this update. Tire casings here are brown rubber. Why the change to so much brown? It was Packard styling chief Ed Macauley’s favorite color!

Quarter front view of the Charger II shows off sleek fastback that was all the rage in the 1960s. Rectangular headlights are nothing special today, but were considered futuristic back then.

Virgil Exner’s art proposals for a new Stutz Blackhawk coupe (background) and new Stutz Bearcat convertible. Although Ghia is solely credited for work on Exner-designed Stutz cars, this image hung on the walls at Creative’s HQ. Creative was involved. What they did, nobody would say. (Photo Courtesy Pamela Terry Bonk)

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Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cartech (February 15, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1613254776
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1613254776
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.02 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.41 x 11 inches

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