Jan Wilsgaard

Jan Wilsgaard, born in 1930cite web
title = Amazonen fyller 50 år "(Amazons turn 50)"
publisher = Göteborgs-Posten, July 29 2006 "(in Swedish)"
url = http://www.gp.se/gp/road/Classic/shared/printArticle.jsp?d=913&a=288323] in Brooklyn, New York, cite web
title = Jan Wilsgaard,Presentation of new Honourable Member, 2005
publisher = Volvo P1800 Club of Sweden
url = http://www.volvop1800club.se/jan/hedersmedlem_2005_en.htm] was the Chief Designer at Volvo Cars from 1950-1990, having studied at Gothenburg School of Applied Arts (today HDK) before joining Volvo when co-founder Assar Gabrielsson still headed the company.cite web
title = Jan Wilsgaard, Designer - the man who turned the van into a station wagon
publisher = Volvo Press Release, 50250-HR, 38400-JTR/ kse, Sep 2, 1985
url = http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/press/pdf/JanWilsgaard.pdf] Wilsgaard was followed at Volvo by the noted designer Peter Horbury.

As Chief Designer, Wilsgaard designed all Volvo's projects during his tenure, with few exceptions (e.g., the Volvo P1900 Sport and P1800 Coupe). One of Wilsgaard's first jobs was to design better rear windows for the PV Duett Van, a prophetic project, given that Wilsgaard went on to design the estate versions of the company's Amazon, 145, 760 and 850 Series — during a period which saw Volvo become closely associated with the station wagon / estate body type.

In addition to designing the Amazon, and 144, Wilsgaard also designed the highly regarded Volvo 164, as well as his successful estate adaptation, the 1800ES, of the company's P1800 Coupe . According to Simon Lamarre, chief studio designer, "the 1800ES has become one of the icons for Volvo," cite web
title = From the Past: Volvo 1800ES, Combination of a Wagon and Sports Car Flopped in the Market, but Became Influential
publisher = The Wall Street Journal,Dan Carney, June 30, 2007
url = http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB118157635963731249.html] inspiring the design of the Volvo C30.

[http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Lot/6206/b30.html See also: Photos history of the design conception of the Volvo 164]

When he designed the Volvo 140 Seriescite web
title = So good a million people bought one
publisher = The New Zealand Herald, August 19, 2006
url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/location/story.cfm?l_id=99&objectid=10396902] , Wilsgaard employed a credo, "simple is beautiful".cite web
title = Volvo 760 - the car that formed the foundation for the modern Volvo
publisher = Topspeed, 02.6.2007,by Simona
url = http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/-volvo-760the-car-that-formed-the-foundation-for-the-modern-volvo-ar26737.html] The design symbolized the car's robust, restrained quality — but later came to represent a lack of creativity or daring. Regarding the enormous success the Volvo 240 series in Sweden, Wilsgaard is said to have remarked "It might be due to the fact that the car is a little square and sluggish, just like the Swedes themselves."

Wilsgaard lives today in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Volvo cars styled by Jan Wilsgaard::* P179, better known as the 'Margaret Rose':* Volvo Philip (1950) :* PV 179 (1952) :* Volvo Amazon (P1200/120) :* Volvo P1400 (1967)(Volvo 140) :* Volvo 164 :* Volvo 140 :* Volvo 240 :* Volvo 740 :* Volvo 760 :* Volvo 780 :* Volvo 850

ee also

*Volvo Cars
*Peter Horbury
* [http://www.hdk.gu.se/ HDK Högskolan för Design och Konsthantverk "(Highschool for Design and Construction)"]

References