Tom Tjaarda, car designer with a Dutch background passed away last friday. Perhaps not a widely known name. However, here's a copy/paste list of the cars he worked on. In short, Tjaarda shaped a big part of our collective automotive memories!
- 1959. Ghia Selene I (with Sergio Sartorelli)
- 1960. Innocenti 950 S Ghia Spider
- 1960. (Innocenti) Ghia IXG Dragster
- 1960. Renault Dauphine Ghia Coupé
- 1960. VW Karmann Ghia 1500 (type 34) Coupé (rear design; main body design by Sergio Sartorelli)
- 1961. Ferbedo Automobilina pedal car (Ghia)
- 1961. Ghia Cart
- 1961. Innocenti 1100 Ghia Coupé
- 1962. Chevrolet Corvair Pininfarina Coupé (I)
- 1963. Chevrolet Corvette Rondine Pininfarina Coupé (I)
- 1963. Fiat 2300 Pininfarina
- 1963. Lancia Flaminia 2.8 Pininfarina Coupé Speciale
- 1964. Chevrolet Corvette Rondine Pininfarina Coupé (II)
- 1964. Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Pininfarina series 1
- 1964. Mercedes 230 SL Pininfarina Coupé
- 1965. Fiat 124 Spider Pininfarina[3]
- 1966. Ferrari 365 GT California
- 1968. Chevrolet Checker Berlina (with Giorgetto Giugiaro)
- 1968. Serenissima Coupé (Ghia)
- 1969. De Tomaso Mustela (I) (Ghia)
- 1969. Isuzu Bellett MX1600 GT (Ghia)
- 1969. Lancia Flamina Marica (Ghia)
- 1969. Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Competizione (Ghia)
- 1970. De Tomaso Deauville (Ghia)
- 1970. De Tomaso Pantera Ghia
- 1970. (Lancia Flavia) Giacobbi Sinthesis 2000
- 1970. Williams De Tomaso-Ford (Cosworth) 505/38 (De Tomaso Formula 1)
- 1971. All-Cars AutoZodiaco Damaca
- 1971. De Tomaso 1600 (Ghia) Spider
- 1971. De Tomaso Zonda (Ghia)
- 1971. Isuzu Bellett SportsWagon (Ghia)
- 1972. De Tomaso Longchamp
- 1972. De Tomaso Pantera L (Ghia)
- 1972. De Tomaso Pantera 290 (Ghia)
- 1972. De Tomaso Pantera GT4 (Ghia)
- 1972. Ford Fiesta (Ghia, Project "Wolf")
- 1973. De Tomaso/Ford Pantera 7X (Ghia)
- 1973. De Tomaso Monttella 1/1 197X
- 1973. Ford Mustela (II) (Ghia)
- 1974. Ford Ghia Coins
- 1974. Ford Maverick
- 1978. Lancia Y10
- 1979. Fiat Brazil
- 1979. Ford Mustang II Proposals (Ghia) (different variants)
- 1979. Zastava (facelifts of older Fiat-based models for Yugoslavia)
- 1980. De Tomaso Longchamp Cabrio
- 1981. SEAT Ronda
- 1981. SEAT Guappa Coupé
- 1982. Chrysler LeBaron
- 1982. Chrysler Imperial
- 1983. Rayton-Fissore Taxi Torino
- 1985. Chrysler Jeep (Interior)
- 1985. Rayton-Fissore Magnum 4x4
- 1989. Aston Martin Lagonda Coupé
- 1988. PPG 4x4 (USA)
- 1989. Laforza Magnum 4x4
- 1989. Zastava Utility vehicle
- 1991. Bitter Tasco
- 1992. Saab 900 four door
- 1992. Suzuki Coupé (for Bugatti)
- 1993. Fiat Iveco Truck Interior
- 1995. Lamborghini Diablo (Interior)
- 1998. Isotta-Fraschini T8 Coupé
- 1998. Isotta-Fraschini T12 Coupé
- 2000. Qvale Mangusta (II)
- 2001. Laforza PSV (II) (production engineering only)
- 2002. Spyker GT Sport
- 2003. Fiat Barchetta (Facelift)
- 2006. Shelby Series 2
- 2007. Tjaarda Mustang
I knew that he had an impressive "back catalogue", but I hadn't realised just how impressive.
I doubt that we'll see his like again. All new cars are now shaped by the conflicting demands of the safety lobby, environmentalists and bean-counters, before being neutered by committees and focus groups.
What a varied career.
Love the Pantera.
The Dauphine Ghia Coupé never existed as such. Whilst it's prototype was subject to a hard conflict between Renault, Ghia and the maker of the prototype, it was a successful and fun little coupé and convertible, commercialised under 2 names, Floride and Caravelle.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Some great designs pre-'75 but pretty unremarkable after that. IIRC he had a quite interesting column in one of the classic car monthlies - insightful. RIP Tom.
One of his best designs imho:
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