Jan Wilsgaard

Jan Wilsgaard (23 January 1930 – 6 August 2016) was an American-born Norwegian automotive designer. He was the head of design at Volvo Cars from 1950 to 1990.

Jan Wilsgaard
Born	23 January 1930 Brooklyn
Died	6 August 2016 (aged 86)
Alma mater	School of Design and Crafts
Occupation	Car designer
Employer	Volvo

The Volvo 122 coupe, designed by Jan Wilsgaard

Wilsgaard was one of twenty-five designers nominated for Car Designer of the Century.^{[citation needed]}

Background and career

Wilsgaard studied at the Gothenburg School of Applied Arts (now HDK, Högskolan för Design och Konsthantverk, at the University of Gothenburg) before joining Volvo when co-founder Assar Gabrielsson still headed the company.^[1]

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,^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3][4] According to Simon Lamarre, chief studio designer, "the 1800ES has become one of the icons for Volvo",^[4] inspiring the design of the Volvo C30.^[4]

When he designed the Volvo 140 Series,^[5] Wilsgaard employed a credo, "simple is beautiful". ^[6] The design symbolized the car's robust, restrained quality. Regarding the enormous success of the Volvo 240 series in worldwide, Wilsgaard is said to have remarked "It might be because the car is a little square and sluggish, just like the Swedes themselves."^[3] He was followed at Volvo by the British designer Peter Horbury.^{[citation needed]}

Wilsgaard died on 6 August 2016.^[7][8]

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 262C
• Volvo 740
• Volvo 760
• Volvo 780
• Volvo 850

Personal life

Wilsgaard was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1930, to a Norwegian mother and father.^[3] His father was a Norwegian sailor. During World War II, his family fled from Norway to Sweden. Wilsgaard died on 6 August 2016.^[7][8]

Gallery

• 
  The Volvo 145, designed by Jan Wilsgaard
• 
  The Volvo 144, designed by Jan Wilsgaard
• 
  The Volvo 164, designed by Jan Wilsgaard
• 
  The Volvo P1800ES, adapted to an estate by Jan Wilsgaard
• 
  Rearview of the Volvo P1800ES, as adapted to an estate by Jan Wilsgaard
• 
  The Volvo 740, designed by Jan Wilsgaard
• 
  The 850 was Wilsgaard's last design at Volvo

See also

• Volvo Cars
• Peter Horbury