Jim Powers Tour Sept. 20
Growing up in Lubbock, Texas, Jim Powers had a talent for all types of design and like many kids, a love of cars. At age 16 he entered the Fisher Body Craftsman Design Competition with a model he created and built by hand. It won him a trip to Detroit as a guest of General Motors. He got to meet Harley Earle, GM’s legendary head of styling, view future model cars in the design center, and eat lunch with the GM brass in the executive dining room high up in the GM building. It was a never to be forgotten experience and shaped his future..
After high school he was accepted into the Transportation Design program at L.A.s Art Center College (which later moved to Pasadena). That’s where automobile stylists learn their craft and where he naturally excelled. In the final semester of his senior year he was recruited by Ford Motor Company’s styling department. He accepted on the condition that he be allowed to complete the semester and get his degree. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of that!” he was told and was allowed to earn enough work/study credits at Ford to graduate. He became the first Art Center student ever hired by Ford (1956) and also their youngest designer at the time.
Jim distinguished himself at Ford. He is credited with the distinctive roofline for the 1960 Ford Starliner hardtop, the design of the 1961 Thunderbird, preliminary renderings that were used for the ’65 Mustang, instrument panels for the ’64 to ’67 Lincoln Continentals, and many futuristic designs like the Ford Nucleon that became famous even though the cars were never built.
Despite his being on track to become head of styling at Ford, Jim hated the Detroit winters and he hated watching his cars (a ’56 Continental Mark II among others) develop rust after just a couple of years. In 1963 he resigned his job and moved to California. He started a very successful advertising agency in Century City where he had many well-known clients including Mattel Toy Company, Bridgestone Tires, Martin Cadillac, and many others in various industries. In addition to advertising campaigns he offered everything the client might need including product design, store displays and package design. For a jeweler came up with a unique design for diamond engagement rings that elevated a single gem mounted above the ring by slender pins. The jeweler didn’t like the non-traditional look and said it would never sell. Jim responded by offering to pay for the production costs and marketing expenses if jewelers would agree to display the rings and pay him back with royalties from any sales. Under this arrangement the new style was offered in jewelry stores around the country and the Solitaire Diamond engagement ring soon became the most popular design of all time.
When Jim decided to retire he sold his office building in Century City and bought an architecturally interesting mid-century building in South Pasadena. The 2nd floor was 4,000’ of office space with another 3,000’ for his own apartment. The ground floor was a garage for his car collection which at one time numbered about 40 vehicles, all restored. The south wall is glass through which you can view tropical landscaping with an open feel to the building. Jim died in 2023 at the age of 89 but his son, who now occupies the apartment, has turned the building into a museum to honor his dad’s career and display his cars and other product designs. There are also over 3,000 model cars on display that Jim collected. This has never been open to the public and few people have seen it other than personal friends.
What: Jim Powers tour
When: Saturday, Sept. 20 starting at 9:30 AM for coffee and donuts
Where: 1517 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena
Cost: $45 including a delicious Italian lunch which includes lasagna, ravioli, beverages, and dessert
All members and guests must register by Sept. 14
Parking is limited (street parking only) so consider carpooling with friends if possible.
