Harley Jarvis Earl was born on November 22, 1893, in Hollywood, California. His father, J.W. Earl, was a coachbuilder who founded Earl Automobile Works in 1908. Harley Earl began studies at Stanford University but left to work with his father at Earl Automotive Works, which built custom bodies for Hollywood movie stars.
Earl Automotive Works was bought by Cadillac dealer Don Lee, who kept Harley Earl as director of its custom body shop. Lawrence P. Fisher, general manager of the Cadillac division, met Earl and was impressed with his designs and methods. Fisher commissioned Earl to design the 1927 LaSalle for Cadillac's companion marque, leading to the creation of the "Art and Colour Section" at General Motors, with Earl as its first director.
As head of the "Art and Colour Section," Earl struggled to legitimize his design approach against traditional executives. He was initially referred to as one of the "pretty picture boys," and his design studio as the "Beauty Parlor." Earl promoted the "Dynamic Obsolescence" and "Annual Model Change" concepts, tying model identity to a specific year. He supervised GM stylists, retaining ultimate authority over the styling department until his retirement in 1958.
In 1939, under Earl's instruction, the Styling Division built the Buick Y-Job, the motor industry's first concept car. During World War II, Earl established a camouflage research and training division at General Motors. He authorized the Frank Hershey design for the 1948 Cadillac, which incorporated the first automotive tailfin. Earl also led the development of the Chevrolet Corvette, a sports car influenced by English and European sports cars.
Earl retired in 1958 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. His final project was overseeing the design of 1960–62 models. He was succeeded by Bill Mitchell, under whose leadership GM design became less ornamental. Harley Earl suffered a stroke and died in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 10, 1969, at the age of 75.
Earl is remembered as the first styling chief in the United States automobile industry, the originator of clay modeling of automotive designs, and the introducer of the wraparound windshield, hardtop sedan, factory two-tone paint, and tailfins. He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1986. The Harley J. Earl Trophy, which goes to the winner of the season-opening Daytona 500 NASCAR race, features a concept car design by Earl.
Earl's influence extended beyond the automotive industry. He was ranked the third most significant Michigan artist of the 20th century in a 1999 special section in the Detroit Free Press. Earl was used in a brief advertising campaign for Buick, symbolizing the importance of design in Buick's cars.
Earl received formal recognition for his contributions to the automotive industry. His legacy continues to be celebrated through his iconic designs and the ongoing use of his concept car designs in various contexts.
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