Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: Sitting with a Design Legend Continue reading the Original Blog Post
In real time, live, an example of what I seem to throw out in topics that relate to trends and firsts. I think I'm bordering on envy just a wee bit. While those noted are indeed stellar examples I believe his list of designs go much further, perhaps to some we seem to take for granted. Thanks man...
Journalists are the lucky ones that get to meet our hero's, and we find that most are just people like the rest of us that just love vehicles, love to talk about them, love to drive them, and in this case design the ones we love.
Tom is a regular at Pebble Beach. I met Tom in the late 1990's at Monterey and spent a day with him at Laguna Seca. I was interested to learn more about his exciting life as a designer. He told me he studied architecture and that one of his Professors introduced him to Pininfarina. We exchanged business cards and some time shortly after I returned to my home in Melbourne, Australia, my secretary called on my day off to tell me a parcel had arrived from Italy. To my surprise the sender was ITAL-Design. When I opened the parcel there was a complimentary letter from Tom accompanied with a large autographed print of the prototype De Tomaso Pantera I got to meet a number of interesting "car guys" at Monterey over the years including Giulio Alfieri ( Chief Maserati Engineer) responsible for engine and ch***is design. I still have the Christmas card I received from him I also met Carlo -Felice Anderloni the owner of Touring Coachworks who was responsible for the design and construction of the famous Ferrari "Barchetta" circa 1949. Mr Anderloni at the time had an Australian guest Paul Vellacot staying at his Villa in Italy whilst he was attending the Pebble Beach Concours. I knew Paul through my ***ociation with Lancia cars. We had chatted for a while when Mr Anderloni asked me if I would like to travel to Italy as I would be most welcome to stay at his Villa. WOW!! I didn't travel to Italy at the time and sometime later he p***ed away. I regret I was never able to take up his offer and missed the opportunity to meet some other great car people known to him Another "cool" guy I met at Monterey on one of my visits was the American born Tom Meade who travelled to Italy to learn the art of coach building in the early 60s and worked with Neri and Bonacini where he built the famous Ferrari 250 Nembo Spyder and later built some extraordinary custom based Ferrari "Hot Rods" - one complete with spaghetti exhaust along sides which was featured on the cover of Road & Track circa 1969-70. I met Tom in an elevator of all places. He was with Gary Roberts a Ferrari dealer from Southern California and they were arguing about something to do with cars. I just happened to intervene in their conversation and very soon we were having drinks together. We soon became friends and on our return to Los Angele -we teamed up and together we hit Sunset Blvd looking to indulge in the next best thing to cars. Tom Meade was 52 years old but looked and acted younger, I was in my 30s and together we met some incredible women. Tom played the part of a Hollywood film director on the look out for Talent! I played the part of an up and coming director - Tom was my mentor. He was master with a hammer and dolly and no less skilled when it came to women - he seemed to have a knack for all things beautiful! His mother lived in Laguna Beach and I was surprised to discover she was from my home town in Melbourne Australia. Tom told me he had some interesting Italian cars and parts including a Ferrari 250 SWB California stored back in Italy. I later discovered that it was all true when he sold the California in around 2007 or so. I need to make a another trip soon!
Ole fog brain me seems to remember reading that Tom or John had something to do with the design of the dash board in one of the Crosley models..
Although I had my fair share of Hot Wheels when I was growing up,my grandfather got me started on European toys,such as Corgi,Solido,Dinky,Distler and many others.My paternal grandfather never drove an American car after WWII and loved his sports cars.I grew to like them as well and by high school I was driving not only hot rods,but BMW 2002's and 3.0 's,a Karmann Ghia,TR2,MGA,and a Lancia Beta coupe.Like a lot of car people,I can't stick to one group,I like to move around.I have owned a couple of his designs,but as I went through the list of his designs,I found several more of his cars that either someone I knew owned or that I have seen driving around or at car shows.Mr. Tjaarda's body of work is impressive.Check out his wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Tjaarda which also has links to his own website.
The Jalopy Journal
