Aussie Mike Simcoe has gone from a kid pinning Holden posters on his wall to having the biggest job in the automotive design world – the head of General Motors’ global design team. What’s more impressive is that his University lecturers discouraged him from getting into auto design, and he only joined Holden in 1983 to make some fast money.
You may have owned, merely driven or simply been among Simcoe’s motoring gems over the past three decades. Here are six of the best cars led by the man who brought back the Monaro and gave us
1992 – Buick Sceptre concept – produced during Simcoe’s first two-year stint at GM’s Warren design studio in the US.
1997 – Holden Commodore VT. All-time most popular Commodore sold (96,642 examples in 1998 alone). Spawned a myriad of derivatives.
1998 – Holden Commodore Coupe concept. First sketched on a wall at home. Became the Monaro and Pontiac GTO.
2006 – Holden Commodore VE. The most complete, most Australian vehicle ever developed. GFC foils plans for it to spawn a generation of GM cars.
2010 – Chevrolet Camaro. Based on VE’s Zeta architecture. A massive hit in the US.
2015 – Buick Avenir concept. Exterior by Warrack Leach. Beautifully proportioned rear-drive large car won Best Concept Vehicle at the 2015 Detroit show.
