Profiling Greatness: Larry Shinoda

Though his tenure did not last nearly as long as that of Bill Mitchell or Zora-Arkus Duntov, few can deny the significance of Larry Shinoda’s contributions to GM design and development, especially that of the Corvette. Without Shinoda’s efforts, the Corvette world would likely have gone without the C3, in its now iconic form, as well as several of GM’s most infamous prototypes.

In His Blood

When looking back on Larry Shinoda’s early days, it is no wonder that he went on to find immense success as an automotive designer. From childhood, Shinoda was naturally artistic, and had an overwhelming inclination toward all things hot rod. Growing up in California, Shinoda watched as the newly developing automotive scene came of age.

In 1942, Shinoda, who was of Japanese descent, along with the remainder of his family, was forced to relocate to the Manzanar internment camp for Japanese-American citizens, as tensions built with the onset of WWII. However, it was during this period that the young designer’s prowess began to show. During his two year stay at Manzanar, Shinoda spent much of his time drafting and designing furniture, which he would ultimately construct from salvaged wood, which he sourced from orange crates.