Tjaarda, John, 1897-1962.

Born in Holland on Feb. 4, 1897. Engineer, mechanic, designer, race driver, pilot and advocate for airfoil car design. His innovative designs, such as a rear-engine automobile, plastic bodies, and a fuel economical auto were, at the time, not appreciated by the auto industry establishment. A holder of more than 60 patents, both automotive and non-automotive, Tjaarda died on March 20, 1962.

From the description of Papers of John Tjaarda, 1900-1962 (bulk 1926-1958). (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 52291240

John Tjaarda, born in 1897 near Arnhem, the Netherlands, led a long and colorful career that spanned many industries. Tjaarda immigrated to the United States in 1923 after completing studies at the Alexander Klemmins School of Aeronautics in London, England and service in the Royal Dutch Air Force. Between 1923 and 1932 Tjaarda worked for Locke & Co., automobile designers in Rochester, New York. While at Locke & Co., Tjaarda combined sleek aircraft designs with experimental unitbody chassis and rear engine mountings, naming them Sterkenbergs. Walter O. Briggs, owner of the Briggs Manufacturing Company in Detroit, Michigan and a leader in automobile design, hired Tjaarda in 1932 to work in the prestigious LeBaron design studio where Tjaarda expanded on the aerodynamic Sterkenberg designs and created the "Briggs Dream Car" displayed at the 1933 Ford Exhibition of Progress and the 1934 Chicago World's Fair. This prototype became the basis for one of Tjaarda's most influential designs, the 1936 Lincoln-Zephyr. Tjaarda remained with Briggs until 1941 when he was let go from the company after initiating patent litigation. Tjaarda established his own design studio, John Tjaarda and Associates, and attempted to produce his own automobile, the Cortez. Tjaarda continued his work in automotive and industrial design and joined Aerojet-General Corporation, a defense contractor, in 1961 as a technical consultant a year before his death.

From the description of John Tjaarda papers, 1916-1962. (The Henry Ford). WorldCat record id: 53881417