Peter Brock

Peter Brock is an American automotive and product designer known for his significant contributions to the automotive industry. As a 20-year-old GM designer, he sketched what would become the 1959 Chevrolet Stingray Racer and later the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray. Photo courtesy of Peter Brock.

A photo of Brock with his 1946 Ford. In May of 2021 Brock told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that the original work was done at Olive Hill Garage in Los Angeles, California. "It was started by the first owner whose name I was never able to learn. I believe he was a young man who went into the Army and was killed in Korea. His family placed the car on a used car lot in San Francisco where I discovered it. I was more into sports cars than customs at the time so I sold my MG TC to buy this car as I could see the potential."

While studying as an automotive designer at the Art Center Design School of Los Angeles, Peter started sketching new ideas for the Ford. He brought the custom to Norm's Auto Body to have the ideas carried out in metal. The unique nosepiece on the second iteration of the car was made from two Mercury grille shells that were spliced together. "I used the nose of a 1941 Hudson and two 1950 Mercury grill shells to make the radiator intake," Peter recalled in 2021. This photo shows the car as it appeared when it was featured in Car Craft June 1956.

Another photo of Brock with the Ford.

Jack Nethercutt's Mirage was a race car that Brock designed for Jack in the mid-1960s. The car was envisioned as the pinnacle Can Am car during the series' inception. Financial constraints, stemming from opposition by Jack's father, delayed its completion by two years. By the time it was finished, the "low drag" style Mirage, designed before aero downforce became crucial in racing, was outdated. Notably, it was among the first with a monocoque chassis, even having monocoque wheels. With a lightweight Olds V8 engine, it could've been revolutionary if completed sooner. But by its debut, it was obsolete, though still beautifully designed. Bill Fowler, formerly Dan Gurney's crew chief, ensured the car's impeccable construction. Jack initially drove it but later allowed others when its non-winning potential became clear. Later, family disputes arose when Jack aimed to take over his father's business. The car was ordered destroyed by JN Sr., though whispers suggest it might have survived, waiting for a potential return as a vintage racer. Only time will tell.

According to Peter, "it’s interesting to note that Briggs Cunningham was the first to use these “racing stripes” which I added to my car in honor of his participation as an American at Le Mans. I later used those stripes in designing the livery for the Mustang GT350s we built at Shelby American starting in 1965." Photo courtesy of 1965gt350mustang.com.

Peter Brock's Brock Coupe. He designed the original in 1963. Only six were made, so later on, Brock worked at the Hi-Tech company in South Africa to create a modern version of the Daytona Cobra Coupe, the Brock Coupe. Photo courtesy of Peter Brock.

Peter Elbert Brock is an American automotive and product designer known for his work in the motorsports industry. His extensive career spans multiple roles, including designer, racer, author, and entrepreneur.

School Days, First Custom Car, and Sports Car Interests

Brock grew up in the Sausalito area of Northern California. His passion for cars and automotive design can be traced back to his early years. Growing up, he became fascinated with automobiles and began nurturing his creativity and design skills. When he was 16 years old, he saved money to buy a 1949 MG that he painted white to match the U.S. international racing colors of blue and white.

After his family moved to Menlo Park, Brock bought a 1946 Ford Convertible, which would later become known as the "Fordillac." Originally restyled by Art Lellis and Jerry Moffatt, the car caught Brock's attention when it was placed on a used car lot in San Francisco. Despite his initial preference for sports cars, Brock saw the potential in the custom Ford and decided to sell his MG TC to acquire it.

As a young man, he attended the Art Center Design School of Los Angeles, where he honed his automotive design abilities. During his time at the Art Center, Brock not only studied the art of automotive design, but he also started exploring his own custom car projects. While studying at the Art Center, Brock continued to refine and reimagine his custom creation. He brought the Fordillac to Norm's Auto Body, where additional modifications were carried out. The car's rear end was restyled, recessing the license plate into the rear pan. Push bars replaced the Olds wrap-around-type bumpers, and taillights from an Austin-Healey were integrated. The unique nosepiece of the car was crafted using two Mercury grille shells spliced together, along with the nose of a 1941 Hudson. The interior of the Fordillac was re-upholstered in white and blue pleated Naugahyde, with a tonneau cover featuring white with dark blue stripes. The car received an Arctic white paint job with dark blue Cunningham racing-style colors, which was a distinctive choice at the time.

As Brock's design skills and interests continued to evolve, he made the decision to sell the Fordillac to fund his education at the Art Center College of Design in 1956. He then ventured to Detroit to work as a designer for General Motors. The Fordillac holds a significant place in Brock's automotive journey, not only as his first major custom car project but also as an inspiration for future designs. The racing stripes that adorned the Fordillac were a tribute to Briggs Cunningham's participation as an American at Le Mans, and Brock later incorporated similar stripes into the livery of the Mustang GT350s that were built at Shelby American starting in 1965.

Early Career and Design Contributions

Brock started his career at General Motors as a designer at the age of 20. He sketched what later became the 1959 Chevrolet Stingray Racer and the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray. He was the first employee hired by Carroll Shelby, and he played a significant role in creating Shelby American. He transformed the Shelby Cobra roadster into the Cobra Daytona Coupe in 1963. This car became the first American vehicle to win the FIA's GT World Championship in 1965. Besides his design contributions, Brock also created the Shelby "brand," designing logos, ads, and race car graphics.

Brock Racing Enterprises

In December 1965, Brock founded Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE), his own design firm and motor racing team. BRE worked with Hino, Toyota, and Datsun, and Brock designed GT cars for BRE clients, including the Hino Samurai, a showy mid-engine GT for the prestigious Japan GP series. BRE became the west coast Datsun factory race team and achieved success in the SCCA DP class with Datsun 2000 roadsters, in the CP class with the 240Zs (SCCA National Champions '70-'71), and in the 2.5 Trans-Am Series races with the Datsun 510s (National Champions '71-'72).

Later Work and Achievements

After leaving BRE, Brock founded Ultralite Products, which became the largest hang-gliding company in the world. He later returned to the automotive industry and worked at the Hi-Tech company in South Africa to create a modern version of the Daytona Cobra Coupe, the Brock Coupe. He also co-wrote with his wife Gayle the award-winning books: Corvette Sting Ray: Genesis of an American Icon and The Road to Modena: Origins and History of the Shelby-DeTomaso P70 Can-Am Racer.

In 2022, Brock was honored as the Master of Motorsports at the American Speed Festival, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of Shelby American's impact on sports cars. That same year, he worked with Ian Callum and an Irish company, AVA, to launch a reinterpretation of the Corvette Sting Ray as an all-electric “hyperclassic.” By the Summer of 2023, the AVA project in Ireland had been shelved.

Personal Life

In June of 2023, Brock lived in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife Gayle. They worked together, and Gayle ran the current-day BRE operation, which offered memorabilia from the 1960s and 1970s, built Aerovault car trailers and offered aftermarket parts and accessories for Datsuns and Daytona Coupe replicas.

Pete Brock's Cars

Peter Brock's 1946 Ford Convertible - The Fordillac