RIP-David Judd Nutting, The Man Who Designed the First Wagoneer for Brooks Stevens Design Team and then on to Kaiser-Willys for Production

RIP-David Judd Nutting, The Man Who Designed the First Wagoneer for Brooks Stevens Design Team and then on to Kaiser-Willys for Production

When we acquired the original black and white album of the Jeep Wagoneer, Wagoneer Delivery Wagon, and JTruck designs commissioned by Kaiser/Willys by the Brooks Stevens Design Group, I knew who to call to verify their authenticity. David Nutting and I had spoken on the phone a couple of times prior to the confirmation call I made to his home in Green Valley, Arizona, in 2014. He loved to talk about the workings of the group of men who were given the challenge of a lifetime (for most of us) by Mr. Kaiser: Design a Station Wagon that we can/will be able to compete with the Ford and Chevrolet Station Wagons that were becoming the family car of choice, and selling like gangbusters, in the late 1950-early 1960's. The Willys Station Wagon was first designed by Brooks Stevens, and manufactured by K/W beginning in 1947 after WWII, had had a long run and was still a boxy 1940ish looking Jeep (albeit lovable) but was in no position to take on the Big Boys of Detroit. A new look and style was called for, and that meant Brooks Stevens and company were summoned to Toledo, Ohio. 

As David told me in a phone conversation from Arizona, the team returned home and immediately set about working on sketches. Nutting was a bit of a loner within this group of talented designers and immediately began to work on his own, while the others sort of collaborated and worked on a design in team fashion. With Toledo breathing down their necks, Mr. Stevens called a meeting a couple of days later to get a look at their progress. What he found were two distinctly different ideas and concepts were forming. While the "A" Team's renderings clearly resembled a low-slung Ford Station Wagon with a funky-looking 'Jeep' grill, Nutting's drawings took the new station wagon in a whole different direction. His stretches resembled something of a pickup/wagon hybrid with a unique new grill. Each side clamored loudly for their new design strategy to be given to K-W as the solution for the Jeep company, and after some consideration, Brooks settled it by telling both Nutting, and the consortium, to finish up their respective design work and they would present both design books to Mr. Kaiser. And let HIM make the decision. Mr. Kaiser decided with little fanfare, but much to the excitement of a young David Nutting, with the 'Wagoneer' look that went on to be built the following year, 1962, for the 1963 model year. 

-  as told to Chip Miller, Wagonmaster, 2012   

 

 

https://www.gvnews.com/obituaries/david-judd-nutting/article_744dad80-0721-11eb-9f71-5f3a4941386b.html

Obituary from Green Valley News

David Judd Nutting

David Judd Nutting
 

David Judd Nutting, passed away in his home in Green Valley, AZ, on September 23, 2020.

David was born in River Forest, IL to Harold and Margaret Nutting, on December 26, 1930. He met his wife Phyllis in Winnetka, IL, and was married in IL on August 8, 1953. They spent 71 years together and raised their daughter Elizabeth in Milwaukee and Illinois.

David always had a love for inventing and tinkering and went on to become a designer, engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and author. After graduating from Pratt Institute School of Design, David served two years as a 1st Lt. in the Army Corps of Engineers. From there he joined the design firm Brooks Stevens Associates, and became involved in the design of Evinrude Outboard Motors, 3M products, Enstrom Helicopters, and even designed the first SUV, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

David established, Nutting Industries, and created a series of coin-operated amusement games, and had 22 Red Baron game rooms throughout the country. In 1970, NI became the R&D consultants to Bally/Midway Mfg, where they created the first microprocessor pinball and video game systems. Some of the more famous games they produced were Gunfight, Seawolf, Ms. Pacman, Wizard of Wor, Gorf, Tron and Baby Pac Man. In his spare time David studied quantum physics and in 2005 wrote a book on the subject, “Language of Nature.”

A lover of aviation, cars, and machines, David built and flew helicopters, commuted by airplane (because of a license revocation due to excessive speeds in a Ferrari), and would show up frequently with a “surprise” for Phyllis – a car, jewelry frozen in a block of ice and plans for a pool. While living in Ridgway, CO for 19 years, David enjoyed spending time in the mountains snowmobiling, riding dirtbikes and taking his family and friends on Jeep excursions. For the last 16 years, David and Phyllis have lived in Green Valley, where David continued to tinker and invent in his garage and write books.

David was a quiet stalwart and loving presence, who always enjoyed a good prank and gin martini. We love you dearly and will miss you. Until eternity!

David is survived by his wife Phyllis, daughter Lisa and son-in-law Mike, and grandchildren David and Annie, and their families. A funeral service will be held online for family and friends at a time and date to be determined.

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