| The Artist
Sculptor Don Sommer is well known to everyone who collects and restores rare automobiles. During the mid-1970s he founded the Concours d'Elegance at Meadow Brook Hall, where his sculptures are presented as major awards.
Sommer, an engineer, spent 17 years in the aerospace industry beginning with a stint with the Von Braun Missle Team. While restoring his 1930 Packard Phaeton, he began making badly needed replacement parts and accessories for other serious antique car collectors. This developed into a full-time business and allowed him to devote more time to his career as a serious artist.
His "GI Joe" sculpture is a take off on "Old Bill," the World War I English cartoon character. The "Laboudette' Coupe" was sketched by Dave Holls, retired Chief of Design at General Motors. It is now the Designer's Choice Award at the Meadow Brook Hall Concours d'Elegance. He recently completed sculpture of the "Baby Bootlegger" the most coveted of antique boats.
Sommer also did the "Speedway Streamliner," an award for Ronald McDonald children's charities for One Lap of America. An edition of 10 was created in stainless steel depicting the 1955 race car.
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