William T. Thaw Collins, Jr.

William Thaw Collins, Jr., died peacefully at his home on March 5, 2023. His wife and sweetheart Nina was at his side. Bill was an automotive engineer with a storied career, an entrepreneur, and philanthropist. People made movies about things he did. He was 90.

In the early 1960s he was a member of Pontiac's advanced engineering group. Of his many accomplishments, Bill was most recognized as the "father" of the Pontiac GTO. He conceived of the GTO at a meeting organized by Pontiac's chief engineer at the time, John Delorean. Bill pointed out that the husky V-8 from a Bonneville or Grand Prix would fit into the same space occupied by the Tempest's tame engine. That was the genesis of the American muscle car. The 2019 documentary Framing John Delorean included a reenactment of their legendary meeting.

In addition to the GTO, Bill was instrumental in developing some of Pontiac's most iconic vehicles, including the Firebird and Grand Am. As Bill told Hemmings Motor News in 2018, "that was the fun of Pontiac in that era, a single person could make major things happen."

In 1974, Delorean asked Bill to leave General Motors to lead the development of his new concept vehicle, the Delorean DMC, a car later immortalized in the Back to the Future movie franchise.

Five years later Bill resigned from DMC and began his next innovative project. He envisioned a 21-foot motorhome with streamlined, modern styling and a BMW engine that could fit into an ordinary garage. Beginning with a full-size prototype of the vehicle's interior - which he built with Nina in their own garage - Bill started the Vixen Motor Company in 1981. The Vixen 21 was a radical standout in the industry. Alas, Bill was too far ahead of his time. Only 587 Vixen 21s were produced at the Vixen factory in Pontiac, Michigan. Many remain on the road today, supported by a passionate owners' community.

Bill was born on 3 April 1932 in Bryn Mawr, PA, to William Thaw Collins, Sr. and Virginia Morris Collins. He studied engineering at Lehigh University. On a visit home from college, Bill's younger brother Sam introduced him to Nina Virginia Hacker. In 1953, Bill and Nina began their 69-year marriage together.

After his graduation from Lehigh in 1955, Bill served in the U.S. Army as an engineer testing advanced landing craft at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Following his discharge, Bill was hired by General Motors's Pontiac Division and he and Nina eagerly moved to Birmingham, Michigan with their three young children.

In 1999, Bill and Nina retired in Northport, MI, to a log house he designed - and partly built - himself. In the early 1990s, he built a lightning-fast 18 foot wooden trimaran sailboat. He avidly pursued his lifelong enthusiasm for sailing and owned a series of boats, which were all named "Yo!" Bill and Nina made several sailing trips to Canada's North Channel.

Bill was deeply committed to the Northport community. He served for several years as chairman of the Northport Village Planning Commission and was elected to the boards of the Leelanau Township Community Foundation and the Northport Youth Sailing School. Bill and Nina supported numerous projects to benefit Northport. Bill funded and spearheaded the construction of Northport Creek, the community golf course; the Northport Art Association building; floating day visitor docks at the marina; and a Northport restaurant (formerly named Tucker's). He was also very involved with other community leaders in the development of affordable housing which resulted in the construction of several housing units in Northport.

Bill was a man of action who did not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. He set objectives, executed his plans to achieve them, and moved on to his next project. For those who did not know him well, he could seem taciturn. (His grandchildren and great-grandchildren called him "Grumpa" or "Great Grump" - affectionate sobriquets that Nina puckishly bestowed upon him.) Yet, to his family and friends, he was a thoughtful, humble and generous patriarch who regularly expressed sincere gratitude for his success and good fortune.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brothers Paul Collins and Samuel Collins. He leaves behind his beloved wife Nina; his son William "Tad" Collins, III (Jessica) of Waterford, MI and two daughters, Christine Woomer (John) of Northport, MI and Jennifer Flaherty (Ryan) of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; his three grandchildren, Nicholas Woomer-Deters (Katharine) of Raleigh, NC, Gwenniviere Aspen (Jeremy) of Omaha, NE, and Hannah Collins of Lake Placid, NY; and four great-grandchildren, Christine and Amelia Aspen and Samuel and Nina Woomer-Deters. Bill is also survived by his nephew, Paul Collins of Eugene, OR, and niece Loren Romero of Los Angeles, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to either the Leelanau Community Foundation, the Northport Arts Association or the Northport Youth Sailing School.

Cremation has taken place with a memorial service to be determined.

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