Brooks Stevens; Designed Many Vehicles

Brooks Stevens, 83, who designed everything from Studebaker automobiles and Harley-Davidson motorcycles to the promotional fiberglass Weinermobile for Oscar Mayer. Among his designs for 585 companies during his long career were a civilian version of the military Jeep, the Jeep station wagon and the Jeep Cherokee. Others were sky-top railroad lounge cars, Allis-Chalmers tractors, early rotary power lawn mowers and gasoline engines. His designs for Studebaker led to development of the Excalibur luxury car, which combined classic lines with modern technology. Stevens said that although he enjoyed the Weinermobile, he got the most satisfaction from designing the Evinrude outboard motor because it helped so many people enjoy boating. On Wednesday in Milwaukee of heart failure.