Automotive innovator to be remembered at show

Rockin' and Rollin' Down the Highway is the theme for the ninth annual Cruisin' with the Classics Car Show at Grand Dominion's Lakeside Lodge in Mundelein on Sunday, Aug. 20. The show will pay tribute to one man who helped countless drivers do just that.

This year's show will honor the late Richard A. "Dick" Teague, who held automotive design positions at General Motors, Packard and Chrysler before becoming vice president of design for American Motors Corp. in 1961.

Many of Teague's automobile creations will be shown at Cruisin' with the Classics, including a 1970 Prototype AMX/3.

Teague's widow, Marian Teague, resides at Grand Dominion. She has shared many stories about her husband, who designed several notable show cars and production vehicles, including AMC's Pacer, Gremlin, AMX, Javelin and Hornet models, as well as the Jeep Cherokee XJ.

Upon retirement at AMC, Dick was hired as a consultant to Chrysler.

Teague was a noted automobile historian and collected classic and rare vehicles, as well as other auto memorabilia, his widow said. He restored old cars as a hobby. At retirement, he mentioned that he had owned more than 400 automobiles during his lifetime.

- Cindi Petraitis