David C. Hill, Chief Engineer/Vehicle Line Executive

Birth/Education

• Born:  January 15, 1943.
• In 1965, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.
• Earned a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan in 1970.

Technical Highlights

• His career started with Cadillac in 1965 where he began working in the engine lab on power development and eventually moved into the field of emissions controls.
• Senior Project Engineer in the Cadillac engine lab from 1965 to 1973.
• Staff Project Engineer for Cadillac engine design and release in 1973.
• Became General Supervisor of the Cadillac body and chassis lab in 1976.
• Staff Engineer for Cadillac development from 1978 to 1981.
• Cadillac Staff Engineer for emissions and transmissions in 1982 and later promoted to Vehicle Chief Engineer for the Cadillac Allante project the same year.
• In 1988, he became Chief Engineer for the Cadillac DeVille and Concours models.
• May 1992, he became Engineering Program Manager for the Cadillac.
• Officially became the third Corvette Chief Engineer, on November 18, 1992.

Other

• As of 1993, Dave Hill owned a 1948 MG TC and a 1970 350/350 Stingray coupe. Both cars were in need of restoration.
• From 1968-1972, Dave raced in a Lotus Super 7 in SCCA competition.
• Dave Hill speaks with Chevy Launch (CL) on the C6
• Dave Hill retired from General Motors on January 1, 2006

Quotes

• "I'm going to try to learn as much as I can about the Corvette customer and the Corvette's heritage because that will make me a better decision maker as the Corvette's chief engineer. I won't be the Chevrolet public relations department. And I'm going to have a lot of work to do here, so I may not be seen out on the circuit as much as Dave McLellan was or as much as Zora is. But I am really interested in understading the Corvette mystique and the Corvette heritage. As I said, there is plenty of work to do and this is where I belong -- here in this engineering builiding working on current and future Corvettes." Corvette Fever, May 1993, Pg. 17

Dave Hill after the Corvette wins 1998 Car of the Year award.