I am trying to find out if the "Harvey Earl", who is a character in
one of the newest Buick commercials, was a real person.(or Earl or
something similiar)

Hello potatowoman,

Thank you for your question. 

He was real! As a matter of fact, he and his team designed the first
Corvette.

http://www.elmirarotary.org/roar/08-09-01/

"...In 1951 General Motors did a number of auto shows and would
promote dream cars.  At the time  Harvey Earl was driving a dream car
Buick.  While Harvey watched the Watkins Glen Grand Prix from a Bed
and Breakfast porch, he had the idea of a sport car.  In the fall of
1952 the first Corvette production car was designed.  The car
presently is owned by a couple in Canandaguia, NY."

http://www.hotrodsonline.com/Articles/HenryFordMuseum/DreamCars.htm
The Famous Y-Job from General Motors

"Built in 1938 and styled by Harvey Earl, the Y-job became sensation
and the first of the real General Motors showcars. Later there was the
LeSabre, and it is usually here, but was loaned back to G.M. for their
anniversary and will return later. This Y-Job was the ultimate
personal vehicle of it's day. You can still see men staring at it and
dreaming with a vacant stare in their eyes."

http://www.monoculartimes.co.uk/texts/architexts/carculture_3.shtml
Car culture and the landscape of subtraction 

"...In 1955, Harvey Earl, the head of the GM styling division said,
"Our biggest job is to hasten obsolescence. In 1934, the average car
ownership span was five years; now it is two years. When it is one
year, we will have a perfect score."

http://www.corvetteclubofiowa.com/CRUISIN02.htm
Cruisin’ Through the Years

"...If you cannot make it to the NCM for June event, then you can also
get to see this Historic Motorama as it stops by Detroit’s GM Center,
where Harvey Earl and his team carved the first Corvette out of
clay..."


There are numerous similar mentions on the Internet.


Search Strategy:

"harvey earl" +auto OR car

Thanks for asking!


Regards,

-=clouseau=-

The man's name was Harley Earl and he was GM design chief -- design
legend, really. He took what was a practical thing, an automobile, and
made it ephemeral by applying fashion to it.

You know, landsnark, I had always heard it as Harley Earl as well, but
there were enough links to and pages about Harvey Earl showing him as
a GM designer that I questioned my hearing. Evidently, a lot of web
pages have made the same common error if his name was "Harley". I am
sure they are talking about one in the same person.

Thanks for confirming my hearing!

-=clouseau=-