Willem L Weertman

Willem L. (Bill) Weertman’s entire professional career was spent with Chrysler Corporation starting in 1947 when, holding a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Yale University, he was admitted to the Chrysler Institute of Engineering for its two-year Master of Automotive Engineering program. At Yale, Weertman was elected to the honorary engineering society of Tau Beta Pi. Graduation from the Chrysler Institute of Engineering was followed by a position on the staff of the Resident Engineering department at the Plymouth Lynch Road assembly plant. Interrupted by two years of active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict, in 1954 Weertman was appointed Resident Engineer of the Plymouth V-8 engine plant, coincident with the original startup of the plant as a high-volume world-class producer of engines. In November 1955, Weertman was promoted to Managing Engineer of Engine Design at the Chrysler Central Engineering Division in Highland Park, Michigan, working under Assistant Chief Engineer-Engine Design Robert S. (Bob) Rarey. The next years were filled with fast-paced engine design activity-changes and improvements to engines in production, finishing the designs and launching the new big-block B and RB V-8 engines, designing and launching the new Slant Six G and RG engines, and designing truck, marine, and industrial versions of the new engines. With the promotion of Rarey to Chief Engineer in 1962, Weertman became Assistant Chief Engineer-Engine Design, leading the design effort for the LA V-8 engine series, the outstanding 426 Hemi; competition and street engine, and an all-new six-cylinder engine for manufacture in Australia. In 1976, Weertman became Chief Engineer of Engine Design and Development, a title that was changed slightly to Chief Engineer-Engine Engineering in 1980. During these years until his retirement in 1987, Weertman was responsible for all the new engines needed to power the corporation’s new car lines of front-wheel-drive vehicles and for adapting and testing the engines purchased from outside companies. Even after retirement from Chrysler in 1987, Weertman continued to be professionally active. As a consultant on several engine programs, he assisted in the final development of a Maserati double overhead camshaft, turbocharged version of the Chrysler 2.2-L four-cylinder engine and in the design and development of the phenomenal Viper V-b all-aluminum engine. Weertman has been a member of SAE International since April 1955, becoming a Life Member in 1995. He received certification as a Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering from the State of Michigan on November 4, 1960.