Make-A-Wish kid Allan Robinson sees his concept for a "next gen" Corvette backed by the GM Design Team's interpretation of his sketches in the Virtual Reality Room at GM's Design Center in Warren, MI. (Credit: Detroit News)

Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News WARREN -- Like many high school students, Allan Robinson, 17, likes to draw automobiles. Robinson's work is far beyond doodling, though. And Monday, his futuristic vision of a Pontiac Trans Am was the focus of attention at the General Motors Technical Center. GM engineers directed Thompson to hit the "s" key on a computer keyboard in the Virtual Reality Room. Emblazoned across the wall in front of him came a 5-foot-by-10-foot computer projection of the virtually real version of his Trans Am, a vision created by GM designers from his drawings. "Wow!" Robinson said. "Oh, boy! Man! Man, this is, that is -- whoa, man!" It was a dream come true, he later said. And that was the whole point.

Allan Robinson's day at General Motors Corp. was made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with serious medical conditions.

Robinson's life was threatened by leukemia last year. His mother, Janet Harley, said doctors say the disease is in remission.

"All I have to say is: Thank God that I'm here to actually tell you where I came from," said Robinson, a junior at the Charter High School for Architecture and Design in Philadelphia, where he lives. "It does not bother me to tell you where I actually came from," Robinson said, addressing about 30 people gathered in the Virtual Reality Room. "I came from a lot of pain and agony." As death's threat often does, it gave Robinson wisdom, and he spread it around at GM. Having worked for years researching and drawing a new concept for a 450- to 500-horsepower Trans Am of the future -- specially equipped to burn alternative fuel and with a distinctive one-headlight front grill, an echo of the legendary 1945 Tucker -- Robinson admitted to having some sleepless nights recently. He wondered what the GM designers would do with his concept and design.

Brian Baker, GM DRIVE Team manager, looks on as Allan uses a laser pointer to review his designs for "next generation" cars. (Credit: Detroit News)

If anyone at GM had the briefest sense that helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation would mean fussing over a young man interested in cars, rather than knowledgeable and skilled in design, they were quickly disabused of the notion.

In addition to echoing the Tucker, his vision for the Trans Am of the future includes design components from the 1953 Corvette.

Allan sits behind the wheel of NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon's #24 DuPont Chevy Monte Carlo race car in the executive garage at the GM Design Center.

"I love the way you blended your vision with a touch of the modern," said Amaury Diaz, creative designer for the Rear-Wheel Drive High Performance Studio. "That is what I was trying to interpret as much as I could from the original sketch." "You did a great job. … I like how you kept the 3-D part of the aero-skeleton," Robinson said, referring to one of the design components of his Trans Am. "Well, it was very inspirational," Diaz told him. "And I am telling you only: That is as much fun as I'll have this week. I really enjoyed it!" After thanking the Make-A-Wish Foundation and GM for making the day possible, he looked at the gathered adults and paused to measure them. Then, he schooled them on life.

"And I'd also like to say to all of my generation and generations to come: Enjoy your beautiful life," Robinson said. "All of these materialistic things -- don't pay it any mind."  (article source)

July 25:  It's Christmas in July, and the "Today" show's Campbell Brown talks to Allan Robinson, 17, who battled leukemia, and his mother, Janet Harlie, about his Make-A-Wish dream. GM's Scott Mackie presents Allan with a new car.
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