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Count Albrecht Graf Goertz with the BMW 507

Classical Drive reported last week on the passing of Albrecht Graf von Goertz earlier in the month. He was the designer behind the singularly beautiful BMW 507. Goertz emigrated to the United States in 1936, and in 1938 opened a shop in California where he specialized in modifying Model A and B Fords. It was in that shop that Goertz created his "Paragon" coupe, a custom car that would be the catalyst for what can only be described as a remarkable career.

Goertz saw his Paragon displayed at the1939 World Exhibition in San Francisco, and in 1940 he closed up shop to join the Army. Five years later,he returned, got the Paragon out and drove it to New York, where a chance encounter in the parking lot of the Waldorf-Astoria changed everything. Goertz had gotten out of the Paragon to inspect the car in front of him. Likewise, the passenger of that car noticed the Paragon and had similarly gotten out to have a look. The man in the other car was industrial designer Raymond Loewy, who then met with Goertz and ultimately got him a job at the Studebaker design studio.

By 1953, Goertz has established his own business and befriended Max Hoffman, BMW's US importer. Goertz learned through Hoffman that BMW was planning a new sports car. He got into the mix and won the bid to design the car, the spectacular BMW 507. While at BMW, Goertz also designed the 503. After working at BMW, Goertz spent time with Porsche, where he was part of the team behind the 911, Toyota, where he influenced he 2000GT, and Datsun, where his fingerprints were left on the 240Z. Every vehicle on that list is iconic in its own right.

On November 2, Albrecht Graf von Goertz died at the age of 92, leaving behind an automotive legacy that will live forever.

(BMW bio, add'l photos after the jump)

[Sources: Classical Drive, BMW]

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Albrecht Graf von Goertz, BMW 507 designer, dies at 92 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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