Who designed the E34? and the answer is....

[shogun]

Who designed important BMW cars in history?

BMW 1600/2002: Giovanni Michelotti
BMW 2500/2800: Giovanni Michelotti
BMW 507: Count Albrecht Goertz
BMW Touring: Giovanni Michelotti
BMW 3 series (1st and 2nd generation): Klaus Luthe
BMW 5 series (1st generation): Klaus Luthe with Ercole Spada
BMW 7 series (1st generation): Klaus Luthe with Ercole Spada
BMW Ml: Giorgetto Giugiaro
BMW Zl: Harm Lagaay

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up to here the good guys, :p
All details are here

Crediting individual designers of production cars is a tricky business. But here is a list of the stylists generally acknowledged to have created the exterior designs of selected models.

2. Who designed important cars in history?

http://www.designet.ru/context-2003/c-cardesign-designers.shtml

[digitaldragon03]

Uhh, it doesnt say who designed the e34.

[shogun]

Correction: Claus Luthe, not Klaus

But Mr. Luthe was the Chief Designer at those days in BMW, and many give the real credit to J. Mays:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17944&vm=r

"The VP of Global Design at Ford (J Mays, who worked on the design of the BMW E31, E34 and new GT40 among many others)"...

[bfd]

According to Roundel, Ercole Spada designed both the E32 7 Series and the E34 5 series.

However, the "1st generation" 5 Series, the E12, built from 1972-81, was designed by Paul Bracq. He also designed the E21 3 Series, E23 7 Series and the fabulous E24 6 Series.

To me, and this is really subject, arguably the best *looking* modern BMW is the E52 Z8, designed by Henrik Fisker (with some credit taken by our all time favorite designer, MR. CHRISTOPHER BANGLE)

[Tcdoe]

Speaking of the 507, I don't think I ever realized what an absolutely beautiful car it is before I stumbled upon this picture:

http://members.optushome.com.au/abmw/post/1955_BMW_507_black.jpg

Kinda like an AC Cobra, but cooler. :) Makes me appreciate the Z8 a lot more.

Edit: Why stop at one picture:

http://www.automag.be/IMG/jpg/BMW_507.jpg
http://www.tapete-borte.de/Staud_web/images/BMW507003.jpg

Damn, I need one...

[zygoteer]

Just out of interest, this is a scan I took from CAR magazine last year, it tells part of the story about Luthe

sorry pic didnt work ... trying again

Ok i shrunk it so much its not readable now :(

... working on it

[zygoteer]

Maybe this will work now for the scan ... in three sections !

(hmm ... the pic on the right needs to be between ther other two )

[bfd]

This is interesting, if Claus Luthe was the *head* of BMW design, wouldn't it be the same as saying Chris Bangle, and not Henrik Fisker, designed the E52 Z8?

I stick by the July 2002 Roundel article that Ercola Spada, and NOT Claus Luthe or J. May designed the E34 5 Series!

[DueyT]

I saw a reference to Ercola Spada and the E34 as well...just can't find the darn thing right now. >:-(

[bfd]

I saw a reference to Ercola Spada and the E34 as well...just can't find the darn thing right now. >:-(

Check out July 2002 Roundel, "BMW By Design", p. 40, 45.

[DueyT]

Check out July 2002 Roundel, "BMW By Design", p. 40, 45.
Thanks, bfd, that's what I was remembering.

Cheers
Duey