Reply With QuoteIt was an Italian designer I think.
e34 visual design
a friend came to visit the other day. he's a distinguished architect and city planner, and was for many years head of MIT's architecture school. he's spent his whole career thinking about design.
he was full of praise for the visual character of the e34 touring and went on and on about its elegance, restraint, balance, etc. he was particularly impressed with how the whole back end of the wagon was resolved. he owned a 2002 back when they were in current production, but feels that the e34 body style is the finest bmw ever made. i just sat and soaked it up like a proud parent, of course.
you guys all know this already, but i thought it was worth passing on. nothing quite like having one's deep-seated enthusiast's preferences confirmed by a professional.
bruce
Big Time Poster
It was an Italian designer I think.
designer(s)?
someone must know chapter and verse on this. i just did a quick trawl through meredith, and came up with a ref to paul bracq as designer of the e12 (1972-81) -- he also did the wonderful 230SL design for mercedes -- and a nod to bela barenyi as a safety designer, but i see no mention of designers when we get to later 80s, or even e28 era for that matter.Originally Posted by kick7ca
am i just not thorough in finding the reference, or does meredith not mention anyone after the 70s?
bruce
3 Grand Master
Claus Luthe
was head of the designe team...I think.
Vee ave vays of dealing vid your kind...........
confirmed
i just found a post on bimmerfest forum that confirms this:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5692For those without a subscription to Bimmer, Claus Luthe was head of BMW design from the E28 through the E39, to me, the era of the "modern" BMW. Now we have the "post-modern" BMWs, and like post-modern architecture, they look like ****.
i'll have to go back and see if meredith talks about luthe elsewhere. seems like a strange omission.
3 Grand Master
Ol' Claus is mentioned on other BMW history sites
Most current sites are too busy whinning about Bangle's rollin abortions
Vee ave vays of dealing vid your kind...........
Grand Master
I'll agree...
The Touring is very sexy. I like it, a lot!!!
Gone but NEVER forgotten. :'(
And then...
Big, Big Time Poster
this came up before ...
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=12639
'90 535iSE Auto (AE+EAT) 123k miles
'86 F288 69k miles
'06('89)- PGE 2.0DOHC Turbo
'03 A160LE 19k miles
1914 Stellite E2A (no odometer!)
(+ others I daren't mention here)
www.pyghtle.com
4 Grand Master
Don't forget the other truth people... Spada must have done the whole concept. I guess Luthe made sure it was delivered right? What an awesome combo.
If only one of us could have killed Claus Luthe's son for him- imagine how good modern BMWs would look. (Bad joke) Nick
Sorry Claus we never met you, but we really do love your work
Last edited by genphreak; 06-21-2006 at 05:40 AM.
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08/88 535i e34 M30+miller MAF, 'stiens, tints & teeth!
Big, Big Time Poster
There was a full story about Claus Luthe in last Month's Roundel...he designed a helluva lot of the BMWs that made BMW big--basically throughout the 80s and 90s, the high point of BMW design IMO. I don't have a scanner or the ability to upload it, but I'm sure there are plenty of CCA members who would be able to--it was a great article.
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