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The creator of a BMW legend celebrates his birthday
today. Albrecht Graf von Goertz, who designed the BMW 507 sports car in 1955,
was born on January 12, 1914, the second son to an aristocratic family in
Germany. His parents were Else and Rudolf Graf von Schlitz gen. von Goertz und
Freiherr von Wriesberg. Albrecht and his two siblings grew up on their parents'
estate near Brunkensen (Lower Saxony), about 40 kilometers south of Hanover. At
the age of five, he discovered a passion for cars that would last all his life.
Goertz began designing cars from his youth-he still has some of these early
sketches.
BMW 503 Cabrio in a 50s fashion ad
After attending school, the young Count started an
apprenticeship with the Deutsche Bank in Hamburg in 1933. Within one year, he
switched jobs and went to the London-based private bank Helbert Wagg & Co.
Unfortunately, his prospects in Europe were not very promising. In 1935, Goertz
applied to the American embassy at Grosvenor Square for an entry visa to the
USA. In the autumn of 1936, he left Europe for New York City.
A distant relative in New York helped him when he first
arrived, but soon the young Count relocated to Los Angeles. To earn a living,
Goertz worked at a car wash, in a factory for aircraft engines, and at a flight
service. The car aficionado watched with great interest the emerging Hot Rod era
and grasped the opportunity in 1938. Goertz rented a garage and showroom located
on Rodeo Drive and began to modify Ford Model A and B models. On a Mercury
chassis, he built his first car, the curvy "Paragon" which was a two-door coupe
with rear wheel trims and unconventional rear side windows. Goertz convinced
many to exhibit this car at the World Exhibition in San Francisco in 1939.
In 1940, Goertz stepped aside from his fascination and
served in the army for five years. When he returned to Los Angeles, he took the
Paragon out of the garage, made all the necessary travel arrangements and headed
for New York once again. This would bring about a fateful turn of events that
would soon change everything for the young Count. In the parking lot of the
world-famous Waldorf-Astoria hotel, Goertz recalls, in his own words, what had
transpired: "There was a strange car in front of me, so I got out of my car to
have a look at the other car and the man sitting in it got out to have a look at
mine. This man was Raymond Loewy, a renowned designer". Loewy invited Goertz to
his office, sent him to a design college and gave him a job in the Studebaker
studio in Indiana shortly thereafter.
BMW 507 Roadster and its designer, Albrecht Graf von Goertz
Click for a larger image
The Count, who had worked for three famous designers by
1953, soon set up his own design business. Through his contact network, he got
to know Max Hoffmann, BMW's general importer in America. Hoffmann knew of BMW's
plans to build a big sports car and encouraged Goertz to contact BMW in Munich.
Goertz sketched an awesome vehicle and quickly won the bid. In less than 18
months, he designed the BMW 507, the car that celebrated its world premiere in
the New York Waldorf-Astoria hotel in 1955. At the same time, Goertz designed an
elegant coupe that was also available as a convertible: the BMW 503. This four-seater
debuted with the BMW 507 at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show, where both
automobiles caused a sensation. Even today, the BMW 503 and the BMW 507 are
considered absolute dream cars. Sporty, elegant and also cultivated, they
represent the core attributes of a BMW car.
These designs had a leverage effect on Albrecht Graf
Goertz's career: above all, Japanese car manufacturers were frequent visitors to
his New York design studio. Sports cars, which enjoy world-wide success, as well
as items of everyday life (such as jewelry and furniture) bear his mark. The
Count still has a penchant for car design and has retained his restless spirit
to this very day: "I have always been curious and on the lookout for countries
that offer opportunities, countries where I have no cause for complaint".
Albrecht Graf Goertz still has some ties to the BMW
Group- he regularly visits the Concorso dŽEleganza Villa dŽEste, Europe's most
important Design event. This classic car meeting that also incorporates
contemporary design prototypes is taking place under the Patronage of BMW Group.
His birthday party also will take place at BMW: Albrecht Graf Goertz will
celebrate his 90th birthday with friends and family at the BMW Group Mobile
Tradition Building in Munich.
source: BMW AG
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