Famed Mopar designer dies

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Joeychgo

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April 13, 2008
The New York Times

John Herlitz, 65, Designer of Muscle Cars, Dies

By JAMES G. COBB

John E. Herlitz, an automobile designer who styled a signature American muscle car and left his imprint on many notable Chrysler Corporation models of the late 20th century, died March 24 in Naples, Fla. He was 65.
The cause was complications of a fall in his winter home in Naples, a son, Kirk Herlitz, said. Mr. Herlitz also lived in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Mr. Herlitz made his reputation with the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, which brought a touch of class to the "pony car" segment, a genre of sporty compact cars started with the Ford Mustang, with long hoods and short rear decks.

His Barracuda replaced designs that were only mildly successful, starting with an awkward 1964 fastback based on the Plymouth Valiant economy car. In contrast, the Herlitz Barracuda was clean and largely unadorned, with a wide body and a hunkered-down stance that hinted at the considerable power available to customers who checked the right boxes on their order forms.

When a huge V-8 engine was crammed into a coupe like this, its status changed to muscle car, capable of tire-smoking burnouts and blistering straight-line acceleration — but generally mediocre handling.

Today, the Herlitz-redesigned Barracudas of the early 1970s, especially Hemi ’Cudas with fearsome 425-horsepower engines, remain some of the most sought-after muscle cars. At collector-car auctions frequented by celebrities, bids have exceeded $2 million for Hemi ’Cudas with rare high-performance options.

In another indication of the timeless nature of the design,
Chrysler is resurrecting the Barracuda’s sister car, the Dodge Challenger, as a 2008 model. Chrysler shut down its Plymouth brand seven years ago, precluding a return of the Barracuda.

Mr. Herlitz followed up his 1970 tour de force with well-received makeovers of other revered performance cars, including the 1971 Plymouth Road Runner and the GTX. Then, as the muscle-car era wound down amid fuel shortages and new safety and emissions rules, Mr. Herlitz assumed ever-increasing responsibility in the Chrysler studios.

He worked with the teams of designers who created the boxy K-car compact cars, which staved off a bankruptcy filing; the first modern minivans; and a family of large sedans in the early 1990s that were notable for their "cab forward" design and spacious passenger compartments.

By 1994, when he was named vice president for product design, Mr. Herlitz had become chief lieutenant to Tom Gale, the engineer turned designer who headed the Chrysler studio. Under their leadership, Chrysler designers gained a reputation for bold cars and trucks that often borrowed from the past. This retro look was exemplified by a series of Chrysler-brand concept cars — design prototypes often intended to elicit reactions — including the Atlantic, Phaeton and Chronos, that evoked voluptuous motorcars, including the Bugattis of the 1930s.

Mr. Herlitz was also associated with the Dodge Copperhead, a roadster in the vein of British classics like the Austin Healey, which was a favorite at auto shows in 1997. The next year Daimler-Benz took over Chrysler; the Copperhead, like many other innovative show cars of the time, never went into production.

In a telephone interview last week, Mr. Gale said that in a studio, where designs are usually collaborative even if individuals sometimes get the credit, Mr. Herlitz was notably reluctant to step into the spotlight. But in the case of the Barracuda, Mr. Gale said, "I think he really deserves a lot of credit." He praised the car’s proportions, width and stance.

Dan Gurney, the driver and racecar builder, was associated with the Barracuda through All American Racers, the name of his team and his shop, for which a limited-edition model, the AAR ’Cuda, was named.

About Mr. Herlitz’s basic design, Mr. Gurney said: "It was a stunning car. I don’t know what makes one shape of metal stand out more than any other, but it had it. The car had just the right geometry and a timeless style."

At the time of his retirement in 2000, Mr. Herlitz was senior vice president for product design. He helped to establish the Walter P. Chrysler Museum at company headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., and aided in the design of a visual arts building under construction at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in northern Michigan; he served on the school’s corporate advisory council.

Mr. Herlitz was also a director of the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology and the Cleveland Institute of Art. He served on the board of Winnebago Industries.

John Eric Herlitz was born in Pine Plains, N.Y., on Dec. 30, 1942, the son of Swedish immigrants. As early as age 13, he was sending sketches of cars to Chrysler. He kept up correspondence with company officials, who gave advice on the education he would need to fulfill his dream of becoming a car designer.

After attending the Salisbury prep school in Connecticut, he received a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Pratt Institute in 1964 and joined Chrysler soon after.
Mr. Herlitz married Joan Elizabeth Neinas on Sept. 20, 1969. She died Jan. 22.

He is survived by two sons, Kirk of San Carlos, Calif., and Todd of Chicago, and one grandson.

Last Saturday at the Chrysler Museum, those arriving for a memorial service walked by an orange 1970 Hemi ’Cuda that was already in a featured position near the auditorium, along with a black 1971 Road Runner that Mr. Herlitz had not only designed but also once owned.
 
Automotive legends are dropping like flies lately. It's too bad the designs of yesteryear have mostly given way to generic, wind tunnel friendly, vanilla flavored, disposable products.
 
Wow Joey!

Thanks for that info, sure make me feel kinda weird.It's like the old saying goes, "only the good die young" ( 65 is young @ todays standards ).

My deepest sympathies to the family.
 
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