Back in the days when automotive designers didn’t need crafty marketing lines of the four-door coupe-hype to entice consumers, a sports saloon was just that; a four-door sports car. Before you click through the jump to find out, can you tell who sketched this BMW 5-Series E34 prototype in the early 1980s?
So, now that you’re here, let us tell you that it was legendary Italian designer Ercole Spada who was BMW chief stylist from 1976 through 1983. During his tenure at the German firm, Spada oversaw the design of the E32 7-Series (1986-1994) and to some extent, the E34 5-Series (1987-1996).
Spada made the sketches for the E34 5-Series sedan in 1982, with the final design of the car penned by current Ford Global Design and Chief Creative Officer, J Mays.
The Italian designer’s prototype was more modern and edgier than the production E34, with the glasshouse and rear end styling hinting at the 8-Series that would follow in 1989. Looks pretty good for a design made 32 years ago, wouldn’t you agree?
By John Halas
Story References: Byci via Cardesignnews
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