This person designed the 70 barracuda and 71 gtx RIP

[Moparal]

What a vision he had.  Thanks to this man, I get to enjoy my muscle car. I thought maybe someone might be interested in this info.


John Herlitz

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/30/john-herlitz-designer-of-70-barracuda-71-gtx-dead-at-65/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Barracuda#1970-1974



A bit more info that may have been very good for the collector series for barracudas. A superbird based platform.......oh yeah


A 1975 Barracuda was planned before the end of the 1970-74 model cycle. Plymouth engineers sculpted two separate concepts out of clay, both featuring a Superbird-inspired aerodynamic body, and eventually reached a consensus upon which an operational concept car could be built. Due to a rapidly changing automotive market, the concepts were scrapped and the 1975 Barracuda was not put into production

[Moparal]

Here's a good read on the dodge challenger to. Did you know the turbin 66 charger was cancelled as a proto type but the grill from that car was the grill for the 70 dodge challenger

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Challenger

[hemiken]

Interesting read Alan, thanks for the links

[426HEMI]

The man had a good vision of the 70 Cuda and Gran Coupe and Barracuda     Hope he rests in Mopar heaven. 

[tommyg29]

If the only thing he ever did was design the 70 cuda and the 71 gtx I would say he had an incredibly successful career. What amazing works of automotive art!!

Yes....RIP Mr. John Herlitz 
and a special shout out to John Samsen for saving us from the name Panda! Can you imagine!!

[Topcat]

The man had a good vision of the 70 Cuda and Gran Coupe and Barracuda     Hope he rests in Mopar heaven.

I remember when he died.  RIP.   

 

Article: Mar 30th 2008

[DMZ73]

John was a close family friend. His son and I are still very close.
To say he was a visionary is very accurate. John was a driving force into Chryslers high times, with Tom Gale's leadership.

John was one of my mentors. He was kind, respectful, encouraging, inspiring, well spoken, and had a wicked sense of humor.

He used to tell some awesome stories about cruising Woodward ave in his tx9 x 3 hemi cuda convertible. ( beleive me I was always all ears )

good to know his name keeps popping up with the honor and respect.
He was a great man, and I was very fortunate to know him.


Dan