Correction Regarding Albrecht Goertz
In recent months we’ve been fighting a battle to debunk the commonly circulated “myths” that Count Albrecht Goertz designed some of Japan’s most famous sports cars, like the Toyota 2000GT and Nissan Fairlady Z/Datsun 240Z. Our own JNCers have spoken out against other Goertz claims like the CSP311 Silvia. We’ve gotten some flack for our stance, and our recent trip to Japan offered us a rare opportunity to do some research on the ground.
Well, it’s time to issue a correction. We are humbled and embarrased to report that we were wrong. Goertz did indeed design all three cars. Not only that, he also held the pen for numerous other famous nostalgics of the era. During his contract with Nissan, he also designed what would become the 1968 Nissan “hakosuka” Skyline. Toyota was so impressed with his work on the 2000GT that they asked him to style the 1968 KE10 Corolla and 1967’s flagship Century. Mazda, which wasn’t going to sit by while Nissan and Toyota stole all the glory, then commissioned the design of the 1967 Cosmo Sports from Goertz.
We pride ourselves on accuracy, and apologize sincerely that our previous writings misinformed so thoroughly. You will never hear the names Nozaki or Matsuo ever with respect to the 2000GT and S30 Z on JNC again.
Also, April Fools. Thanks to Burabuda for this idea!
April 1st, 2009 at 3:28 am
Good one!
April 1st, 2009 at 5:12 am
Had me going for a minute there…
April 1st, 2009 at 6:24 am
That was wrong. lol
April 1st, 2009 at 6:29 am
Haha.. had me for a second. I was like… wtf? Haha.
April 1st, 2009 at 7:00 am
Wow, you guys are the first ones to get me…… thanks
April 1st, 2009 at 8:03 am
cue Alan in 5…4… … wait …. Oh I see what you did there..
April 1st, 2009 at 8:10 am
I don’t know what to believe any more.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:27 am
damn you! you had me going there for a moment! hahaha.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:33 am
FTW! ……. wait what?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am
I knew it was a dupe as soon as I saw the headline, but it made me smile nonetheless. Well played.
April 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
You had me going there for a while.
I thought I’d dive into my 50-year collection of R&T (that I started when I was in 8th grade back in ‘53) and start looking for articles. I was positive the mentioned cars were Goertz-designed, but never quite got around to digging in the archives…
As an aside, Goertz also designed the absolutely drop-dead gorgeous BMW 507. While out of character considering his “taste” in cars – even Elvis owned one when he served in Germany.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:10 pm
John Surtees is a big proponent of the beautiful 507. And he can actually drive
As for Goertz, I’m glad you guys didn’t debunk my belief that he styled the Veg-O-Matic! A true classic.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Nice one, guys.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 am
Geeze it’s not even April Fools anymore and you guys still got me lol. In fact you guys were the only ones that got me at all.
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:38 am
you got me!
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Jaysus, you guys got me alright. I was thinking but how could it be?
Still a wonderful image of a 2000GT all the same.
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Totally got me!!
April 4th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Wow that was mean…
April 4th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Wow that was mean… you got me!!!!
April 7th, 2009 at 5:19 am
awww shizzz. u got me on the tata/prince joke and now this