Goertz Myths Will Never Die

[Mike]

01-16-2009 12:06 AM

The Sound Classics Classically-Tough Trivia Challenge began in 2002. Every New Year, it asks car collectors obscure auto related questions to test their knowledge of classic cars. Some questions are easy, some our tough. We have no hope of winning it, but we do have at least one beef with the judges when it comes to J-tin. See if you can spot the problem.*

Question #9: This auto company contracted Yamaha and stylist Albrecht von Goertz in 1963 to create a two seat sports car. (1 pt)

Answer

: Although Toyota eventually built the 2000GT, it was Nissan which originally contracted Yamaha and stylist Albrecht Goertz in 1963 to create a two seat sports car. Backing out after the initial prototype, Yamaha approached Toyota.

No, no, no, no, no! How many times do we have to say this? Albrecht von Goertz did not design the Toyota 2000GT. As numerous Japanese books, as well as Shin-Yoshikawa’s bilingual Toyota 2000GT: the Complete History of Japan’s First Supercar states, it was Toyota designer Satoru Nozaki that penned it.

Goertz’s connection with Nissan’s 240Z and Silvia CSP311 is tenuous as well. Some have also questioned his involvement with Porsche, but we’ll leave that to our German car counterparts.

In the western world, Goertz’s name has been associated with Toyota more than Nozaki’s, due to a handful of English-language sources that first made the mistake. One of the reasons we started JNC is to set the record straight on the history of Japanese cars, but it looks like that work will never be done.

More...

[Ron Carter]

History is a collective of what large number people think is the truth at a given time.

History=Pop Culture

[TomoHawk]

Why not just flood the Internet with disinformation to give Mr. Goertz FULL CREDIT for EVERY car he's "designed" or consulted on, sue for all the back-royalties, and demand our cut!

thxZ

Edited January 16, 2009 by TomoHawk