http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/au...ef=automobiles

[quote]John Herlitz, 65, Designer of Muscle Cars, Dies
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By JAMES G. COBB
Published: April 13, 2008

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.
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Philip Greenberg for The New York Times

John E. Herlitz in 1998 with the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, a car that became popular after he redesigned earlier versions.

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,