We say goodbye to one of the most talented car designers, and it is not only because he wrote a few of our favorite BMWs. The legendary Ercole Spada left us at the age of 88 and left a remarkable legacy. The Italian designer, who is responsible for the 7 Series E32 and 5 Series, died on August 3, but the effects he had on the autodesign are never forgotten.
His portfolio goes far beyond these two Bavarian limousines and includes some of the most beautiful cars of the last century. Born near Milano, some of the best works by Spada are due to his early days, including the timeless Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato from 1960.
After a short stay at Audi, Ercole Spada came to BMW in 1976 and stayed there until 1983 and acted as chief stylist under Claus Luthe. Classic driver The designer quotes, as once said: “Most of my designs were initially disapproved, but after a while they see the beauty of it. And years later they are big fans.” The E32 and E34 have certainly passed the test of the time, and many of us still long for the design language of the 1980s.
Spada left BMW to return to Italy and took over as a designer of the I.de.A Institute in Turin, where he worked until 1992. It was another chapter in a career that included more than half a century. While BMW fans will remember him for these elegant and demanding limousines, his influence on the autodesign goes far beyond the second generation 7 and the third generation 5.
During his entire career, Spada worked in a variety of brands and segments, including more modest models such as the Fiat Tempra and Lancia Dedra. Its versatility was extraordinary and covered several body styles and even ventured into SUVs like the Nissan Terrano II at the beginning of the SUV era.
