Gordon Buehrig

Gordon Miller Buehrig (B-yur-rig) (June 18, 1904 – January 22, 1990) was an American automobile designer.

Early life Gordon Miller Buehrig was born in Mason City, Illinois, on June 18, 1904, to a banker. He attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, but did not graduate.

He had early design experience with Packard, General Motors and Stutz. In 1929, he was responsible for designing the bodies (built by Weymann) of the Stutz Black Hawks entered at Le Mans. At age 25 he became chief body designer for Duesenberg, where he designed the Model J. He joined the Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana, in 1934, producing the famous 1935 851 Boattail Speedster, based on the work of Alan Leamy. He invented the removable T-top, patented 5 June 1951, which was used in the aborted TASCO sports car. In 1979, he produced the design for the Buehrig motor car, a limited-production carriage roof coupe. In his last five years, he consulted for the Franklin Mint and helped oversee the development of their model cars.

Personal life Buehrig married Elizabeth "Betty" Whitten on December 23, 1934. Together, they had one daughter, Barbara. His wife died on August 28, 1970.

He later married Kathryn "Kay" Lundell. He also had two stepdaughters: Carol and Joanne.

He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in October 1989.

He was one of 25 candidates for Car Designer of the Century, an international award given in 1999 to honor the most influential automobile designer of the 20th century. It was won by Giorgetto Giugiaro.