Karl Wilfert
Encyclopedia
Karl Wilfert was chief of car body development at Daimler Benz AG
between 1959 and 1976.
When he died he was recently, and reluctantly, retired. “I still have so many ideas…”
He was born in Vienna, the son of an architect, and one of a creative generation of Austrian engineers to whom the early development of the European auto industry was much indebted. He started out as a development engineer with Steyr
in 1926, moving in 1929 to work with the Mercedes-Benz
Vienna branch, from where he relocated to the Mercedes Sindelfingen
plant: here, from 1933, he headed up the Research department. In 1955 he switched to the design department, becoming director for car body development in 1959 at a time when the company was embarking on a period of intensive research into improving secondary safety – protecting the occupants of cars involved in accidents. His influence was especially evident in the designs of the SL sportcars, first the 300SL Gullwing
and more recently the pagoda topped 230 SL
.
Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...
between 1959 and 1976.
When he died he was recently, and reluctantly, retired. “I still have so many ideas…”
He was born in Vienna, the son of an architect, and one of a creative generation of Austrian engineers to whom the early development of the European auto industry was much indebted. He started out as a development engineer with Steyr
Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Steyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria, which was broken up in stages between 1987 and 2001. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.-History:...
in 1926, moving in 1929 to work with the Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
Vienna branch, from where he relocated to the Mercedes Sindelfingen
Sindelfingen
Sindelfingen is a German town near Stuttgart at the headwaters of the Schwippe that is the site of a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant.-History:* 1155 First documented mention of Sindelfingen...
plant: here, from 1933, he headed up the Research department. In 1955 he switched to the design department, becoming director for car body development in 1959 at a time when the company was embarking on a period of intensive research into improving secondary safety – protecting the occupants of cars involved in accidents. His influence was especially evident in the designs of the SL sportcars, first the 300SL Gullwing
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
and more recently the pagoda topped 230 SL
Mercedes-Benz W113
The Mercedes-Benz W 113 roadsters, designed by Paul Bracq, were produced from 1963 through 1971. Their distinctive "pagoda" hardtop roof, designed by Béla Barényi, gave them their contemporary nickname...
.