Think that takes my point out of context - you’re specifically highlighting the difference of the art of coach built, hand rolled body panels which was never for mainstream vehicles like the 2002, E28, etc that were being discussed as icons of German design. The E-type is a hand made wonder like the 507…
That car is a piece of art, which even at it’s time, was the price equivalent of our high end supercars , $10k in the mid 50’s. In fact if you took the badges off and then compared it to this only 5 years down the road:
You would say “that can’t be the same company?” - which highlights my point - were those design directions made for distinctive design reasons, or were they made for practical engineering reasons at a time when you didn’t have money to add on an extra scoop or some fancy creases in the body panels?