A few days ago the world of automotive design lost one of the most important automotive designers ever, Bruno Sacco. For four decades he was one of the main designers of Mercedes-Benz, where he created a series of iconic models of this brand.

He was born in 1933 in Italy and after completing his studies in mechanical engineering, his first job was at the renowned Ghia and Pininfarina carrozzerie (coachbuilders). Unfortunately, he was not successful, so he moved to Germany and got a job at Daimler-Benz in 1958, where he stayed for 41 years. He worked on body development before being appointed head of body design and dimensional concepts. During this period some of his works included the 600 (W100) and the 230 SL aka “Pagoda” (W113). In addition to production cars, this talented designer also experimented with concepts that had rotary engines and “gullwing” doors such as the C 111 and C 111-II models.

In 1975, he was appointed head of the design department, and his first project was the W123 T-Modell, the predecessor of the E-Class station wagon. It was the brand’s first station wagon, and Sacco also created the S-Class W126 and its elegant derivative the C126 coupe. Also, during the 1970s, he was responsible for the design of the famous G-Class.

Neig’s work also helped the company attract a younger generation of buyers primarily with the 190 (W201), the forerunner of the C-Class. He is also responsible for the A-Class that arrived on the market in the late 1990s. Before retiring on March 31, 1999, the last cars he designed were the W220 S-Class and the C215 CL.

In his long career as a designer, he remained attached to one car in particular, the Series 126. “The Model Series 126 in all its design forms is the best thing I have done for Mercedes-Benz,” said Bruno Sacco.

Source: Reuters