The automotive world is full of creatives whose creations we marvel at decades after they see the light of day. This holds true for Bruno Sacco, the legendary, one-time lead designer of Mercedes-Benz. The Italo-German passed at his house in Germany aged 90. He is the second well-known designer, after Marcello Gandini, to pass this year.

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Sacco is considered one of the most influential designers in automotive history. On 31 March 1999, he retired with numerous awards. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Udine in 2002, he was admitted in 2006 to the “Automotive Hall of Fame” in Dearborn, Michigan, and in 2007 to the “European Automotive Hall of Fame” in Geneva.

“Bruno Sacco left a lasting mark on the company with his iconic designs and his passion for aesthetics,” says Gorden Wagener, chief design officer of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “In Bruno Sacco, we have lost an outstanding personality and an impressive aesthete. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.”

Icons Of Motoring

Mercedes’ designs are not as flamboyant as some other brands, but the models tend to age better than some other brands. Bruno Sacco was responsible for some of the more recognisable shapes released by the company over the last few decades. Among these are the W124 E-Class, the W126 S-Class and the first ‘Baby Benz’ the 190 (W201). His more stylish works include the R129 S-Class. He also led the design project of experimental vehicles C111 (1969) and C111-II (1970).

In 1955 Bruno Sacco joined the Carrozzeria Ghia SpA based in Turin and gained experience in model production. Ghia offered studies in elegant everyday automobiles. At the end of 1957, Sacco met in Turin Karl Wilfert, the head of Mercedes-Benz body testing at the Sindelfingen plant since the mid-1950s. Bruno Sacco joined Daimler-Benz AG in 1958 and worked for the company for his entire professional life.

“The 126 model series in all design forms is the best thing I have done for Mercedes-Benz,” said Sacco decades later in retrospect. It’s no wonder he was the proud owner of a dark blue 560SEC his entire life.