Bruno Sacco: Farewell to a Design Genius

He left behind an impressive legacy that has shaped the image of the Mercedes-Benz brand for decades. Bruno Sacco was born in Udine, Italy, on 12 November 1933. His passion for vehicles and their design was evident from an early age. During his studies at the Polytechnic in Turin, he gained valuable practical experience in car body design at Carrozzeria Ghia. After graduating, he worked for renowned companies such as Ghia and Pininfarina before moving to Stuttgart in 1958 to join Daimler-Benz as a designer and constructor. Here he was involved in iconic projects such as the Mercedes 600 (W100) and the Pagoda Roadster 230 SL (W113), as well as the pioneering C 111/1 and C 111/2 sports car studies.

But Sacco was not only a designer, he was also a technician, a master of the interplay between form and function. His rise within the Daimler-Benz design department took him to the top in 1975: as chief stylist and later chief designer, he shaped the brand’s image until his retirement in 1999. Under his aegis, masterpieces such as the S-Class 126, 140 and 220 series, the ‘Baby Benz’ and the timeless SL roadster of the 129 series were created. He was particularly proud of the SLK, which he wryly referred to as the ‘car of good humour’.

What characterised Sacco was his unshakeable belief in consistency and elegance. He did not chase fashion trends – rather, he saw it as his duty to ensure that no Mercedes made its predecessor look old. His designs stood for precision and an unrivalled combination of German engineering and Italian style. Extravagance was alien to him, as was functionality without added aesthetic value. Last year, on his 90th birthday, we paid tribute to this silent master in a lengthy article. Today we bid farewell to a man whose designs quietly but permanently changed the automotive world.