Bruno Sacco, who designed some of the best-looking Mercedes models, has died

Bruno Sacco, who designed some of the most iconic and best-looking Mercedes-Benz models, has died, Mercedes has confirmed.

The Italian-German designer passed away in Sindelfingen last week. He was 90.

He leaves behind an incredible legacy. Born in northeast Italy in 1933, he later graduated at the age of 17 and in 1952, enrolled at Turin’s Polytechnic University. A few years later he joined Ghia, gaining experience in both “futuristic airplanes but also elegant everyday automobiles”.

It was the latter that would come to shape his time at Mercedes-Benz, which began in 1958, where he was hired as a second stylist. He worked in pre-body development, then as the head of body design and dimensional concepts – when Merc churned out beauties like the W100 600 series, and the W113 SL.

Interestingly, it was Sacco who took charge of the safety exhibitions and the experimental C111 and C111-II Wankel concepts. Mercedes said “his involvement created widely used vehicles such as the mid-range model series 123”.

In 1975, Sacco assumed the role of ‘Oberingenieur’ and became head of the ‘Stylistics’ department, and his first full car was the gorgeous W123 series unveiled in 1977 – what we’d later come to know as the E-Class.

A couple of years later saw his W126 S-Class models – perhaps one of the finest executive cars ever designed – alongside the coupe. Indeed, Sacco cited this as his personal triumph. “The 126 model series in all design forms is the best thing I have done for Mercedes-Benz,” he once remarked.

(Merc said Sacco was so proud of it, “during his retirement an elegant, dark blue 560 SEC was proudly kept in his double garage”.)

One of his ideas was to ensure his designs didn’t age with the advent of the next generation, while “every Mercedes-Benz should be recognisable as a representative of this brand all over the world”.

Later in his Merc career, he’d introduce the W201 – the 190 – aimed at a younger audience, which we’d later come to know as the C-Class. During the Nineties, Sacco also oversaw the A-Class, M-Class, CLK, SLK and even the V-Class. The last car he had involvement in before retiring was the S220 and CL.

“Bruno Sacco left a lasting mark on the company with his iconic designs and his passion for aesthetics,” said current Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener. “In Bruno Sacco, we have lost an outstanding personality and an impressive aesthete. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.”

Wagener’s colleague over in the classics department – Marcus Breitshcwerdt, boss of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, added: “Mercedes-Benz will always remember this extraordinary stylist and yet humble person.

“Bruno Sacco has defined the shape of numerous icons from Mercedes-Benz. Many of them are still seen today in everyday road traffic, or they fascinate as classics of the brand.”

Quite right. Sacco’s overriding philosophy during his time at the storied German manufacturer was simple: “A Mercedes-Benz must always look like a Mercedes-Benz.”