With a name such as Paul Bracq some might say that the legendary designer was destined to rise up to the symbol he’s become over the years. All we know is that his work influenced generations of designers that followed in his footsteps and some of his creations are still regarded as timeless.
In that category we’d include the Mercedes-Benz SL Coupe, the editions he drew back in the 1960s. back then, Paul Bracq was the lead designer alongside Bela Barenyi, the one that created the car’s concave hardtop that gave it the ‘Pagoda’ nickname.
Other noticeable creations of his include the Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100) and the famous TGV or Train à Grande Vitesse in French, the world’s first ever high-speed rail service. The train capable of reaching 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) was also designed during the 1970s when Paul was at his peak.
During those days he was also working on yet another project, this time, in Bavaria. His BMW Turbo was the company’s first concept car ever and took the world by surprise. Bracq’s creation was inspired by the 327 Roadster and that’s where the rear quarter is inspired from, cues from the original being spotted throughout the car.
However, that wasn’t his only project while he held the position of Design Director in Munich. He also penned the first ever 7 Series and 5 Series models, the precursors to what we’re used to seeing these days on the road.
The legendary Frenchman celebrated his 81st birthday this weekend, on December 13. To show him the respect he deserves, BMW asked him for a short interview and some insight in how working at the German company shaped his life. Let’s listen to what he had to say, watching the video below.
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