Paul Bracq
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Paul Bracq (b. December 13, 1933, Bordeaux, France) is one of the world's leading automotive designers as well as one of the world's leading automotive artists. Among Bracq's designs is a vehicle considered to be among the finest ever built, the Mercedes-Benz 600.
His work in the early 1950s with Citroën led to a ten-year stint as the head of Daimler-Benz's Advanced Design studios in Sindelfingen starting in 1957. It was here that Bracq was entrusted with the design of the most expensive and complex Mercedes-Benz automobile to date, the 600. He also designed the 230SL Pagode, the 220S Coupé, the 250 and 220D as well as the W108 series.
Upon his return to France in 1967, Bracq went to work for Brissonau and Lotz where he was responsible for the design of the TGV high-speed passenger train. During this time, Bracq was responsible for prototypes of a sports car based on the BMW 1600Ti and a coupé based on the Simca 1100.
In 1970, Bracq was appointed design director of BMW where he was responsible for some of that firm's most important automobiles of the period, including the top-of-the-line 7-Series. His 1973 "Turbo" concept car won "Concept Car of the Year" by the Revue Automobile Suisse that year; the car repeated the feat in 1992 in the Bagatelle Concours d'Elegance.
His work with Peugeot beginning in 1974 would include personal transportation for the Pope.
Bracq's artistic works have been displayed in art museums all over the world. He is also active as a judge in many of the most important automotive concours, including the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
The Mercedes-Benz Club of America has nominated Bracq for a position in the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan. A link to the letter of nomination appears below.
