Niels van Roij again about Sacco design
At Mercedes-Benz, Bruno Sacco was responsible for the unique Teutonic models for years. Bodies drawn under his reign perfectly conveyed the legendary build quality. Car designer Niels van Roij looks back in time at the Mercedes-Benz SEC, the large coupe based on the S-class W126.
Bruno Sacco introduced the Vertical Affinity/Horizontal Homogeneity design philosophy. It was based on two principles: vertical affinity and horizontal homogeneity. Although the terminology may be less catchy than Ford’s New Edge design (for the Focus 1, among others), the effect was of enormous importance.
Bruno Sacco with his C126, as the then Mercedes-Benz S-class Coupé was internally referred to.
The vertical affinity connected new models to predecessors, so that cars would never age too quickly. Horizontal homogeneity created stylistic links between the various Mercedes models in the portfolio. All cars carried a distinctive, sculpted visual identity.
Sacco was also prepared to take design risks. Innovative Mercedes-Benz technology had to be matched with an equally groundbreaking design, according to him. The plastic side trim of the 1979 W126 S-class is an example of this. He also graces the SEC. These so-called Sacco-Bretter were visionary work at the time.
The very strong Mercedes-Benz 190.
The C124, the coupe version of the Mercedes-Benz E-class, which was then called 200/300.
These side protection strips allowed the design of the bumpers to be guided around the bodywork. At that time, most vehicles still had large, often chromed bumpers. The plastic bumpers that the W126 had took some getting used to for many customers. The fact that its design continued visually on the side of the vehicle was even more difficult to digest. Over time the ‘Sacco plates’ were accepted and as part of model updates also introduced on the W201 and W124. When the R129 SL appeared and later the W140 (S-class with the nickname Cathedral) and C140 (coupé version of the Cathedral) they had become part of the Mercedes DNA.
Mercedes-Benz S-class.
The S-class coupe has beautiful stylistic references to the glorious Mercedes-Benz coupe past, for decades the brand wrote history with special models. Subtle, relevant and strategic applications of styling elements applied to the C126 come from, among others, the 280 SE Coupé, with its typical roofline and DLO. That beautiful car clearly served as an example for the much more modern C126.
The quality is evident from everything: the technical specifications and the perfect proportions, with large dash-to-axle ratio. The strong volumes of the body, the surfacing on the panels with subtle but accurate highlights on the flanks and the aerodynamic findings around the door handles and ribs that keep the rear lights clean through a smart air flow. The SEC is extremely coherent design-wise.
The understated elegance of the Sacco design is stripped of exaggerations and bravado and nevertheless makes a huge impression. The body volumes are robust and consistent in their design language. The pinnacle of top quality automotive design, sculptural knowledge and design insight.
Typical of the C126 is its stately appearance. Without exaggerating, it is a design icon of unprecedented quality. The SEC set new standards, signed under the leadership of visionary Sacco. There has never been a Mercedes-Benz coupe after the SEC that exceeded its qualities.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl