Friedrich Geiger
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Geiger was a German
automobile
designer
whose most notable cars, the pre-war
Mercedes-Benz 540K
and post-war
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
, are among the most highly regarded in automotive history.
in the Swabia
n region of southern Germany, Geiger originally trained as a cartwright
, before studying as a design engineer
at University prior to joining Daimler-Benz
in April 1933. He began in the special vehicles manufacturing department, where, in the 1930s, he was responsible for the 500K
and 540K
sports car
s.
He left Daimler-Benz in April 1948, but returned to the company barely two years later, this time as a test engineer in the styling department. He became head of styling within a few years, after designing the iconic 300SL
gullwing coupé
, named one of the ten greatest Mercedes ever built and one of the 25 greatest cars of the 20th century
.
He continued to work at Daimler-Benz until his retirement in December 1973, by which time he had helped create the W111
/W112
(1959) and W110
(1961) "Fintails", the W113
"Pagoda" (1963) and R107
(1971) SL coupé
/convertible
s, the W108/109
(1965) and W116
(1972) series of the S-Class, and the ultra-luxurious and long-lived Mercedes-Benz 600
limousine
(1963).
He was succeeded by Bruno Sacco
, one of his staff at the styling department, who would go on to be shortlisted as one of the car designers of the century
. He died in Bad Überkingen
in 1996, aged 88. On the centenary of his birth in March 2007 Sacco paid tribute to his mentor, acknowledging the outstanding reputation he enjoys among younger automotive designers thanks to the timelessness of his designs.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
whose most notable cars, the pre-war
Pre-war
The term pre-war or prewar is usually applied to the most recent or significant war in a culture's history.Antebellum is most often used to denote the period before the American Civil War while pre-war typically refers to the period before WWII.In real estate the term refers to buildings from the...
Mercedes-Benz 540K
Mercedes-Benz 540K
Mercedes-Benz 540K is a car from the German firm Mercedes-Benz from 1935 to 1940.-Creation:Introduced at the 1936 Paris Motor Show, the Friedrich Geiger designed car was a development to the 500K, itself a development of the SSK...
and post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
, are among the most highly regarded in automotive history.
Biography
Born in SüßenSüßen
Süßen is a town in the district of Göppingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is located on the river Fils 8 km east of Göppingen, near Stuttgart.-History:...
in the Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
n region of southern Germany, Geiger originally trained as a cartwright
Cartwright
Cartwright is the occupation of making and repairing carts . It can also refer to:Persons:* Edmund Cartwright, English clergyman and inventor of the power loom.In places:* Cartwright, Manitoba, Canada...
, before studying as a design engineer
Design engineer
Design Engineer is a general term that covers multiple engineering disciplines including electrical, mechanical, industrial design and civil engineering, architectural engineers in the U.S...
at University prior to joining Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...
in April 1933. He began in the special vehicles manufacturing department, where, in the 1930s, he was responsible for the 500K
Mercedes-Benz 500K
The Mercedes 500K is a sports car built by Mercedes-Benz between 1934 and 1936, and first exhibited at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show. It carried the factory designation W29...
and 540K
Mercedes-Benz 540K
Mercedes-Benz 540K is a car from the German firm Mercedes-Benz from 1935 to 1940.-Creation:Introduced at the 1936 Paris Motor Show, the Friedrich Geiger designed car was a development to the 500K, itself a development of the SSK...
sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
s.
He left Daimler-Benz in April 1948, but returned to the company barely two years later, this time as a test engineer in the styling department. He became head of styling within a few years, after designing the iconic 300SL
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
gullwing coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, named one of the ten greatest Mercedes ever built and one of the 25 greatest cars of the 20th century
Car of the Century
The Car of the Century was an international award given to the world's most influential car of the 20th century. The election process was overseen by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation...
.
He continued to work at Daimler-Benz until his retirement in December 1973, by which time he had helped create the W111
Mercedes-Benz W111
The Mercedes-Benz W111 was a chassis code given to its top-range vehicles, including 4-door sedans, produced from 1959 to 1968, and 2-door coupes and cabriolets from 1961 to 1971. The W111, was initially attributed only to 6-cylinder cars with 2.2 litre engines. The luxury version with big-block 3...
/W112
Mercedes-Benz W112
The Mercedes-Benz W112 was a flagship model in Mercedes-Benz's line-up during the early 1960s. The car, produced in four modifications: coupé, cabriolet and sedans, was identical to the standard Mercedes-Benz W111 Fintail car, but was fitted with the M189 big-block six-cylinder engine, as well as...
(1959) and W110
Mercedes-Benz W110
The W110 "Fintail" was Mercedes-Benz's line of midsize four-cylinder automobiles in the mid-1960s. The line was introduced with the 190c and 190Dc sedan in April, 1961, replacing the W120 180c/180Dc and W121 190b/190Db...
(1961) "Fintails", the W113
Mercedes-Benz W113
The Mercedes-Benz W 113 roadsters, designed by Paul Bracq, were produced from 1963 through 1971. Their distinctive "pagoda" hardtop roof, designed by Béla Barényi, gave them their contemporary nickname...
"Pagoda" (1963) and R107
Mercedes-Benz R107
The Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107 automobiles were produced from 1971 through 1989, being the second longest single series ever produced by the Mercedes, after the G-Class. They were sold under the SL and SLC model names. The R107 replaced the W113 SL-Class in 1972 and was replaced by the R129...
(1971) SL coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
/convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
s, the W108/109
Mercedes-Benz W108
The Mercedes-Benz W108 and W109 were luxury cars built by Mercedes-Benz from 1965 through 1972. The line was an update of the predecessor W111 and W112 fintail sedans. The cars were successful in West Germany and in export markets that included including North America and Southeast Asia...
(1965) and W116
Mercedes-Benz W116
The Mercedes-Benz W116 was a series of flagship vehicles produced from September 1972 through 1979. The W116 automobiles were the first Mercedes-Benz models to be officially called S-Class, although earlier sedan models had already unofficially been designated with the letter 'S' - for...
(1972) series of the S-Class, and the ultra-luxurious and long-lived Mercedes-Benz 600
Mercedes-Benz 600
The Mercedes-Benz 600 is a large luxury automobile offered in several variants worldwide. Introduced in September 1963, it had very few competitors, these being Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Cadillac Fleetwood 75, the stretched Lehmann-Peterson Lincoln, and the Crown Imperial Ghia...
limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
(1963).
He was succeeded by Bruno Sacco
Bruno Sacco
Bruno Sacco is an Italian automobile designer who served as the head of styling at German car giant Daimler-Benz between 1975 and 1999...
, one of his staff at the styling department, who would go on to be shortlisted as one of the car designers of the century
Car Designer of the Century
The Car Designer of the Century was an international award given to the most influential car designer of the 20th century. The election process was overseen by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation....
. He died in Bad Überkingen
Bad Überkingen
Bad Überkingen is a municipality in the district of Göppingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.-References:...
in 1996, aged 88. On the centenary of his birth in March 2007 Sacco paid tribute to his mentor, acknowledging the outstanding reputation he enjoys among younger automotive designers thanks to the timelessness of his designs.