Goodbye, Bodo Buschmann, 1955-2018

The founder of Mercedes-Benz tuning company Brabus, Bodo Buschmann, has died. The world has lost a larger-than-life character at the forefront of the 1970s and ’80s craze for money-no-object, high-quality conversions of staid Stuttgart saloons.

Brabus (‘Br’ from founding partner Klaus Brackman and ‘bus’ from Buschmann) was created in 1977, some 10 years after arch-rival AMG was formed. While the latter mixed its activities, preparing and entering racing cars as well as producing staid-looking but fearsomely potent road cars, Brabus was always dedicated to the consumer on the street – or in the desert.

Brabus’s sometimes OTT creations might not appeal to all, but there’s no denying the quality of engineering that produces cars such as the current 4wd, 800bhp Brabus 800 line, super-saloons and coupés that start life as ‘ordinary’ Mercedes-Benz S63 4Matics. The company also restores classic Mercedes, such as Pagodas and Gullwings.

Bodo Buschmann was a familiar figure holding court on his lavish stand over many days at motor shows, Geneva in particular. He will be missed.

Bodo Buschmann, 28 August 1955 – 26 April 2018.

Photo by Brabus