Rainer Buchmann

The modifier bb Auto, founded in Frankfurt, 1973 by Rainer Buchmann and his brother Dieter, caused a stir in the European and international car scene of the '80s. Their technical innovations and spectacular design made them stand out from the crowd.

Initially focused on Porsche cars, bb established themselves as a name to be remembered when they presented their Porsche Turbo Targa with prismatic coloured varnish on the Polaroid stand at Fotokina 1976 Cologne. At IAA Frankfurt 1979 they launched bb CW 311, a contemporary modification of the legendary Mercedes 300 SL. Mercedes-Benz was so enthusiastic about the car that they allowed Buchmann to continue using the Mercedes star as a brand logo. During the 1980s, bb was one of the most successful modifiers of production cars. They transformed off-the-line automobiles into bespoke luxury vehicles for those who could afford it - customers from the Arab world, celebrities from the jet-set, and many more.