Hanspeter Bröhl - the aerodynamics and rhomboid specialist
Hanspeter Bröhl was born on April 16, 1943 in Basel, where he also attended school. He trained as a reinforced concrete draughtsman. He became interested in automobile history at an early age and attended classic car meetings. He was particularly fascinated by streamlined designs. In the 1970s, he sought contact with the Jaray family.
The extensive collection of documents, photos and drawings he had diligently compiled and the lack of a well-deserved tribute to the streamliner pioneer Paul Jaray made him want to publish the typewritten manuscript with numerous illustrations in book form. Courageously, a first edition of 500 copies was self-published in 1978 under the title "Paul Jaray Stromlinienpionier - Von der Kastenform zur Stromlinienform" with 169 pages in A4 format. The paperback book was well received by the still small circle of car historians and dedicated enthusiasts and has been reprinted several times over the years. It is still regarded today as the most important work on the work of Paul Jaray, which also contains significant sources and literature references.
Parallel to his growing documentation on streamlined automobiles, Hanspeter Bröhl collected all available model cars of this type.
In 1995, Hp Bröhl self-published the 20-page brochure "Zum 100. Geburtstag des Raketenpioniers Max Valier" (On the 100th birthday of the rocket pioneer Max Valier). In doing so, he once again took the path of bringing a hitherto little-appreciated visionary of modern design back into the public eye.
In the same year, a documentation on "Romboide 1897-1995" was produced in a very small edition. With a good dose of explorer's delight, Hp Bröhl succeeded in depicting on 31 pages a development of automobiles with a centrally mounted front and rear wheel and two side center wheels, which had hardly been noticed by the majority.
Later, various reports on creative designers, streamline developments, etc. appeared. Again and again, Hp Bröhl discovered niches in the long history of the automobile, which he tried to fill with great commitment and contacts and correspondence around the world.
Shortly after joining the Swiss Car Register in 1999, he entrusted his archive and his model collection to the still young association. His extraordinary hard work and enormous knowledge will live on. He was made an honorary member of the SCR in 2001. Brühl owned a Ford Eifel and particularly admired the Saab 96 and the Tatra cars.
After a short, serious illness, Hanspeter Bröhl passed away on December 19, 2017.
He will be remembered by all who knew him as a lovable historian who was always interested in the unusual. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
