The locomotive series was developed from the 1964 quadruple-voltage CC 40100, designed by Paul Arzens,[1] which was mainly used for Trans Europ Express international service.
The CC 40100 featured a forward-leaning nose and windshield that drew comparisons with a broken-nose facial profile ("Nez Cassé").
A greater emphasis on crash protection for engine drivers in the following series added depth to the nose and changed the broken-nosed profile.
Slovenian Railways uses 3 kV DC versions of CC 6500 (identical to the ONCF E900 and using the same transmition) as SŽ series 363.
FEPASA in São Paulo State, Brazil ordered 80 3 kV DC locomotives in the mid-1980s for its metre gauge and Irish gauge network called FEPASA 2200 series (or Alsthom EC-386) for use on the Araguari-Santos Export Corridor [pt] and other prospective electrified lines on its network.