70hp
1904
The Mercedes 70hp was powered by a huge four-cylinder engine that displaced 9230cc, the engine of course being started via use of crank-handle. Getting into the driving seat was something of an acrobatic exercise, as the floor of the car was high off the ground and there was no step. | 28/60 45/50 hp
1907 - 1914
A century ago, the owner of a Mercedes usually delegated cranking, praying and probably cursing as well to his unfortunate chauffeur. You would certainly need to be in good form to swing four cylinders totalling over 7ΒΌ litres. | SSK
1928
Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the Mercedes SSK is regarded by most as the finest pre-war sports built. |
500 & 540K
1934 - 1939
Definitely one of the most desirable masterpieces in the pre-war period, this car foresaw the trend of Mercedes-Benz in having incomparable build quality and elegance of design. | 170V
1936 - 1953
In April 1945 Daimler Benz executives announced that the company had "ceased to exist", however some of the less damaged manufacturing plants fell into the Allied occupied zone and, after as many ex-employees could be located, production resumed on the 170. | 170D
1949 - 1955
For a diesel powered Mercedes to be successful, the engineers needed to create a car that would perform as well if not better than its petrol cousin. And, as always, the Mercedes engineers succeeded. |
170S
1949 - 1955
While the design of the 170S was not actually new, in fact its routes stretched back as far as 1936, it did play an important role in re-establishing Mercedes in post-war Europe. | 220
1951 - 1956
Introduced after a showing at the Frankfurt Auto Show of 1951, production began in July of 1951. Closely resembling the Mercedes 170S, the headlights were instead moved to the front fenders and the model featured much more elegant interior appointments. | 300
1951 - 1956
First introduced to the public at the 1951 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 300 is important in the post war Mercedes line-up as it represents the return by Mercedes to manufacturing outstanding high quality and luxurious automobiles. |
300S
1951 - 1958
Simply put, these were not just good automobiles, they were great. The 170 may have helped re-establish Mercedes as a manufacturer, but it was the 300S that re-established it as the world's best automotive marque. | 1800
1953 - 1962
When the 180 was introduced in 1953, its main feature was the new chassis design - one that used sectional steel side members tied into the floorpan - resulting in improved rigidity and noise reduction. | 180D
1953 - 1962
The 180D used a four door unitary bodyshell which formed the basis for many other Mercedes saloon models. As with all Mercedes cars the 180 was well built and offered excellent reliability. |
Benz 190
1956 - 1965
The new look 190 was vastly more modern in appearance, the Mercedes designers incorporated fins for the first time, of course fins being almost mandatory on cars built in the early 1960's. | Benz 190
1956 - 1965
The new look 190 was vastly more modern in appearance, the Mercedes designers incorporated fins for the first time, of course fins being almost mandatory on cars built in the early 1960's. | 219
1956 - 1959
The 219 represented an evolution rather than an evolution, and as is still the case with cars of today such an evolution involved increasing the length of the wheelbase and the power output of the motor. |
220S
1958 - 1960
While production of the 220SE began in April of 1958, the model would not come to market until September, and even then the Mercedes regular production lines would not get underway until October. | 190D
1958 - 1965
While it was usual for the Mercedes diesel model to follow the release of the petrol driven variety, it would take an astonishing 2 years for the 190D to debut. | 220S Fintail
1958 - 1968
Today there are still many "Finnies" on the road, such was the high build quality of these cars, and because the fins that were to date the design of the car so quickly are now seen as an excercise in design and beauty the 220 and 220S are appreciating in value. |
220 Fintail
1959 - 1965
As with the model it was replacing (the 219), the new 220 was available with the "Hydrak" transmission until 1961. In fact for almost a year, between 1961 and 1962, the 220 was available in manual form only until Mercedes introduced a new "Auto" transmission as an option. | 600 Pullman
1963 - 1981
In 1961 Mercedes built the 600 to be the world's ultimate saloon car, a luxurious Rolls Royce type car that had no regard to cost or compromise. It offered affluent members of society a 320 cm wheelbase and 5.5 metre four door saloon. | Benz 200
1965 - 1968
Production of the "Fintail" 200 lasted until 1968 and, during the first year of its life, was the smallest of the seventeen models of passenger cars manufactured by Mercedes. |
200D
1965 - 1968
It was during the production run of the 200D that the 500,000 Mercedes Diesel was manufactured - attesting to the popularity of Diesel even back in the 1950's and 1960's. | Benz 250
1968 - 1974
The new model 250 broke fresh ground for Mercedes in having a new independent rear suspension using semi-trailing links instead of their famous low-pivot swing-axle. | 250C/CE
1968 - 1974
Mercedes coupes have always been eye-catchers, the two door design and resultant window shape making for sleek sophistication. |
280SE 3.5
1969 - 1971
The 280SE 3.5 luxury coupe and convertible were introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1969. The basic body style actually dated back to the 1961 220SE model, and it was only slightly altered. | 230.4
1972 - 1976
Overall a good, dependable and economical car, the four cylinder motor did not have the performance of the larger 6 and V8 powered cars. | 280SEL
1973 - 1980
Information being compiled. |
280E
1975 - 1985
The 280E was enormously popular, thanks largely to the sweet 6 cylinder being equipped with the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system with air volume control (first seen in the 6.9 litre monster 450SEL). | 450SEL
1975 - 1980
First offered in 1975, it shared the grand 600s 6.3 litre V8 but had it bored out to 417ci/6.835Ltrs to produce an appreciable 286hp and highway pounding 550Nm of torque. It was and remains the biggest postwar engine mercedes ever made. | 280TE and 300TD
1978 - 1985
The Mercedes "T" car was based on the popular W 123 sized sedan. It went on sale in Europe in 1977, but, as usual due to Australian Design Rules, it took until late 1979 for MB to start looking at the Australian market for the excellent luxury machine. Production for Australia originated at the Bremen plant of Daimler Benz. |
380 SEL
1980 - 1985
Back when the 380 SEL was rolling off the Mercedes-Benz production line the car had few equals. BMW came the closest to the mark, while in a very different sphere, and Porsche was another over-engineered beast. All were German, the three of them bearing that unmistakable stamp of quality in every little feature. | 300GD Gelandewagen
1981 - 1989
The 300GD Gelandewagen four wheel drive model was Mercedes answer to the Range Rover. Nobody had anticipated the demand for a luxury four wheel drive, however the "Rangie" was to prove far more successful in the showroom. Why?, perhaps that the 300GD was such a good off-road performer but lacked a little of the on road finesse of the Range Rover says more about the type of people buying these cars than the cars themselves. | 190E
1988 - 1990
The Mercedes-Benz 190E, quickly dubbed the 'Baby Benz', brought the prestigous marque within the purchasing reach of many. While this model featured nearly all the safety features of its bigger brothers, and corresponding build quality, the one model everyone seeks today is the 2.3-16. |
560SEL
1988 - 1991
The mighty 560SEL, the Mercedes "S" class (Sonderklasse) flagship for 1988. Powered by the fearsome 5.6 litre V8 producing 300bhp (220kw) the car could do 0 - 100kmh in 7.2 seconds, presumably with the executive in the back remaining blisfully unaware that his chauffer was having a fang! | A-Class Series 1
1997 - 2005
Mercedes' decision to apply its engineering genius to totally new formats - rather than the further refinement of established designs saw its ultimate realization with the A-class. | M-Class
1997 -
The M-class, another part of Mercedes' dash for diversification, was designed to enter the booming 4x4 (SUV) sector and to succeed by addressing the problems inherent in the majority of 4x4 designs. |
300SL Gullwing
1954 - 1957
For the Mercedes enthusiast, the 300SL represents the "Holy Grail". It is beautiful, old and extremely rare, but probably the biggest appeal (apart from the blistering performance) comes from the unique "gullwing doors" and the spaceframe chassis. | 190SL
1955 - 1963
The only 4 cylinder SL built (modern SLK's excluded), this was a far simpler (and far less expensive) alternative to the 300SL. | 300SL Roadster
1954 - 1957
For the Mercedes enthusiast, the 300SL represents the "Holy Grail". It is beautiful, old and extremely rare, but probably the biggest appeal (apart from the blistering performance) comes from the unique "gullwing doors" and the spaceframe chassis. |
230SL
1963 - 1967
The 230, 250 and 280 SL model Mercedes are still regarded today as the pinnacle of German styling, quality and engineering. Always popular with women, these fabulous cars boasted fine handling, road holding and a surprisingly sporty auto transmission. | 250SL
1966 - 1968
The 250SL was only in production for one year, and was soon replaced by the larger engined 280SL. This has lead to some debate amounst Mercedes fans as to which model is the more collectable, the superior performing 280SL or the low volume 250SL. Certainly from a rarity point of view, the honours must go to the 250SL. | 280SL
1967 - 1971
In November 1967 Mercedes released the last SL to use the M129 body, the 280 SL - a car which most collectors regard as the best of the trio. |
350SL
1970 - 1980
Introduced early in 1971, this impressive two-seater sports car replaced the 280SL. The body and chassis of the 3rd generation SL was considerably heavier and longer than its predecessor, but still showed a slight resemblence to them. | 350SLC
1971- 1980
Some 360mm longer than its SL twin, and weighing approximately 50 kilo's more, the SLC featured a "useable" rear passenger seat, and an even larger boot. But even though it was larger than the 107 convertible, it was substantially shorter and lower to the ground that the outgoing 280SE model. | 450SL
1973 - 1980
The main reason for the release of the 450SL was to enable Mercedes engineers to cope with more stringent US anti pollution legislation. In fact, the increase in engine size was necessitated out of the engines loss of power after the anti-pollution gear was attached. |
280SL
1974 - 1981
The smaller motor made the 280SL lighter, indeed 85 kilos lighter than the 350SL!, and with the weight advantage came a better handling motor car - many believing the 6 cylinder variants were indeed sweeter and sportier. We wont enter into the debate, the desirability of a R107 280SL today speaks for itself! | 280SLC
1974 - 1981
The delightful 280SLC was released at the same time as the 280SL, and in coupe form featuring the highly efficient smaller capacity DOHC six cylinder engine gives this model the honours for the most fuel efficient 107 model ever released. | 380SL
1980 - 1985
By the time the 380SL was introduced to the market, some 85,000 R107 body shape roadsters had been produced since the introduction of the 350SL in 1970/71. |
380SLC
1980 - 1981
By the time the 380SLC was introduced to the market, some 54,000 R107 coupes had been produced since the introduction of the 350SLC in 1972. Although 85,000 SL's had been produced by the same time, no one could question the popularity of the SLC model! | 500SL
1980 - 1989
For the first time you could option your SL to have ABS, but most importantly for a car with sporting aspirations the new model featured much better acceleration times, 0 - 100 km/h now taking just 7.8 seconds. | 500SLC
1980 - 1989
Interestingly, the new model 500SL and SLC's engine developed the same horespower rating as the legendary 300SL from almost 30 years prior. Even acceleration times were near identical, the new model SL and SLC beating the older model by only .6 of a second, attaining 0 - 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds. |
500SL
1988 - 1992
Fitted with an electro-hydraulically operated top as well as a hard top, the vehicle also had an automatically operated roll bar - activating within 0.3 seconds when a critical situation registered. |
