Classic Cars
From Germany
MERCEDES BENZ A.G.
While both born in southern Germany and both
involved in automobile manufacture at an early age, neither Gottlieb Daimler nor
Carl Benz knew each other and it was until 1924 that the 2 companies agreed to
merge operations in order to survive the financial pressures of post-war
Germany. .
In the meantime, Emil Jellinek, a Board member of Daimler's company insisted
that a car produced in 1890 be named after his daughter, Mercedes. This was also
the year that Daimler died.
Despite racing successes, World War I and World War II decimated the
German car industry except for one well known maker.(*1)
The first Mercedes Benz of real note is the S/SSK of 1927 vintage. Originals
have sold for over £4 million so only reconstructions like this one are within mortal ability.
Only about 40 SSKs were built and around half were used for racing which may
well explain the price tag.
(*2)
Although only 447 were reported as having been produced between 1936 and 1939, the
540K was the more
powerful brother of its predecessor, and was presented in sedan, tourer 2+2, cabriolet and roadster.
The earlier model is more prized by collectors but requires nearly US$2 million,
besides, I believe the technical improvements in this model make it a better
classic.
People will complain bitterly when I say I have always preferred the 190 over
its more famous brother, the 300SL but the truth is, except for the amazing
doors of the 300, the styling was almost identical to this 190 SL of
which there were 25,881 built between 1955 and 1963. Compare the numbers and
check your bank statement. The 190 SL only came in 2 door coupe or roadster with
an 1897cc engine.
It would be sinful to exclude the 300 SL and for fear of retribution, I
have to tell you that the "Gullwing" coupe was only produced between 1955 and
1957 with a total of 1,400 units. The 300 model continued with a 2995cc motor,
from 1955 to 1963 but mainly in Roadster style. The real beauty of this classic
is best appreciated with the famous doors closed.
It
was at that point that we began to see what a real classic car looks
like - the introduction of a regular range of the "SL". The Mercedes
Benz series most worthy of classic status, was the SL range beginning with the 190 and
the 300, This W113 range followed beginning with the
230 SL
(left)
of which 11,725 were produced between 1963 and 1967. Being the least powerful of
the W113 range, this classic is not as popular with collectors and therefore
much cheaper to buy now days. The 230SL sold almost twice as many models as the
more famous Gullwing.
The 250SL
(left)
only lasted for a little over 12 months from December 1966 to January 1968.
There were only 5,196 of these made which surprisingly, defies their
not-so-popular status with collectors.
The most popular model with collectors is the 280SL
(left)
which continued from December 1967 to March 1971 with a production of 23,885.
Obviously the most popular from a sales point, its salability was created by the
success of the earlier models but is still the most expensive in today's market.
This Coupe best displays the superb lines of the entire 113 series.
The highly successful W113 models gave birth to a whole new range of luxury 4
door sedans. 473,035 of the W116 S class series were built between 1973 and 1980
beginning with the 280S. Sales of the first two models, both 5 cylinders,
comprised about 60% of total sales, while the remaining 6 models were all V8,
lower fuel economy, more powerful, more expensive. This is the basic 280S
(left)
but the collectors will probably prefer the 350SEL
(below)
of which only 4,266 were produced although it is reported that this model posed
several mechanical issues.
Join my Forum and have your say.
I was about to bypass the W114 and W115 models produced between 1968
and 1976 until I remembered the classic 280CE. The top of the range in this
series, it shared sales of 24,669 with the 280C and was considered one of the
best classics of the period. That opinion doesn't seem to be shared by official
recognition but it deserves to be considered a classic because in this series,
it had the highest standard of exterior design and interior decor.
The W107 series was always one of my favourites despite the huge range of SL that came before and after.
Within this series came the beautiful 350SL and the 450SL. The series was
produced between 1970 and 1989, a huge life span for any model although there
were many diferent capacities and designs, all tagged under the W107 label..
Left
is a 1972 350SL (*3)
which for
my money, shares the podium with the 190SL and
the 450SL below.
The 450SL began production in 1971. The striking feature of these models
was the elongated bonnet. This 1978 450SL
(*3)
shows almost identical styling to the 350 above.
The final tribute to the Mercedes Benz pre 1980 models will probably never be
considered a classic and is unlikely to be considered collectible. There were
2,696,915 of them sold between 1976 and 1985. They came in 7 engine sizes for
both petrol and diesel. They came in sedan, coupe and estate. At left is the
interminable 200 but anyone who has ever owned one (I thought everyone
had), refers to them simply as a "123".
(*1)
Wikipedia
(*2)
Wikipedia
(*3)
Daniel Schmitt & Co
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