In Mercedes' illustrious 120 year history, one of the integral elements that's helped make Mercedes-Benz the world's most renowned automobile brand is without question its iconic design.  Over the decades, a multitude of precedent-setting models have been introduced by the company, whether it be the 300 SL Gullwing from 1955 or the modern-day CLS-Class. 

To help highlight these and various other design icons of Mercedes-Benz, the Pinakothek der Moderne (modern art museum) in Munich has announced they'll be unveiling an exhibition centered around the brand entitled "Milestones Automotive Design."  In the exhibit, which opens June 25th and will run through September 14th, a total of seven historic Mercedes models will be on display, as will various drafts, sketches, renderings and tapes that showcase the design of the vehicles.

The models on display include:

• The "Blitzen Benz" - broke the world record at 228.1 km/h in 1911 and stayed on top until 1919. At exposition runs in the United States it is regarded as the "eighth world wonder."
  
  
• The “Autobahn Courier” from 1938 - the ultimate in modernism on wheels and stands as a symbol for overcoming distances at high speed and great comfort.
  
  
• The W 196 "Streamliner" - returns Mercedes-Benz to Formula 1 racing in 1954, which the brand then dominated for two years.
  
  
• The C 111 design study from 1977 - the basis for a record breaker which one year later wins nine absolute world records with a five-cylinder turbo diesel under the hood.
  
  
• The "Bionic Car" - a 2005 research vehicle modeled after a tropical boxfish which addresses current conceptions of a streamlined, safe, ecological, and comfortable automobile.

In addition, the aforementioned Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing from 1955 and a milled model of the CLS (first introduced in 2004) complete the exhibition.

For more information on the Pinakothek der Moderne's "Milestones Automotive Design" Exhibition as well as photos highlighting the various models on display, you can find both immediately below.

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Exhibition “Milestones Automotive Design - Example Mercedes-Benz” in the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich

• Exhibition “Milestones Automotive Design - Example
  Mercedes-Benz” from June 25 through September 14, 2008
  
  
• Organisers: Neue Sammlung Design in the Pinakothek der Moderne in cooperation with Daimler AG
  
  
• Mercedes-Benz contributes seven vehicles of outstanding design to the exhibition
  
  

The Mercedes-Benz brand is the world's oldest and most renowned automobile brand. In the more than 120-year history of the brand, the design of the vehicles always has played an outstanding role, and over the decades numerous icons of automotive design have been created.

In the “Milestones Automotive Design” exhibition the Pinakothek der Moderne (modern art museum) in Munich is presenting seven vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz brand, beginning with the “Blitzen Benz” of 1909 and extending down to the Mercedes-Benz CLS of 2004. In conjunction with the cars, the exhibition also focuses on the design work. This is illustrated with drafts, sketches, renderings, tapes and models. Neue Sammlung Design presents a walk-in installation in which the cars are featured as the outcome of design processes.

The exhibition runs from the 25th of June to the 14th of September 2008. Open daily except Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

These exhibits are on display:

Benz 200 hp record vehicle of 1909
"Blitzen-Benz" (Lightning Benz)

The "Blitzen-Benz" broke the magical record of 200 km/h for the first time in 1909. In 1911, this vehicle set the world record of 228.1 km/h. At show events in the USA, the "Blitzen-Benz" was marveled at as the "eighth wonder of the world."

• Reconstruction with original parts
  
• Year of manufacture of the original: 1909
  
• Engine: 4 cylinder (inline), gasoline engine
  
• Displacement: 21,504 cm3
  
• Output; 200 hp (147 kW) at 1600 rpm
  
• Maximum speed: 228.1 km/h
  
• Quantity: 6
  
• Production period: 1909 to 1913
  
• Mercedes-Benz 540 K of 1938
  
  

"Autobahnkurier" (Motorway Courier)

The "Autobahnkurier" epitomized modernity on wheels and was a symbol for overcoming distances at high speed and in excellent comfort. This vehicle was used by its first owner, a Spanish eye specialist, to travel in North Africa and later for frequent trips between Spain and Switzerland.

• Year of manufacture: 1938
  
• Engine: 8 cylinder (inline), gasoline engine with compressor charging
  
• Displacement: 5401 cm3
  
• Output: 115 hp (85 kW) at 3400 rpm, with compressor 180 hp (132 kW)
  
• Maximum speed: 170 km/h
  
• Quantity: 419 (all variants of 540 K)
  
• Production period 1936 to 1939 (all variants of 540 K)
  
  

Mercedes-Benz 2.5 liter racing car of 1955
"Stromlinie" (Streamliner)

With this vehicle, Mercedes-Benz made its return in 1954 to Grand Prix racing. On 4 July, Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling achieved a double victory at the first attempt at the French Grand Prix. The W 196 won Fangio and Mercedes-Benz the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship Title in 1954 and 1955.

• Year of manufacture: 1955
  
• Engine: 8 cylinder (inline), gasoline engine with direct fuel injection
  
• Displacement: 2497 cm3
  
• Output: 290 hp (213 kW) at 8500 rpm
  
• Maximum speed: 305 km/h
  
• Production period: 1954 to 1955
  
• Loan from the Technisches Museum Wien
  
  

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of 1955
"Flügeltürer" (Gullwing)

The design of the 300 SL standard sports car can be traced to the racing Coupé of 1952, which in the 1952 racing season, won the Pan-American and 24-hour Le Mans race. The standard 300 SL version presented in 1954 in New York quickly became the dream sports car of the 1950s.

• Year of manufacture: 1955
  
• Engine: 6 cylinder (inline), gasoline engine with direct fuel injection
  
• Displacement: 2996 cm3
  
• Output: 215 hp (158 kW) at 5800 rpm
  
• Maximum speed: 250 km/h
  
• Quantity: 1400
  
• Production period: 1954 to 1957
  
  

Mercedes-Benz Design Study from 1977
C 111-III

The C 111-III of 1977 was a fascinating design study that served to transform aerodynamic knowledge into a functional design.
The outstanding cd value of 0.178 was achieved thanks to the use in certain areas of the vehicle of sharp-edged design elements running parallel to the air flow lines. The design of the Mercedes 190 subsequently saw these significant elements make their way into series production configuration.

The following year, a diesel record-setting car was developed based on this design study. With its aerodynamic body and 5-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, the C 111-III captured nine absolute world records for Mercedes-Benz.

Its predecessor was the C 111, an experimental vehicle that had already caused a sensation back in 1969 with its futuristic design and Wankel engine.


Mercedes-Benz 2005 research vehicle
Bionic Car

The tropical boxfish was the template for this research vehicle, with which in 2005 Mercedes-Benz addressed current concepts on an aerodynamically-efficient, reliable, comfortable and environmentally-friendly automobile.

• Year of manufacture: 2005
  
• Engine: 4 cylinder (inline), turbo diesel with common-rail direct injection
  
• Displacement: 1991 cm3
  
• Output: 140 hp (103 kW)
  
• Quantity: 1
  
  

The CLS milled model

The model consists of a metal support, a rigid foam core and a coating of 2-component master paste. The data generated from the clay models is used to mill a full-size model – revealing the unmistakable shape of the CLS for series production development. At its market launch in 2004, the CLS was unique among contemporary automobiles as it marked the return by Mercedes-Benz to the hitherto unusual category of the four-door Coupé.

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