The Mercedes-Benz C111 Research Vehicle was first completed in 1969 and sported a fiberglass body with gullwing doors. The C111 was tested with a center mounted Wankel Engine, turbo-Diesel engine with the final C111 model hosting a 500 hp V8 Gasoline engine. Breaking several diesel and gas speed records, the most impressive records came when the Mercedes-Benz C111 set a lap speed record with Dr. Hans Leibold behind the wheel. Dr. Leibold acheived 250 mph to finish a lap in 1 minute, 56.67 seconds on May 5, 1979.
Althought Mercedes-Benz received several request for purchase of the C111, it never went into production. The Mercedes-Benz C111 instead remained a research vehicle – setting standards for the design of modern sports cars.
The coupé is an exclusive body design. This was true even in the days of the horse-drawn carriage, when the coupé – presumably so-called because it resembled a four-seater carriage with its front end cut-off (French: “coupé”) – offered two seats in the comfort of the cab with the coachman seated up front on the open box seat. People who chose this mode of travel clearly liked to demonstrate a sense of style and individuality.
“Coupés from Mercedes-Benz have always been the embodiment of elegance on four wheels,” says Michael Bock, Managing Director of the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “Whether today, 40 years ago or 100 years ago – our coupés are legends of the eras in which they were built.”
The early automobiles borrowed heavily from various styles of horse-drawn carriage. The coupé retained a strong focus essentially on two persons traveling in style. To this day it typifies an exclusive form of transportation.
Use of a coachman eventually gave way to owners who preferred to take control of their vehicle themselves; today’s coupés are also driver-oriented. So would it be entirely wrong to suggest that one decides upon a coupé rather as one might choose an elegant coat – with the aim of wearing it for comfort and self-confidence?
Throughout its history Mercedes-Benz has offered coupés in a variety of designs. The 10 hp Benz Mylord coupé of 1901, for example, still bore close resemblance to the horse-drawn carriage, with a seat for the driver open to the elements. One not uncommon feature for the day was the folding roof above the passenger seats, which could be opened in good weather to enhance enjoyment of the journey – and which at a top speed of 35 to 40 km/h detracted only minimally from the elegance of the Mylord coupé’s appearance.
Flowing lines for a dynamic appearance
The term coupé has evolved and grown over the decades. Early coupés, for example, generally only had room for two people; since the 1950s, however, they have more usually had four seats. But the body incorporates a number of basic features that persist to this day. A coupé generally has very low, flowing lines which create a stretched silhouette. It often dispenses with the B pillar altogether, and the C pillar slopes gently into the tail. The roof is generally shorter than in the case of a sedan, and curved at the rear. The side windows are usually frameless.
Nowadays, owning a coupé and enjoying utility value are no longer mutually exclusive aspirations. Although many coupé enthusiasts would contest the fact, even in a coupé a spacious trunk, folding rear seat bench and ski bag are popular equipment features. After all, the body does not reveal outwardly all the other things that need transportation in addition to the passengers.
Coupés by Mercedes-Benz and predecessor brands carry the self-image of this exceptional vehicle type in every detail – whether in the E-Class Coupé from the C 207 series or the CL-Class from the C 216 series. In addition, the CLC from the CL 203 series has been available in the C-Class as a sports coupé version since 2008. In this way the various coupés have smoothly been taking up their place in the Mercedes-Benz product range and adding a touch of sporting elegance to the brand image.
Coupes in every class
After the Second World War the coupé became a permanent feature in particular of the Mercedes-Benz mid-series, as well as of its premium-class models. The forerunners of the CL-Class include vehicles such as the 300 S coupé (W 188, 1952 to 1955) and the coupés of the 180 and 128 “three-box body” series, whose self-supporting bodies were fully in tune with the tastes of the day.
1961 saw the launch of coupés in the premium-class 111 series, then the following year that of the 112 series, all of them highly sought-after vehicles today.
An intermediate step in the tradition of great Mercedes-Benz coupés were the coupés of the 107 series. For in the case of the C 107 the coupés were based not on the four-door premium class saloons but on the roadsters of the SL-Class.
The C 126 successor series on the other hand offered four proper seats, a feature that has been continued to the present day in the C 140, C 215 and C 216 series.
In the Mercedes-Benz mid-series there has been an almost continuous coupé tradition since the late 1960s, perpetuated today by the E-Class Coupé from the C 207 series. The first mid-series coupé was the 114 series, more familiarly known as the Stroke Eight, since internally it bore the abbreviation “/8” to denote the year of its appearance, 1968. The car was also successfully exported to North America. The 123 series (1977 to 1985) followed seamlessly on and even offered a first-ever diesel-powered coupé – initially reserved for North American customers with a view to improving Corporate Average Fuel Economy there.
The coupé tradition was continued by the 124 series from 1987 to 1996. This link was established by the first CLK Coupé (C 208 series), launched in 1997 and built until 2002. For this model Mercedes-Benz sounded out the market with the aid of a coupé study, presented in 1993 at the Geneva Motor Show and revealing to an enthusiastic public the brand’s new “four-eyed” face. Built from 2002 to 2009, the CLK series
(C 209) seamlessly built on the success of its predecessor. This was then continued by the E-Class Coupé C 207, awarded the GOOD DESIGN® Award and the German Design Award as a member of the current E-Class.
The presentation of the Vision CLS at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003 caused a sensation and gave the motoring public a foretaste of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, which appeared the following year. This car combined the best of two worlds, offering the spaciousness and four doors of a sedan, while at the same time exhibiting its clear coupé roots with a skilfully designed body. The CLS quickly established itself as a modern automotive icon. And it created an entirely new market segment. After the success enjoyed by Mercedes-Benz, other carmakers with four-door coupés followed in its wake.
No review of the coupé history of Mercedes-Benz would be complete without mention of four exceptional sports coupés. In 1954 came the 300 SL (W 198). Not just the gullwing doors and timeless body design place this car in a class of its own in the automotive world – the whole vehicle remains today both a dream car and a dream coupé in one.
Then in 1969 the company presented the C 111 experimental car, initially as a test vehicle for the Wankel engine. This coupé unleashed a storm of interest and Mercedes-Benz even received numerous blank checks from potential customers. But the C 111 never went into production.
Although the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (199 series) of 2003 was no direct descendant of the 300 SL, it still bears the genes of the Gullwing. For it is both a dream sports car and an original coupé design. In both cases, the roadster versions were later additions.
And finally, 2010 saw the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG to continue the history of Mercedes-Benz supersports cars. The elegant sportiness of this extraordinary coupé (C 197 series) ignites both passion and enthusiasm.
Every Mercedes-Benz coupé is a classic, whether it has historic roots or hails from the current model portfolio. These models perfectly round off the brand’s automotive product range and target a clientele for whom style and elegance retain a particular importance. In this way Mercedes-Benz coupés are a lifestyle statement on wheels.
The Vision SLR was introduced to the world public in 1999, at the IAA in Frankfurt as a concept study of a supercar. Equipped with a 5.5 liter 8-cylinder mid-engine producing 557 horsepower, a car body made of carbon fiber and doors hung on the A-pillar, the vision Sporting Light Racing car reaches speeds over 186 mph. Six years later the vision became reality, in the form of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach near Stuttgart is the worldwide center for automotive Mercedes-Benz originality. It was opened on 19 May 1993, and it makes an important contribution – together with the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the Archive & Collection and Club Management – to the historic brand communication of Mercedes-Benz. Its services include the servicing, repair and restoration of classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as well as the provision of appropriate genuine parts. In addition, it also sells or brokers sales of exclusive Mercedes-Benz classic vehicles.
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center (MBCC) is both pioneer and market leader in the comprehensive, responsible and professional care of historic Mercedes-Benz vehicles worldwide. As part of the world’s oldest automotive plant, the MBCC acts as a guardian of the company’s tradition and as a service provider for all those interested in or owning historic Mercedes-Benz vehicles and their predecessor brands – as well, of course, as being a treasure trove of fascinating stories linked to the brand with the world-famous star.
It is not only the historic and more recent automobiles in the Mercedes-Benz Museum that receive the professional attentions of the MBCC. The unique technical and historic expertise of its employees is also available to all customers of the brand anywhere in the world who wish to maintain their Mercedes-Benz in its original condition.
“For our customers, such authentic care of their Mercedes-Benz classics represents a guarantee of value retention. For the Mercedes-Benz brand itself, the work of the MBCC is proof positive of quality, innovation and fascination”, says Michael Bock, Head of Face-to-Face Communication at Mercedes-Benz Cars and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH. “It is a policy which the company, as inventor of the automobile, is set to follow in the years ahead, since MBCC also guarantees authentic care of today’s vehicles once they have become a part of Mercedes-Benz history.”
Authenticity guaranteed
The classics one sees on the world’s highways provide the best evidence of the traditionally outstanding quality of Mercedes-Benz automobiles. They demonstrate the high level of production quality and the leading role of the Mercedes-Benz brand in automotive history. Accordingly it is of the utmost importance that MBCC ensures the same functionality for Mercedes classics of all eras as the company does for its new models.
Every Mercedes-Benz classic makes the values of the brand immediately tangible; each one of these cars stands for and demonstrates quality, innovation and fascination. With this aim in mind, the MBCC makes its own special contribution to “lifelong service”.
Mercedes-Benz sells not sheet steel, glass and rubber – but fascination. The service provided by the MBCC is part of the fascination which present and future
Mercedes-Benz classics represent for classic vehicle enthusiasts.
What all customers of the MBCC benefit from is the MBCC’s direct access to all the corporate resources it requires. In addition to having full access to the archive, the MBCC has the use of the research and development facilities, the prototype development experience of the plants and the latest technical methods for reproducing original components. Moreover, access to the specialist know-how of suppliers closely associated with the company goes even further to underline the fundamental originality to which the MBCC adheres. All these factors help to maintain the originality and historical and technical perfection of the classic vehicles. A Daimler, Benz, Mercedes or Mercedes-Benz remains an original even after its restoration by the MBCC.
Genuine parts for Mercedes-Benz classics
The MBCC is responsible for all replacement parts relating to Mercedes-Benz vehicles whose series production ceased at least 20 years ago. The range of genuine parts currently comprises around 40,000 item numbers for more than 20 different model series.
Parts which are no longer available can be reproduced in authentic quality and to Mercedes-Benz standards using firmly established processes. The main focus of these reproductions and new production runs is on components which are crucial for safety and operational reliability. Wherever possible, the original supplier is charged with production of a new batch, or alternatively over 150 newly certificated suppliers are available.
The Replacement Parts department of the MBCC is also a treasure trove when it comes to unearthing replacement parts lists, workshop manuals, operating instructions, technical tables or service booklets.
Repairs, servicing and restoration
The MBCC restores, repairs and services Daimler, Benz, Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz classics owned by customers, providing a precise technical report and cost estimate beforehand. This applies to every single vehicle produced under these brand names since 1886. The main focus is on the supercharged models of the pre-war era, the 600 and all the models in the 300 series, e.g. the 300 SL Gullwing. The Center’s workshop not only carries out full or partial restorations, but also individual repair and rebuilding assignments for engines, transmissions, axles, steering systems and other assemblies if these can no longer be supplied from the stocks of Mercedes-Benz replacement parts.
In overall terms, expert assessments – which are inspections to ascertain the authenticity of any vehicle built by the company since the invention of the autombile in 1886 and to provide a statement of condition and appropriate documentation – are compiled by the Archive & Collection or commissioned in advance by the customer. The technical aspect of this expert assessment, however, is the responsibility of the MBCC.
At national and international classic vehicle events the MBCC is at hand to give owners of Mercedes-Benz classics the benefit of its specialist advice and practical assistance. On these occasions specialists from the Workshop department carry out servicing and minor repairs on the spot, as the circumstances allow.
Purchase and sale of classic vehicles
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center also deals in classic automobiles by Mercedes-Benz and its predecessor brands, and specializes in high-value vehicles such as convertibles, the models in the 300 series and pre-war cars like the supercharger models. Long years of experience with the company’s own models and their history as well as careful examinations ensure transparency with respect to current condition and possible follow-up costs. In its buying and selling of vehicles, MBCC is a guarantor of first-class advice and market-related pricing, as it is when brokering vehicles on behalf of customers. Both buyer and seller can rely on the experience and expertise of MBCC specialists.
The permanent exhibition on the premises of the Classic Center in Fellbach contains a number of exclusive classics from different eras and in their original condition – either repaired and/or restored – and can merely be admired or purchased. Before a classic vehicle is offered for sale in the MBCC showrooms, it is examined and checked down to the last detail by the workshop specialists.
Mercedes classics – Tradition with a future
In the eyes of the company a Mercedes qualifies as a classic when twenty years have passed since its production was discontinued. Since 1988, this e.g. has applied to the four- and six-cylinder Tailfin models in the W 110, W 111 and W 112 series, of which 973,000 units were produced in total. In 1993 these were followed by the
S-Class models of the W 108 and W 109 series, in which V8 engines were offered for the first time, and since 1996, likewise 20 years after production was discontinued, the classic lineup has included the practically indestructible Stroke Eight (/8) W 114/W 115 model series. Other recent classics include the generously chrome-embellished
S-Class models of the W 116 series produced from 1972 to 1980, in which the large 6.9-liter V8 celebrated its premiere along with the first diesel model in the S-Class, though the latter was only intended for the US market. They are joined by the W 100, the world-famous and highly desirable 600 state limousine, which was produced between 1963 and 1981.
Mercedes-Benz Classic partners
Owners of Mercedes-Benz classics do not necessarily need to travel to Fellbach with their vehicles. More than 500 Mercedes-Benz company-owned outlets and dealerships in Germany are able to provide information on the procurement of replacement parts and literature. The same applies to Classic partners in France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Twenty of these outlets in Germany are also able to offer an extended range of services. These possess the specialist personnel, working facilities and in-depth expertise and craftsmanship of a classic car workshop. They are able to provide knowledgeable answers to questions regarding technical aspects, care, repairs and authenticity in close consultation with the specialists in Fellbach. However, the first port of call for full or partial restoration work remains the MBCC.
Since February 2006, owners of Mercedes-Benz classics in the USA have also had a No. 1 Service address to call on: this was when the first Classic Center in the USA was opened in Irvine, California, in close collaboration with Mercedes-Benz USA. This means that in the USA too, “lifelong service” is assured for Mercedes-Benz classics.
Visitor address:
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center,
Stuttgarter Str. 90,
70736 Fellbach
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Guided tours: Mondays 2 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.
(Group tours are available by prior arrangement)
Postal address:
Daimler AG,
Mercedes-Benz Classic Center,
000/R051,
D-70546 Stuttgart
Contact:
Phone: +49 (0)711/17-8 40 40, fax: +49 (0) 711/17-8 345 6
E-mail: classic.center@daimler.com
Internet: www.mercedes-benz.com/classic-center
At the ADAC Eifel Race at the Nürburgring, Mercedes-Benz was presented for its outstanding sports car history. From June 18 to 20, 2010, six super sports cars were in the Nurburgring paddock behind the Rundbogenzelten for all to admire. On Saturday and Sunday the cars put their fascination potential at the test at three demonstration runs on the Grand Prix circuit.
Since 1922 the ADAC holds a race in the Eifel-Region near Aachen and Koblenz. The legendary Nuerburgring is the place where the first Eifelrennen took place on a race track in 1927. It was the premier opening race of the news race track. Until 1927 the Eifelrennen was held on public roads as a Targa-Florio – like race since 1922.
Four years ago the Eifelrennen returned to the Nuerburgring as a historic revival. Main part of the racing days for classic cars are the Grand-Prix-Track and the legendary Nordschleife with 21 km length for one lap. A lot of the history of the Nuerburgring is based on the famous races on the Nordschleife – a competitive track for ambitious drivers.
Mercedes Supercars define the automotive superlative, they set the standard in terms of performance and innovation. Super Sports Cars are not primarily intended for racing, but are sold as exclusive vehicles for road use. Mercedes-Benz has continued to set new standards with such a high-performance vehicles for customers. They arouse the passion of a particular form of car culture.
The super sports car family includes some of the Mercedes-Benz SSK Models (1928 to 1932, W 06) and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (1954-1957, W 198). Examples from the recent past are the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR (C 297) in 1997 and 2004 appeared Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG. Also in 2004, is the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C 199) in the super sports car segment on the market.
These cars feature all – the mirror of its time – by impressive levels of performance and technical proximity to the racing off. Super Sports Cars are a way to give incentive for the developers in the current competition of motor sport vehicles and also help to obtain the latest results from laboratory and research in their work. Such exclusive and fascinating automobiles in small quantities occur with an extremely high level of sporting aspiration. These exceptional originals are also characterized by the fact that they are manufactured with a large proportion of manual work.
The balancing act between competition use on the racetrack and the sporty driving is on the road to the classical virtues of this class of vehicle. Because super sports car from Mercedes-Benz recorded a number of racing successes.
In particular, the Mercedes 35 hp and its direct successor, and the Mercedes-Benz SSK in their time even offered both as powerful models for top sporting private drivers as well as a successful competitive vehicles used.
The appendix to the supercar shows in the history of Mercedes-Benz but also in series studies and experimental vehicles that are not in production. This applies, for example of the legendary family of type C 111 rotary engine in the years 1969 and 1970 and for the C 112 of 1991.
Record vehicles and racing prototypes have enriched the genes of the super sports car from Mercedes-Benz as well. These include the 1953-built prototype of the W 194 racing coupe and the so-called “Uhlenhaut coupe” of the racing car 300 SLR (W 196 S).
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG continues this unique tradition. It celebrates the international press today as a contender for the title of “Sports Car of the 21 Century “.
Throughout the summer, the Mercedes-Benz Museum is offering a variety of innovative exhibitions, exciting events and numerous activities for the children. To give you a better idea of the various offerings available should you visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum in person, we’ve included a sampling below of some of the museum’s many highlights taking place now and over the coming months. And if you do visit, here’s an insider tip: one option is to witness almost 125 years of automotive history later in the day at a reduced evening rate, then head over to the outdoor Mercedes-Benz Lounge and spend some time unwinding.
MERCEDES-BENZ MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
Super Sports Cars
Discover the unique super sports car tradition of the brand – including the new gullwing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Become a racing driver on the virtual Nurburgring in the GT5 simulator, and expand your knowledge with iPads in the lounge area.
April 27 – August 29, 2010 in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Collection 5.
Open Tuesday – Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is included in the museum ticket.
Further information available at: www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/supersportwagen
Special Exhibition F800 Style
Welcome to the future – marvel at the automobile of tomorrow! The F800 Style research car features, amongh other things, a plug-in hybrid and fuel cell drive. The Mercedes-Benz Museum’s knowledgeable staff will give you an introduction to the vehicle and will answer your questions.
June 1 – July 11,2010 in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Fascination of Technology Section.
Tuesday – Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fascination of Technology on the Road
On each Sunday in July on the hill in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, visitors with a valid drivers license can get in and drive off in a Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell. Register free of charge to experience the environmentally friendly fuel-cell-powered electric car on a test drive around the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
July 4, July 11, July 18, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the hill in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Participation is free of charge.
DTM Champions Exhibition
Breathe the atmosphere of the race track and experience the fascination of motorsport at Mercedes-Benz: authentic exhibits, detailed driver portraits and original AMG Mercedes C-Class racing touring cars tell an impressive story of three generations of DTM motorsport.
Now through July 31, 2010 in the Stuttgart Mercedes-Benz sales and service outlet.
Open Tuesday – Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Special Guided Tours
MERCEDES-BENZ MUSEUM EVENTS
Cars & Coffee
On four different days on the hill in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Drivable collector’s pieces present themselves against the backdrop of the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jazzopen Stuttgart
The open-air stage becomes an open-air festival location. Performers: top-flight musicians like Randy Crawford and Joe Sample, Pink Martini, Gurrumul, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra with Richard Galliano and Henrik Schwarz, Dauner’s Salon with Jean-Luc Ponty, Alphonse Mouzon and Klaus Doldinger, Matinee with Max Greger.
18 thru July 23 and July 25 on the open-air stage at the Mercedes-Benz Museum
Further information and tickets at www.jazzopen.com
First Helpers’ Week: Fascination Fire Brigade
The first Helpers’ Week is great for surprises: let the world’s biggest man-made tornado amaze you or let a rescue simulator turn you upside down. Feel the excitement on the weekend at the meeting of historic fire-fighting vehicles.
August 3 – August 8, 2010
Further information at: www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/woche-der-helfer
Mercedes-Benz Open-Air Cinema
Film, please! The curtain rises for the latest blockbusters and popular classics. This event promises a varied program in an imposing architectonic setting.
August 19 – September 5, 2010 on the open-air stage at the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Showings start daily after sunset (Tuesday – Sunday around 9 p.m.)
Further information at www.stuttgarter-sommerkino.de
125 Years of Reitwagen
The Daimler Reitwagen (motorcycle) turns 125. On this occasion, the Mercedes-Benz Museum – in cooperation with Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum Neckarsulm – invites fans and owners of historic motorcycles to present their two-wheelers on the museum hill.
August 29, 2010 on the hill in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Begins at 11 a.m. and goes till 4 p.m.
Participation is free of charge as well as free admission to the museum for participants.
Formula 1 live transmission
Start of transmission on each date is 2 p.m. Admission is free. Enjoy the races live on a 30 square meter wall from three different angles.
Museum Open Hours:
Tuesday – Sunday and public holidays – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Box Office closes at 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays
Address:
Mercedes-Benz Museum
Mercedes strasse 100
70372 Stuttgart, Germany
www.mercedes-benz-classic.com
If you have questions or wish to make reservations, contact the Mercedes-Benz Classic Customer Center:
Phone: +49(0)711-17 30 000
Fax: +49(0)711-17 30 400
Email: classic@daimler.com
Mercedes-Benz will be represented for the first time at this year’s “Klassikwelt Bodensee” (Lake Constance Classic World) from 3 to 6 June 2010 in Friedrichshafen, where it will be putting on an extensive vehicle display. Featuring an extremely diverse programme of events, the fair is a reflection of the history of mobility comprising historic means of transport used on land, on water and in the air. As such it is an ideal match for the basic motivation which drove Gottlieb Daimler (1834 to 1900), who constantly pursued the comprehensive vision of promoting mobility with the aid of his wide range of vehicles of all types.
“Our stand in Hall 7 will be based on the theme of traditional open-air driving pleasure”, explains Michael Bock, head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “We will be displaying the famous 300 SL Roadster, which made its debut in 1957. There will also be a couple of young classics on display: a 124-series Cabriolet – the open four-seater was produced from 1991 to 1997 – as well as a 107-series Mercedes-Benz SL (1971 to 1989).”
The stand will also include a Mercedes-Benz Museum shop. The brand clubs devoted to the S-Class and the 107 and 129-series SL will also be represented at “Klassikwelt Bodensee”.
Visitors will be able to view the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG super sports car in Outdoor Area East in front of Exhibition Hall 6 – along with the new E-Class Cabriolet, an SLK and an SL. These open-top vehicles form the link between the Mercedes-Benz vehicles on display in Hall 7 and the present day – and at the same time represent the classics of the future.
The attention-grabber in Courtyard 1 will be the Mercedes-Benz Classic Truck, which will be going on public display for the first time with its newly designed interior and exterior. The truck presents the history of the brand and also highlights the wide range of products and services available from Mercedes-Benz Classic.
This year will mark the third time that the “Klassikwelt Bodensee” has taken place following its much-heralded premiere in 2008. The event is held in various locations in and around Friedrichshafen: in the grounds of the exhibition hall in Friedrichshafen, at the airport, on Lake Constance and even on stretches of the railway. Visitors will be able to view all types of historic vehicles, from cars, commercial vehicles, trains and ships, right through to aircraft. The organiser is expecting around 380 exhibitors. The show is also associated with a classic car market. A parallel event – “the electric avenue expo” – is devoted to electric mobility. Additional information is available at www.klassikwelt-bodensee.de.
The future of the automobile has arrived at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Beginning the first of June through July 11, 2010, the Mercedes-Benz F800 Style research vehicle will be on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The fascination of technology display is accessible free of charge in the exhibition area. Visitors can learn about the fascinating study, view the Mercedes-Benz F800 as well as have their questions answered.
With the Mercedes-Benz F800 research car, Mercedes-Benz styles the future of the automobile from a new perspective. The five-seater combines highly efficient powertrain technologies with unique safety and comfort features as well as an emotional design language. The F800 Style offers a spacious interior with smart seat, control and display concepts. The newly developed multi-drive platform is suitable for an electric propulsion with fuel cells – with a range of almost 600 miles – and for the use of a plug-in hybrids, which can go up to 30 miles on pure electricity. Both versions of the F800 Style allows locally emission-free mobility on premium levels, combined with full everyday practicality and a dynamic driving experience.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.Further information is available for visitors to the Classic Customer Centre online at www.mercedes-benz-classic.com
If you’re one of the millions of consumers that have jumped on the Apple iPhone and/or iPad bandwagon, the Mercedes-Benz Museum has just launched a new iPhone and iPad app that’s worth checking out. It’s called the Mercedes-Benz Super Sports Car app, and it features technical information on a variety of historical Mercedes models that were on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum last month in their special “Super Sports Car Exhibition”. Select models highlighted include the 1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Coupé, the 1976 Mercedes-Benz C 111 II-D and the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, to name a few.
Unfortunately, I dropped my antiquated 1st generation iPhone last week and am still iPhoneless, so I haven’t had a chance to download it for myself and can’t comment on its functionality or coolness factor. Nevertheless, for those of you looking to add a little more Mercedes to your favorite Apple device, it’s free, so it doesn’t hurt giving it a test run to see what you think. To download the Mercedes-Benz Super Sports Car iPhone and iPad app, you can head over directly to the Apple App Store and grab it for yourself.
The first modern car was designed by Wilhelm Maybach, chief designer of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, in 1900. The state-of-the-art 1000-kilogram car with a characteristic low centre of gravity was made for Emil Jellinek, as the first vehicle to bear the “Mercedes” name. Standout features of the new car included the visionary contours, marking the final break from coach construction, and the powerful drivetrain. The Mercedes was propelled by a completely new 27-kW light-alloy engine, cooled by Maybach’s new honeycomb radiator. These ingredients combined to make the 35 hp the first super-sports car in the history of our brand, at least when fitted out as such, since the car was supplied in a range of body styles according to customer preference, as was normal practice at the time.
The car’s top speed was 75 km/h, or just under 90 km/h with the light sports body. These figures were superior to any other vehicle of the day – and the DMG 35 hp Mercedes proceeded to dominate the Racing Week event in Nice, winning the hill climb, street race and one-mile sprint titles.
Wilhelm Maybach’s design also created the culture of Mercedes-Benz super-sports cars, since as well as being a highly successful racing car, the vehicle was also sold as an exclusive car for customers looking for a superior sports car. Emil Jellinek clearly had such ambitions when he commissioned this outstanding car from DMG. He had been operating in Nice on the Côte d’Azur as an independent car dealer since 1897, selling Daimler automobiles to the rich and famous. His customers included members of the Rothschild family and other VIPs of the day. By the time of Gottlieb Daimler’s death in 1900, Jellinek had sold 34 cars in this way – a respectable figure in an age of very low production runs.
Jellinek finally convinced Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach to build him a powerful car. The new DMG vehicle was to enter the Nice races under the name of “Mercedes”. Jellinek and his team had entered races under this pseudonym since 1899. Even then, he realised that, as well as being powerful advertising tools for their manufacturer, high-performance sports cars also provided a foretaste of series-production cars of the future: “I want the car of tomorrow!”, he told the DMG engineers. He placed a bulk order for 36 cars for a total price of 550,000 Mark.
The first new 35-hp car was delivered to Jellinek on 22 December 1900, and already on 4 January 1901 there was a report in the Côte d’Azur car magazine “L’Automobile-Revue du Littoral” reading as follows: “The place to see the latest trends at the moment is not Paris, but Nice. The first Mercedes car built in the workshops at Cannstadt has just arrived in Nice, and thanks to the kindness of its owner, Mr Jellinek, all our motorists have been able to try it out. We make no bones about it: the Mercedes appears to be a very, very good car. This remarkable vehicle will be a fearsome competitor in the 1901 racing season.”
These words were borne out in no uncertain terms during the Nice Racing Week in March 1901. The new Mercedes returned home with four first places and five second places to their credit, in such diverse events as the endurance race, the hill climb and the one-mile race. After watching these successes, Paul Meyan, General Secretary of the Automobile Club de France, coined the phrase “Nous sommes entrés dans l’ère Mercédès” (“We have just entered the Mercedes era”).
Maybach’s conviction that there would soon be customers for the exclusive high-performance sports car was proved right, with a list of buyers for the DMG Mercedes during 1901 including a string of American billionaires: Rockefeller, Astor, Morgan and Taylor.
The Mercedes 35 hp marks the beginning of a creative process that led to the production of numerous powerful and exclusive cars over the next few years, particularly the the models in the Simplex family. These were the fruit of Wilhelm Maybach’s tireless efforts to produce an even better successor for the first generation of Mercedes models. This project started in autumn 1901 and resulted in the top model of the 1902 year: the Mercedes-Simplex 40 hp. This car dominated the Nice Racing Week in April 1902 just as the first Mercedes had done one year before.
The next development stage of the race-winning super-sports car was the Mercedes-Simplex 60 hp of 1903. This vehicle enjoyed its hour of stardom as a racing car, but only as the result of a disastrous accident. In 1903, the Daimler factory in Cannstatt was largely destroyed in a fire. The casualties included the three Mercedes 90 hp cars to be raced in the Gordon Bennett race. So DMG decided to replace its factory racing vehicles with Mercedes-Simplex 60 hp cars, which the manufacturer borrowed back for the race from customers who had already received cars. One of these cars was driven to victory against very strong international competition by the Belgian racing driver Camille Jenatzy. So it was that the Mercedes-Simplex 60 hp came to stand for one of the most legendary motorsport successes of the Mercedes brand.
Other outstanding DMG models that can be regarded as forerunners preparing the way for contemporary super-sports cars include the six-cylinder Mercedes 75 hp (1906), the Mercedes 37/90 hp featuring three-valve technology, double ignition and encapsulated drive chains (1911), and the Mercedes 28/95 hp, powered by a six-cylinder engine inspired by aircraft technology, with overhead camshaft, V-shaped overhead valves and steel turned cylinders (1914).
Benz & Cie., a competitor of DMG up until the merger of the two companies in 1926, also made a little piece of super-sports car history in 1909 with a very famous car: the Benz 200 hp, which as the “Blitzen-Benz“ (or “Lightning Benz”) set numerous records and entered the technology history books as the fastest car of its time. It had a 21.5-litre engine developing an output of 147 kW, and definitely belongs in the ranks of the super-sports cars. In contrast with the experimental cars and “record-breaking cars” of later years, the Benz 200 hp was both sold to customers and entered in motorsport events.
Mercedes 35 hp
In production: from 1900 to 1902
Engine: 4-cylinder, in-line
Displacement: 5913 cc
Output: 26 kW at 1000 rpm
Top speed: 75 km/h
Mercedes-Simplex 40 hp
In production: from 1902 to 1903
Engine: 4-cylinder, in-line
Displacement: 6785 cc
Output: 29 kW at 1100 rpm
Top speed: 80 km/h
Mercedes 75 hp
In production: from 1906 to 1911 (including successor models)
Engine: 6-cylinder, in-line
Displacement: 10,180 cc
Output: 55 kW at 1300 rpm
Top speed: 95 km/h
Mercedes 37/90 hp
In production: from1911 to 1915 (including successor types)
Engine: 4-cylinder, in-line
Displacement: 9,530 cc
Output: 66 kW at 1300 rpm
Top speed: 115 km/h
Mercedes 28/95 hp
In production: 1914 to 1924 (all models)
Engine: 6-cylinder, in-line
Displacement: 7280 cc
Output: 69 kW at 1800 rpm
Top speed: 130 km/h
The Mercedes-Benz Museum will be opening its restaurant doors early in May for car lovers and foodies alike. For anyone looking to relax and enjoy an evening in May against the fascinating backdrop of the Mercedes-Benz Museum will be able to take advantage of the chef’s weekly specials at the Happy Hour, which takes place daily between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. In addition to the Happy Hour, hot meals will be served until 9:30 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday, and the bar will remain open until 11:00 p.m.
Before deciding how to spend their evening, visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition starting at 6:45 p.m. Diners visiting the restaurant will also benefit from free parking in the museum car park beginning at 7.00 p.m.
In addition to the regular menu, each week the restaurant will feature a particular special dish. In the first week of May the theme will revolve around asparagus and strawberries. These themed ingredients will inspire all dishes, from the 3-course menu to the dessert buffet. A particular highlight will be the live praline-making session with confectioner Ludwig Heer.
The second week will be dedicated to healthy summer dishes to invigorate both body and soul, while the third week will feature delights from the grill on the terrace. In the final week, the programme for the month of May will be rounded off with seafood specialities as well as a wine-tasting bar.
It is recommended that reservations are made through the Mercedes-Benz Classic Customer Center on telephone number +49 (0)7 11 / 17 – 30 000, or online at www.mercedes-benz-classic.com.
Since their inception Mercedes-Benz super sports cars have symbolised three things: high performance, dynamic appearance and spectacular racing success. From April 27th to August 29th, 2010 the Mercedes-Benz Museum is devoting a unique exhibition to the topic, while Mercedes will also be presenting its historic high-performance vehicles at many Classic Events later this year. According to Michael Bock, Managing Director of the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic: “Super sports cars symbolise fascination and perfection. These vehicles have influenced generations and continue to excite people today. Their uniqueness is tangible for every visitor to the special exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum and can be experienced by at first hand at our driving events this season.”
As the elite members of the automotive world, super sports cars must find the ideal balance of competitive use on the race track and dynamic driving on public roads. Their hallmarks are extreme performance and innovative technology, and with high-performance automobiles such as these, Mercedes-Benz has been setting new standards of automotive engineering for decades.
Super sports cars at the Mercedes-Benz Museum
The Super Sports Car special exhibition from 27 April 2010 to 29 August 2010 presents the unique super sports car tradition of the brand with the three-pointed star. Visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Museum will be able to experience at first hand eight vehicles that are the realisations of dreams – including the SSK of 1928, the C 111 design study of 1969 and the CLK-GTR of 1998. Also present is the most recent addition to the family, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The other vehicles in the exhibition are the 75 hp Mercedes of 1906, the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of 1954, the Mercedes-Benz C 112 of 1991 and the Mercedes-Benz Vision SLR of 1999.
What accounts for fascination on four wheels? Which models are the antecedents of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG? Historic vehicles illustrate the various development stages and multimedia elements bring to life the passion that super sports cars generate. As a world exclusive, visitors are also able to undertake a virtual spin in the new SLS AMG. The special exhibition can be found in Collection 5 and forms the climax of the themed tour of the permanent exhibition. The bilingual exhibition is open daily, except Mondays, from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Admission is included in the price of a Museum day ticket. The Super Sports Car special exhibition is also part of the regular guided tours.
Super sports cars in motion: pre-season warm-up on the test track
ADAC Eifelrennen, Le Mans Classic or Goodwood Festival of Speed – for Mercedes-Benz Classic the 2010 season is all about super sports cars. And this year’s technical preparations were in the hands of some distinguished guests. Six drivers demonstrated the capabilities of these historic jewels during today’s track test around the test circuit at the Untertürkheim plant:
The ranks of super sports cars from Mercedes-Benz include vehicles from the recent past such as the CLK-GTR of 1998 and the CLK DTM AMG that appeared in 2004. This segment also saw the market launch in 2004 of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG continues the fascinating tradition of super sports cars in 2010.
Historic icons include the 300 SL and SSK models. But the history goes back further still. The great-grandfather of the super sports car chronology is considered the 35 hp Mercedes. This car dominated the races of Nice Week in 1901, and was followed a year later by its successor model, the 40 hp Mercedes Simplex. Both these models were bought by customers as regular road-going vehicles, as was the 60 hp Mercedes Simplex, which in 1903 achieved similarly significant motor racing successes. A number of extraordinary near-series experimental vehicles and racing prototypes have also enriched the gene pool of these super sports cars from Mercedes-Benz. These include the closed version of the 300 SLR racing sports car, the so-called “Uhlenhaut-Coupé”, the experimental and record-breaking vehicles from the C 111 family and the C 112 experimental car. More information about the Super Sports Car special exhibition and Mercedes-Benz Classic Events are available for visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Customer Center online at www.mercedes-benz-classic.com/supersportscars.
Nearly four years after its opening day, the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart has welcomed its three millionth visitor. For Hubert Hermann, the monumental milestone came as quite an exciting surprise – Hubert was visiting the museum for the first time on his 80th birthday with his daughter and granddaughter, both of whom are fellow automotive enthusiasts, when it was announced he was the latest landmark visitor.
Commenting on the milestone, Michael Bock, head of Mercedes-Benz Museum, noted: “This year we’ve gotten off to a strong start and today- after nearly four years – we welcome the three millionth visitor.” He added: “Our goal is to continue to establish the Mercedes-Benz Museum as a place that combines history and innovation. For tourists, students and enthusiasts alike, we communicate the Mercedes-Benz through changing exhibitions, unique offers and exciting events. ”
Attendance to the Mercedes-Benz Museum over the past four years has been tremendously successful: five months after opening the museum welcomed its 500,000th visitor; in June 2007 the museum welcomed its one millionth visitor; and in September 2008, the museum welcomed its two millionth visitor. By the end of 2009, 2.8 million visitors had passed through the Mercedes-Benz Museum’s doors, about 15 percent of whom had visited from abroad.
To learn more about the Mercedes-Benz Museum, you can find additional details about its exhibitions and facilities at the official Mercedes-Benz Museum website.
Covering a floor space of 16,500 square meters and nine levels, the Mercedes-Benz Museum offers visitors the ability to witness firsthand 160 vehicles and over 1,500 exhibits. The Mercedes-Benz Museum is the only museum in the world that can document in a single continuous timeline over 120 years of auto industry history from its very beginnings to the present day. Through this timeline, Mercedes demonstrates that history can point the way ahead.
The exhibition not only presents the unique history of the Mercedes-Benz brand, but it also offers a unique insight into its future. This dual function is reflected in the architecture of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, designed by the UNStudio of Dutch architects van Berkel and Bos, Amsterdam. The building’s interior is inspired by the double helix structure of the DNA spiral that carries the human genome. This in turn is aimed at illustrating the Mercedes-Benz brand’s philosophy of originality – to continuously create radically new products to advance the cause of human mobility.
During a two-hour tour of the exhibition, visitors experience a unique journey through automotive history. Transported by lift to the uppermost level of the museum, the visitor arrives back in the year 1886, where two museum tours gradually spiral their way down through the extensive collection and back to the museum exit.
The first of the tours consists of seven Legend rooms which narrate the chronological history of the brand. The second tour groups the wealth of vehicles on display into five separate Collection rooms, which thematically document the breadth and diversity of the brand portfolio and collection. The visitor can switch from one tour to the other at any time. Both tours finish at the banked curve entitled Silver Arrows – Races & Records. The exhibition is rounded off by the Fascination of Technology display, which offers a glimpse into day-to-day work at Mercedes-Benz and also presents topics concerning the future of the automobile.
For the complete details of what to expect when visiting the Mercedes-Benz Museum, be sure to view the official press release below, which offers a comprehensive look at its highlights and key facts.
Over the past two days, Mercedes-Benz has been holding what they’re calling a brand workshop in Stuttgart, Germany. We were invited to the event, and to be honest, we had absolutely no idea what to expect. A brand workshop? We’ve heard of self-help workshops; we’ve heard of relationship workshops; but as for what brand workshops involves, nope, not a clue. It turns out, a brand workshop is a way for a bunch of writers to get together, get a private tour of the Mercedes-Benz Museum, visit the company’s design center, be treated to some fantastic food, and yes, drive a varied assortment of Mercedes’ on the company’s test track. In other words, if Mercedes invites you to one of their brand workshops, just say yes.
Before you get too jealous, I have to tell you I’m writing this from a second person point of view. Due to scheduling conflicts our writers weren’t able to attend, so we had an associate fill in for us that relayed to us his exploits. In other words, I’m in the same boat as you: pissed I wasn’t there. Just kidding. Sort of.
Anyways, back to the story. So if you want to know what’s it’s like at a company sponsored event, I’m going to give you a completely descriptive rundown – not quite as good as being there, but the next best thing.
First, they fly you (in this case first-class) to Stutgart, Germany, where a large, jovial man with a Mercedes-Benz sign awaits your arrival. You’re then taken via Mercedes-Benz shuttle to your hotel (in this case, the Le Meridien), before being treated to dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, Le Cassoulet.
The next day, after an early breakfast, free time to meander the streets of historic Stuttgart. At 4 PM, it’s time to get to work. A shuttle arrives, summoning you to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. 4:30 PM – work begins. And by work I mean mingling commences in the Mercedes-Benz Museum. There were a variety of blog writers in attendance, virtually none of whom our associate had heard of. One guy, a 31 year-old from Baltimore, has nearly waste-length black hair. He says he hasn’t had a haircut in 15 years and he doesn’t own a car. Our associate believes him. He goes on to say he sometimes plays in a slow metal band and instead of singing he screams. Our associate again believes him. His website is www.lostateminor.com.
At 5 PM, everyone is officially welcomed to the event, followed by a a talk on “European Luxury” by Alexander Mankowsky, futurologist at Daimler AG. Next an exclusive tour of the Mercedes-Benz Museum is given, where every vehicle is available for a test drive. It was like being invited to Willy Wonka’s factory, where you go into that huge room with the chocolate river and giant candy mushrooms, and you can eat everything you see. Just kidding, the last two sentences were purely fictional. But the guests were given a private tour of the facility, which is still pretty fantastic unto itself. At 8:15 PM, dinner kicked off at the Mercedes-Benz Museum’s Casino restaurant, followed by a nightcap at the hotel. My associate emailed me at 2:00 AM, so I’m guessing the party extended well into the next morning.
The second day, another breakfast at the hotel, followed by shuttle transfer to the Mercedes-Benz Design Center in Sindelfingen. There was a talk on “Paradigm shift – sustainable mobility” by Alexander Mankowsky as well as a Mercedes-Benz design demonstration. But the real highlight was the presence of the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style Research Vehicle and various other concepts, up close and touchable. After spending some time admiring cars typically cordoned off by ropes and armed guard, another shuttle – this time to the Mercedes testing ground in Malmsheim. A quick lunch, and testing of a variety of Mercedes models commenced. Vehicles on hand included the SL, GLK, M-Class, S-Class, and a numerous other models. Our associate’s favorite part? Not driving, but rather being chauffeured in the roughly $500,000 Maybach Zeppelin on the Autobahn at 155 mph. Thinking about it, you really can’t get much better than that.
Alas, all good things must come to an end, and the Mercedes-Benz Brand Workshop was no exception. After a final group dinner, the Mercedes Brand Workshop drew to a close. And now, as I write this, my associate is in mid-air, returning home, more familiar with the brand and likely still reminiscing about how good the scent emanating from the Zeppelin’s perfume atomizer smelled at 155.
Eight impressive super sports cars will soon be showcasing a history of dreams come true to visitors at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. From Tuesday 27 April 2010 until Sunday 29 August 2010 a special exhibition will document the unique sports car tradition at Mercedes-Benz. One of these, unsurprisingly, will be the latest addition to the family – the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
“Cockpit, engine, wings – is it really still a car?” It’s a common enough question among those catching their first glimpse of the new gullwing supercar that goes on sale this spring. What accounts for fascination on four wheels? Which models are the antecedents of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG? The various development stages are illustrated by historic vehicles such as the legendary 300 SL and the unique C 112 and the passion that super sports cars generate is brought to life using multimedia elements. In addition, visitors are able to undertake a virtual spin in the new SLS AMG.
If you plan on visiting the Mercedes-Benz Museum this winter, two special exhibitions will be on hand, depending on when you go. The first takes place from November 2009 through March 2010, and is entitled “A Journey of Innovations.” A total of nine vehicles will be featured in this exhibit, including the Benz Patent Motor Car of 1886, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL of 1955, the E 250 CDI of 2009 and the S 400 HYBRID, all of which highlight how the concept of mobility has been redefined over the course of time.
The second exhibit – this one entitled Concept BlueZERO – takes place from mid December 2009 through January 2010, and features a three unique vehicles. The BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS with electric drive and auxiliary internal combustion engine, the BlueZERO E-CELL equipped purely with a battery electric drive and the BlueZERO F-CELL equipped with fuel cell technology will all be on display, with the purpose to showcase developments in the field of alternative drive systems.
If you’re interested in attending, both exhibitions are bilingual (German/ English). The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m (it’s closed Mondays).