Mercedes-Benz 1970 to Now Car Reviews and Road Tests |
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Most historians agree that Karl Benz's first prototype of 1885 was the worlds first petrol-powered car. Benz was to start out working as a carriage builder and at a stationary engine manufacturer, where he quickly thought it a good idea to combine the two to make a better mode of transport. It would take him 5 years, and a couple of partners (allowing him to concentrate on his engineering) to see the first Benz tricycle reach limited production. This three-wheeler morphed into the four-wheel Viktoria in 1891, forming the basis for van and bus versions. The four-wheel version became very popular, and by the turn of the century Benz was the largest automobile manufacturer.
Fierce competition from other manufacturers would see Benz leave the company bearing his name, in favour of Hans Nibel, who soon embarked on a motor racing effort that would once again raise the companies profile. Most noteable was the "Blitzen-Benz", powered by a 21.5 litre airship engine! Designed to hold the land speed record, it not only achieved it but would hold the record for another decade. Economic hardship following World War 1 forced Benz to merge with another German manufacturer, Daimler.
Also see: The History of Mercedes-Benz (USA Edition) |
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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. More>> |
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1973 - 1980
Information being compiled. More>> |
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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). More>> |
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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. More>> |
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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. More>> |
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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. More>> |
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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. More>> |
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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. More>> |
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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! More>> |
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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. More>> |
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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. More>> |
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