From the 3-wheeled Benz motor car revealed to the world in 1886 to the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, touted the first car of excellence, Mercedes-Benz has stood for the ultimate in luxury. The 1950's 300 SL Gullwing, called the world's first "supercar" and the 220 sedan with a crumple-zone safety are both coveted classics today by collectors of used Mercedes-Benz or pre-owned vehicles, and Mercedes-Benz has maintained its brand as the epitome of automotive opulence.
The 1963 600 Limousine, with V8 engine and 300HP, and the 300 SEL-Class that boasted speeds of zero to sixty in seven seconds were classified as safe, quick luxury cars. The 1970 S-Class opulent sedan introduced the first anti-lock brakes. 1980 brought the first airbags and traction control with the E-class 190. All of these models from 1950 through 1970 are coveted used Mercedes-Benz if classic car buyers can find them.
The 1963 600 Limousine, with V8 engine and 300HP, and the 300 SEL-Class that boasted speeds of zero to sixty in seven seconds were classified as safe, quick luxury cars. The 1970 S-Class opulent sedan introduced the first anti-lock brakes. 1980 brought the first airbags and traction control with the E-class 190. All of these models from 1950 through 1970 are coveted used Mercedes-Benz if classic car buyers can find them.
Janis Joplin's song from the 1970's, "Mercedes-Benz," was another jab at the car maker's status, and after four decades the words have stood the test of time. "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" Brand new, or even a used Mercedes-Benz, gives proud owners a car of quality, safety and class.
Synonymous with class has a double meaning with Mercedes-Benz. Not only fitting as the definition: of high quality, integrity, status, or style; but it has a rather long, and confusing to many, list of "classes" that their automobile styles fit into. From A to T, this list of class acts seems to continue growing:
A = Hatchbacks
B = Multi Activity
C = Saloon, Estate or Coupe
D = Diesel
E = from "Einspritzmoto" or Fuel-injection
G = from "Geländewagen" or Off-road or Sports vehicle
K = from "Kurtz" or short or "Kompressor"
L = Long wheelbase
M = Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)
R = from "Rennen" or to race, luxury Tourer vehicle (LTV)
S = from "Sonderklasse" or specially outfitted Sedan, super luxury sedan
T = Touring
There are other sub-categories of classes that most Mercedes' fans are familiar with also: CL, CLS, GL, GLK, SL, and SLK, denoting luxury coupe, 4-door, roadster and special or light among other things.
Good used Mercedes buys today include the 1985 Turbo Diesel, a car that some state "lasts forever" and can be converted to run bio-diesel or on vegetable oil. No air-bags in those years, but since Mercedes-Benz was ahead of its time in the safety department, the car is solidly built and one of the safest of the times. The 2002 E320 or E430 4-matic (all-wheel drive) is another coveted used Mercedes-Benz and was the last year for the W210 chassis. In 2003 the W211 chassis was introduced which had some early issues.
Other Used Mercedes for sale and good value buys are:
A 2011 E-Class, 8 cylinders convertible under 20,000 miles sells for about $59,995. A 2009 S-Class like the S63 can be purchased for around $66,995 and a 2007 M-Class, ML500, for $43.995. Great choices for college students and young people wanting to impress: a 2004 E-Class, E320 4-matic with almost 100K miles, $16,995; 2000 E-Class, E430 or 2000 M-Class, ML320, both with well over 100K miles, but can be purchased under $8,000.
After monopolizing the automobile industry in excellence and quality, this automobile had a bit of a downturn in the late 1900's and early 2000's, and lost some ground in the Consumer Report and JD Power lists, but in 2007 there was a dramatic improvement again and they gained high ranks again, surpassing rival Toyota but still behind Lexus.
The Mercedes-Benz trademark three-pointed star surrounded by laurel leaves, is a combination brand merge going way back to the 1880's when both Gottlieb Daimler engineered the first Mercedes (named for his daughter) from a company called Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and Carl Benz founded Benz & Cie. Carl Benz used laurel leaves as his signature mark. When Mercedes became the legal trade name in 1903, Daimler's two sons needed a trademark and came up with the three-point star, symbolizing the ambition of universal motorization: "on land, on water and in the air."
After WWI and inflation set in, only the very financially strong companies survived. DMG and Benz & Cie formed a syndicate in 1924 to standardize design and production. In 1926 the company name became Daimler-Benz AG and they combined both emblems resulting in what is still used today with some slight variations. The logo of three-pointed star, surrounded by laurel leaves and words, represents quality and safety on roads all around the world. The name is synonymous with class, tradition, innovation and the future of automobiles.