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A new class of luxury cars

1951. The "Adenauer Mercedes". In November 1951, a car came onto the market which was to become identified with the style of the company for the eleven years that it was in production. The 300, popularly known as the "Adenauer Mercedes" since the first Chancellor of the infant Federal Republic insisted on being driven only in this car. This W 186 became a byword for German workmanship.

1954. The dream car of the 1950's. The 300 SL, which went into production in 1954, had a design very similiar to the first post-war Mercedes racing cars. It was a dream car from the moment it came onto the market and both in engineering and design it was a shining new landmark in car manufacture. Its 215 hp 3-litre 6-cylinder engine gave the 300 SL a top speed of 250 km/h.

1955. A new roadster. Development work moved quickly at Mercedes-Benz and in 1955 the "popular" version of the 300 SL came out. The 190 SL cost just half as much as the 300 SL. This roadster was fitted with a 4-cylinder engine from the 190 saloon, uprated to 105 hp. More than 26,000 of these cars were sold around the world.

1958. Launch of the SE series. Unlike the 300 SL, which featured direct injection, the new 220 E series used manifold injection. The new model was more economical. With better flexibility, higher power output and substantially improved pulling power, it consumed approximately half a litre less fuel per hundred kilometres than the 220 S, which was identical apart from having a carburettor engine.