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An ever wider range - and a new compact series

1977. A completely new Mercedes. The W 123 T-models presented in 1977 were a new departure in the Mercedes model range. "T-model" was the preferred term rather than estate car, even though that is what these cars are. The letter "T" stands for "tourism" and "transport".

1977. The mid-series coupĂ©. Another newcomer in the mid-series the same year was the "small" sports coupé, a handsome two-seater offered as the 230 C, 280 C and 280 CE, in each case with an unmodified engine.

1978. The C 111-III record-breaking car. At this time few people associated diesels with speed. In fact if anything, the diesel had something of a "lame duck" image. Daimler-Benz put an end to all that in 1978. The C 111-III record-breaking car was powered by a standard 5-cylinder diesel engine additionally fitted with a turbocharger. It was the world-record car of the year. With 9 world records and 11 class records it swept all before it. In the same year, Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to offer an innovation in the field of active safety, namely the electronic anti-lock braking system, or ABS for short, now matured to production standard.

1979. The new S-class makes its debut. Some fans of the marque were surprised, in late summer 1979, by the relatively unostentatious appearance of the new S-class. Gone was the chrome trim of the predecessor. Instead, bumpers and broad side mouldings of plastic bore witness to a functional design philosophy. The drag coefficient of 0.36 was low for the times.

1979. Leaving the road in style. In the same year another new model took up its place in the Mercedes range: the cross-country vehicle. With all-wheel drive, engagable while on the move, power steering and rigid axles with coil springs, it was as at home on narrow tracks and rough ground as it was in busy city traffic.

1981. Milestones in passive safety. The belt tensioner and driver's airbag had their world debut in 1981. At this time Mercedes-Benz was the only manufacturer to equip its cars with driver's and front passenger's belt tensioners and with a driver's airbag.