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Changing of the guard

1968. A small Mercedes. Bearing the model name W114/W 115 - and sometimes the suffix /8 (for 1968) - a new Mercedes-Benz now took the market by storm. This "small" Mercedes was available with six different engines, including two diesel engines and 6-cylinder petrol engines. The /8 series thus catered for a range of needs, from extremely economical at the one end to fast and exclusive. The style of the interior and the instruments was similar to that of a Mercedes today - sober and practical. There has been very little change since then.

1969. Development of the airbag. Surprising though it may be, the airbag was being developed at Daimler-Benz as early as 1968/69. Once again, Daimler-Benz was the undisputed pioneer.

1972. Investment in new technology. More and more uses were found for electronics in the car. In the production process too, electronic instrumentation was now introduced in assembly and inspection. Electronic systems controlled by a process computer were now introduced in the quality control of automatic transmissions. This opened the way for carrying out several thousand measurements under reproducible conditions in just a few minutes. Work also began on the Emissions Testing Centre in which modern computer technology was installed right from the start.

1974. New convertibles. The seventies too had their SL. The running gear of the new convertibles was taken from the /8 series. Even more than their predecessors, they emphasised elegance rather than sportiness. A distinguishing feature was the longitudinal ribbing in the lower part of the sides.

1975. S-class model with a big heart. The 450 SEL 6.9, the top model in the S-class, had a 6.9 litre 8-cylinder engine which was the largest engine fitted in any post-war Mercedes-Benz car. With 286 hp, it gave sports car performance.

1976. The new mid-series arrives. The highly successful /8 series had now been in production eight years. In spring 1976, it was time for a changing of the guard. The new series, known internally as the W 123, was more like the S-class in its length and wheelbase. It had striking twin headlamps and a smoother body. Nine different engine versions, including four diesels, were available. The series was in production for nine years.