Classic Mercedes Cars: 300S Cabriolet, 300SL Coupe, 190

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Mercedes Cars

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This guide celebrates ten post-war classics from the marque of Mercedes-Benz Models.

Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet

The first post-war luxury design from Mercedes-Benz was the prestigious and hugely expensive six-cylinder 300 Series. The saloon was launched in 1951, and a year later it was joined by the splendidly equipped 300S Cabriolet. Mercedes regained its reputation for highly sophisticated large-capacity cars with the 300, but sales were very limited with only 560 300S cars and 200 300SCs being built.

Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe

Basically the world's most advanced production car when launched in 1954, the 300SL used a dry-sumped version of the Mercedes 300 series sohc 2,996cc straight-six engine. Good for around 140mph (225km/h) and 0-60mph (0-100km/h) in 8.8 seconds, the model was the first to used direct fuel injection. In 1957, the 300SL roadster, with soft-top and conventional doors, took over from the gull-wing model.

Mercedes-Benz 190

In 1961 the Mercedes 190 and 190D (four-cylinders, 1897cc, 75 and 50 bhp respectively) were given new bodies, following the lead set by the design of the 220. The new body was longer, larger and lower than before and had slight tail-fins. From 1963 on, the 190 was equipped with disc brakes and a twin-circuit hydraulic system. Total 190c production from April 1961 to August 1965 was 130,554.

Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cab

The elegant fintail W111/W112 coupes and cabriolets were a styling triumph for Paul Bracq, the French designer who had joined Daimler-Benz in 1957. The 220SE cabriolet was offered from September 1961 and like its coupe counterpart, was a very luxuriously equipped motorcar. A total of 16,902 coupe and cabriolet 220Seb models were produced to October 1965 before replacement by the 250SE.

Mercedes-Benz 280SL

The last derivative of the 1963 to 1971 SL-series was the 280SL of 1968. This had a 2,778cc six-cylinder engine, now giving 170BHP and an increase in performance over the earlier models. The styling of the Type W113 models was derived from that of the saloon cars, and whilst retaining the clean understated lines, they were subtly lighter in mood. Total production of the 230 / 250 / 280 SL range was 48,912 cars.

Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3

The most exciting Mercedes sports-saloon of the 1960s was the incredible 300 SEL 6.3. The brainchild of Erich Waxenberger, development chief at Mercedes-Benz at the time, it involved squeezing the massive 6.3-litre V8 engine of the 600 model into the engine-bay of the standard 300 series car. Looking almost identical to the standard 3-litre car, the 6.3-litre version could be identified by its twin circular headlamps and wider wheels and tyres.

Mercedes-Benz 200

In 1968 the "New Generation" Mercedes were introduced with petrol engines of four (200,220) or six-cylinders (230,250). The 200D and 220D were offered as the diesel versions. The new 200 saloon was the least expensive car of the fifteen models of the New Generation class. Emphasis was placed on safety rather than performance with a body designed for maximum crash resistance. Total 200 model production - 288,775 units.

Mercedes-Benz 350SE

Mercedes-Benz announced their new generation W116 S-class saloons in 1972 as the 280S, 280SE, 380SE and 450SE. These were bigger, faster, safer and more comprehensively equipped than the models they replaced. The 450SEL 6.9 was added to the range in 1975 with, among other things, hydro-pneumatic suspension. Total production of the eight-cylinder 350 SE between August 1972 and September 1980 was 51,140.

Mercedes-Benz 450SLC

Mechanically identical to the two-seater SL models, the SLC (Sports Light Coupe), introduced in 1971, had fixed-head coupe bodywork, allied to more head room, longer doors and two rear seats. Although a little heavier than the two-seaters (by a surprisingly low 110Lbs), this did little to affect the performance. The 450 SLC was introduced in 1972 and the 450SLC 5.0 appeared in 1978.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

Classic BMW Cars: 507, 2000C / 2000CS, 02 Touring, 3.0CSL

What Is Your Favourite Car?

BMW Cars

This is one of many illustrated classic car guides I've created for the community. I hope you enjoy it. If you wish to find out more about the classic BMW car art featured in this guide please click here.

This guide includes several classic BMW cars.

BMW 507 ( 1956-1959 )

The 507 convertible was one of BMWs most attractive ever models, but sadly the car was too expensive to sell in the numbers anticipated on the US market. Its performance was good for a mid-fifties machine, with a top speed of 124mph. Power came from a 3.2-litre 150bhp pushrod overhead-valve V8 engine and the exceptional styling was by Albrecht Goertz. Only 252 cars were manufactured.

BMW 2000C / 2000CS ( 1965-1969 )

In une 1965, BMW returned to the sports-coupe theme once again and announced the 2-litre coupes, which were constructed by Karmann at Osnabruck. There were two models, the 2000 C ( Coupe ) and the 2000 CS ( Coupe Sport ) both using the same engine but the latter having twin Solex carburettors and a raised compression ratio, taking the power output to 120bhp. Total 2000C and 2000CS production was 11,720 cars.

BMW 02 Touring ( 1971-1974 )

From Januar 1971, using the engines of 1600, 1800 (not UK) or 2000cc, BMW built a new hatchback body on the 02 theme and called it the Touring. Possibly ahead of their time, the Touring models never sold well, their sales volume of only 29,230 cars was less than six percent of the 1600/2002 total of 499,479. Bes of the bunch was the tii version of the 2-litre engine which produced 130bhp.

BMW 3.0CSL ( 1971-1975 )

The ultimate development of the CS coupes, the CSL was a lightweight alloy-bodied coupe with a three-litre straight-six engine producing 206bhp and giving a top speed of almost 140mph (225km/h). The factory-racer versions of the model were a dominant force in the European Touring Car Championship at the time. A total of just 1,039 lightweights were built between 1971 and 1975.

BMW 2002 Turbo ( 1973-1974 )

There could be no mistaking the 2002 Tubo. It was distinguished from the more ordinary 2002 models by its flared wheel arches and the spoiler on the boot lid, designed to keep the powerful BMWs rear wheels firmly on the ground. Europe's first production turbocharged car, power output was boosted to an impressive 170bhp, which was enough to give a top speed of 131mph (211km/h). Only 1,672 were produced.

BMW 635Csi ( 1978-1989 )

The two-door 6-series models, the 630 and 633 Csi became available from March 1976, and whilst these were fine models they lacked some of the sporting penache of the earlier coupes. With this in mind, BMW offered the BM 635 Csi from July 1978, fitted with the 218bhp six of 3453cc. Top speed was 138mph (222km/h), with a 0-60 (0-100Km/h) sprint performance of around 8 seconds.

BMW 323i ( 1978-1983 )

Production of the 3-series range began on 2nd May 1975. Once more the basics of a single overhead camshaft engine, with trailing arm rear-wheel drive, plus MacPherson strut front suspension were adhered to. Rack and pinion steering replaced the work and roller layout and BMW made no secret of the fact the 3-series had been designed with the forthcoming small six-cylinder in mind. 323i illustrated, available in Britain from 1978.

BMW M535i ( 1980-1981 )

Produced towards the end of the original 5-series production run was the superb M 535i. It used the 3.5-litre 218bhp six-cylinder engine, with up-rated suspension and braking, and was good for 140mph (225km/h). BMW's quickest and most agile saloon of the period, the M535 i can be recognized by its deep front air-dam, side-skirts and boot spoiler. M-Sport badges are not always present.

BMW M1 ( 1978-1981 )

The M1 was BMWs first supercar and although originally designed for endurance racing, it was later built as an exclusive road car. It used a spaceframe tubular chassis, a glass-fibre body and a 277-bhp 3.5-litre straight-six. Only 450 examples of the limited-production M1 were produced, each virtually hand-built and packed with features normally only associated with racing cars, a collectors' dream.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!