Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Classic Notes 2/2023

Mercedes-Benz, the world’s oldest car manufacturer, has been reinventing the car over and over since 1886. As it does so, the brand continually sets new standards, while also keeping pace with social change. The history of the company is correspondingly rich in events and stories. Here a brief summary of some of the important anniversaries and milestones from its history.

• 1923: Ferdinand Porsche becomes Technical Director of DMG (100 years)
• 1973: Cooperation with Steyr-Daimler-Puch for the G model (50 years)
• 1893: Daimler shows the first car on American soil in Chicago (130 years)
• Mercedes-Benz Classic Magazine 1/2023
• Birthdays: Dr Wilhelm Haspel and Dr Dieter Zetsche

30 April 1923 – 100 years ago

Ferdinand Porsche becomes Technical Director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG)

• Legendary luxury cars can be traced back to the designer
• Supercharging in series production vehicles and in motorsport
• Porsche leaves the company again at the end of 1928

Luxury cars and supercharged engines: Ferdinand Porsche takes over as head of the design office of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) from 30 April 1923. His predecessor until the end of 1922 is Paul Daimler, who among other things introduces supercharging. The latter leaves DMG following a disagreement with the Supervisory Board. The committee is calling for cheaper and thus better-selling models, but Daimler wants to develop an eight-cylinder model. Ferdinand Porsche, who comes from Austro Daimler, admittedly has similar development priorities: large and expensive cars. For these and for motorsport vehicles, he takes over the supercharging. Porsche’s name is associated with the Mercedes 15/70/100 hp and 24/100/140 hp production cars (both 1924), Mercedes-Benz Model K (1926, also known as model 630 K) and, from 1927, the first three cars in the legendary S series (S, SS, SSK). Two cars from the 1924 season are also famous: the winning racing car for the Targa Florio as well as the 2-litre eight-cylinder supercharged racing car “Monza”. At the end of 1928, the then Daimler-Benz AG, formed in 1926 by the merger of DMG with Benz & Cie., parts company with Porsche. Once again, the reason is that smaller and lighter vehicles are urgently desired. Porsche’s successor is Hans Nibel, who comes from Benz & Cie.

May 1973 – 50 years ago

Cooperation with Puch for the G model

• German-Austrian roots of the Mercedes-Benz off-roader
• Combination of extreme off-road characteristics and good on-road performance
• Production location of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is still Graz

The contract marks the beginning of a great success story: 50 years ago, the Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Daimler-Benz AG agree to cooperate on the development, production and sales of all-terrain vehicles. Both manufacturers offer these with excellent off-road capabilities as part of their product ranges: the Mercedes-Benz Unimog as well as the Puch Haflinger and the Puch Pinzgauer. In 1971, they flesh out the idea of jointly building an off-road vehicle for the first time. The vehicle is to combine extreme off-road capabilities with good handling on the road. The first roadworthy prototype is tested in 1974. The G model then celebrates its world premiere in 1979. It is built at the Puch plant in Graz-Thondorf – just like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class of the 463 model series today.

1 May to 31 October 1893 – 130 years ago:

Daimler shows the first car in the USA at the World’s Fair in Chicago

• Modified version of the “wire-wheel car”
• Wilhelm Maybach is significantly involved in the design
• Gottlieb Daimler visits the World’s Fair

The automobile comes to North America: At the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago (USA), Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft presents the first operable car to be publicly shown in the USA. On display is a modified version of the “wire-wheeled car”. This has a two-cylinder V-engine and is presented for the first time at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889. Unlike Gottlieb Daimler’s motor carriage from 1886, the wire-wheeled car is considered an independent, holistic design and thus a genuine car. Wilhelm Maybach has a decisive influence on the development. It is not only the wire-wheeled car that travels across the Atlantic: Daimler visits the World’s Fair in person. He links this important date and the honeymoon with his second wife Lina.

Mercedes-Benz Classic Magazine 1/2023

The Mercedes-Benz 600 celebrates its birthday

• The prestigious limousine is one of the topics in the next issue
• More stories with great texts and inspiring pictures
• Available by subscription or as a single issue at
  mercedes-benz.com/de/exklusiv/classic-magazin/leser-abonnementservice/ and in the shops of the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the plants

It is called “Grand Mercedes” and is 60 years old: The Mercedes-Benz Classic Magazine 1/2023 celebrates the 600 (W 100) with an opulent story. And even gives the perhaps most famous representative vehicle in the world a fold-out magazine cover to show it in an appropriate size. Or would you prefer a trip to South Africa? “At the Cape of Beautiful Stars” is the name of the atmospheric report about the country as well as vehicles and fans of the brand. The latest issue of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Magazine will be published on 12 May 2023 and will whet your appetite for more. Of course, the issue offers many more articles with great texts and inspiring pictures. Relating to the 95th birthday of racing driver Hans Herrmann, for example, a young collector with three special “Baby Benz” models and a tour to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Club United Kingdom.


Birthdays

• 125 years ago – Dr Wilhelm Haspel, born 29 April 1898. As a young engineer, he witnesses the birth of Daimler-Benz AG in 1926. With his profound knowledge of economics, Haspel quickly takes on leadership roles. In 1942, he becomes Chairman of the Board of Management, a position he holds again after the Second World War, and successfully shapes the company’s new beginning.
• 70 years ago – Dr Dieter Zetsche, born 5 May 1953. The electrical engineer goes through an extremely diverse career journey in the company. Important keywords: commercial vehicle and passenger car development including the G-Class, foreign activities in Brazil, Argentina and the USA, Board positions at Daimler-Benz AG and DaimlerChrysler AG and finally Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG until May 2019.

Additional information, entire press article(s), directly from its original source: Daimler AG