S-Class The Mercedes S-Class and its Engineers

[Mick Briesgau]

In German, alas, but the vintage footage is great...

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[Deleted member 1071]

The introduction of the W116 series back in the fall of 1972 was, as I recall, the first time in which an "S" sedan was universally acclaimed as the "best automobile in the world". Prior to that and despite M-Bs' formidable brand cachet, there were competitors who could more than match the large luxury M-B sedans. Especially noteworthy in the case of the W116s' predecessor, the W108/W109. Not only had Jaguar introduced its' stellar XJ in late 1968 and BMW its' sporting E3 2500/2800 alternative around the same time, but Opels' second-gen KAD (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) large luxury sedans were, in some aspects, technologically superior. Not to forget FIATs' 130 sedan-a valiant effort although never being able to attain the acclaim or sale success of the aforementioned. But when the W116 entered that spotlight, M-B was able to apply a vice-grip stranglehold on its' given segment. And has very seldom loosened it since.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

The introduction of the W116 series back in the fall of 1972 was, as I recall, the first time in which an "S" sedan was universally acclaimed as the "best automobile in the world". Prior to that and despite M-Bs' formidable brand cachet, there were competitors who could more than match the large luxury M-B sedans. Especially noteworthy in the case of the W116s' predecessor, the W108/W109. Not only had Jaguar introduced its' stellar XJ in late 1968 and BMW its' sporting E3 2500/2800 alternative around the same time, but Opels' second-gen KAD (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) large luxury sedans were, in some aspects, technologically superior. Not to forget FIATs' 130 sedan-a valiant effort although never being able to attain the acclaim or sale success of the aforementioned. But when the W116 entered that spotlight, M-B was able to apply a vice-grip stranglehold on its' given segment. And has very seldom loosened it since.

Agree, Jimmy. Allthough very young in the early seventies, I was already a car afficionado and remember that the more well-to-do, afluent people in my neighbourhood drove indeed cars like a Diplomat (plastic surgeon, which changed later on to a RR Silver Shadow), Fiat 130 (later on a 7-series) and, one of my dreamcars in those days, the XJ (later on the owner drove a Peugeot 604, followed by a very nice looking light blue C123 280E).
It is interesting to notice, that all those former competitors are gone, with only very few left. Indeed, it all started with the W116 and with the W126 it was a giant leap...

 

[mercpassion]

A properly invaluable video for MB aficionados, the S Class predecessors with their respective developers.., a big shame though, it's only in German

 

[Mick Briesgau]

A properly invaluable video for MB aficionados, the S Class predecessors with their respective developers.., a big shame though, it's only in German

Yes, but I guess the English of those elder engineers has become a bit too rusty.

 

[Sovereign]

The introduction of the W116 series back in the fall of 1972 was, as I recall, the first time in which an "S" sedan was universally acclaimed as the "best automobile in the world". Prior to that and despite M-Bs' formidable brand cachet, there were competitors who could more than match the large luxury M-B sedans. Especially noteworthy in the case of the W116s' predecessor, the W108/W109. Not only had Jaguar introduced its' stellar XJ in late 1968 and BMW its' sporting E3 2500/2800 alternative around the same time, but Opels' second-gen KAD (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) large luxury sedans were, in some aspects, technologically superior. Not to forget FIATs' 130 sedan-a valiant effort although never being able to attain the acclaim or sale success of the aforementioned. But when the W116 entered that spotlight, M-B was able to apply a vice-grip stranglehold on its' given segment. And has very seldom loosened it since.

I thought it was the W100 600 from early 1960s that cemented the Mercedes' reputation as the builders of the best sedan in the world.

 

[mercpassion]

To be honest every respective S Class generation was at the top of their game imo and of course marvels like the legendary 600 and 300 Adenauer models were quite simply the best cars of their times..

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I thought it was the W100 600 from early 1960s that cemented the Mercedes' reputation as the builders of the best sedan in the world.

It was intentional that I did not include the W100 600. It was an automobile in which dimensions, content and price placed it in the mesosphere of automobiledom.

Of course, the W109 300 SEL 6.3 deserves a highly honorable mention.

 

[fortuner]

For me on a personal note this is my S class journey ...Since my young days.

W116 Red 350 SE i was about 7 to 9 years old my first love with Mercedes.

W126 we had many ..we had 3x 380 se at different times first was a petrol green then another petrol green and then a brown..my dad only loved v8s..so no 280se...then the facelift came we had a maroon 420 se...then we bought the first straight 6 300se that was a car we kept long my dad loved it..then we biught a smoke silver 500 se...and to top it up we bought a 560sel white that car was the one that made me love Mercedes in a crazy way..t

Then we got a 300sel w140...then a s500 bith Maroon..then a s500 facelift white..

Then we got the w220 wehad awhote s320 my couisn had a accident and was replaced by a facelift s350 ...i enjoyed The facelift much more.

W221 we had one only s350 white ...

That was all in SA after moved to the uk we have downsized to the E and C ..

So the current S is only one we have not owned since i was born...

 

[Tarek]

Love the W220 a FL S55 still looks great even today.

 

[mercpassion]

For me on a personal note this is my S class journey ...Since my young days.

W116 Red 350 SE i was about 7 to 9 years old my first love with Mercedes.

W126 we had many ..we had 3x 380 se at different times first was a petrol green then another petrol green and then a brown..my dad only loved v8s..so no 280se...then the facelift came we had a maroon 420 se...then we bought the first straight 6 300se that was a car we kept long my dad loved it..then we biught a smoke silver 500 se...and to top it up we bought a 560sel white that car was the one that made me love Mercedes in a crazy way..t

Then we got a 300sel w140...then a s500 bith Maroon..then a s500 facelift white..

Then we got the w220 wehad awhote s320 my couisn had a accident and was replaced by a facelift s350 ...i enjoyed The facelift much more.

W221 we had one only s350 white ...

That was all in SA after moved to the uk we have downsized to the E and C ..

So the current S is only one we have not owned since i was born...

Wow...thats almost too much to digest lol..but I must say that you're extremely priveleged to experience such a vast spectrum of almost all the S generations and it clearly shows where the MB crazy DNA comes from

 

[Deleted member 1071]

For me on a personal note this is my S class journey ...Since my young days.

W116 Red 350 SE i was about 7 to 9 years old my first love with Mercedes.

Revisiting "Memory Lane", the proprietor/managing director of a company for which I was employed back in the mid-1970s' had a red W116 350SE ! It shared his garage with a red Maserati Bora.

 

[Rolf]

I hope you guys like my avatar. It is one of the styling mock ups for the W140 S-class from approx. 1986. As you can notice it had the older big bold thick rimmed chrome grill, combined with slightly slimmer front lights as well as 2piece bumpers, deeper side windows and slimmer doors with black mirrors.

Also attached is the production car as a comparison.

So do you think the production car was toned down too much compared to this mockup? Do you prefer the older style grill?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

^ The only aspect I do like of the mockup is the more pronounced grill. Never realy liked the production Plakettengrill of the W140 and later W124. The enormous amount of glass above the doors of the mockup isn’t my taste either. Even the productionmodel had a bit too much of it.

 

[mercpassion]

I hope you guys like my avatar. It is one of the styling mock ups for the W140 S-class from approx. 1986. As you can notice it had the older big bold thick rimmed chrome grill, combined with slightly slimmer front lights as well as 2piece bumpers, deeper side windows and slimmer doors with black mirrors.

Also attached is the production car as a comparison.

So do you think the production car was toned down too much compared to this mockup? Do you prefer the older style grill?

In some ways the design study actually looks a bit more flowly and sleeker whereas the production car appeared pretty tall and angular, and as @Mick Briesgau mentioned, the oversized glass house surely has to be the W140's weakest part..

 

[sako97]

Circa 1986 also

 

[Serpens]

It's funny, as time wears on I'm beginning to understand some of the critiques by the German press that were thrown at the W140 upon introduction. It has made me appreciate the stylistic departure of the W220 more.

 

[sako97]

Really wish my German was much more proficient, so I can truly enjoy this documentary.

It's funny, as time wears on I'm beginning to understand some of the critiques by the German press that were thrown at the W140 upon introduction. It has made me appreciate the stylistic departure of the W220 more.

Agreed. From day 1 to now especially now the greenhouse size increase between the W126 and W140 was too large. In that regard, it was a big step backwards, imo.

Looking at all the different early 80's design proposals, it was the W140 that was orginally supposed to the first S-class to go streamlined/aerodynamic. Putting together a timeline in my head - it was in 1985-86 that they decided to recant and go full teutonic panzer instead. Perhaps to not dissuade clientele.

 

[hannaz]

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[Mick Briesgau]

Really wish my German was much more proficient, so I can truly enjoy this documentary.



Agreed. From day 1 to now especially now the greenhouse size increase between the W126 and W140 was too large. In that regard, it was a big step backwards, imo.

Looking at all the different early 80's design proposals, it was the W140 that was orginally supposed to the first S-class to go streamlined/aerodynamic. Putting together a timeline in my head - it was in 1985-86 that they decided to recant and go full teutonic panzer instead. Perhaps to not dissuade clientele.

The W140 oozes Panzer/Leopard style. At that time I saw my first W140 in the St. Tropez area, during holidays, and wasn’t convinced. It will remain however as one of the best build S-Class ever. To my knowledge it’s the last S where the beancounters have had absolutely no say whatsoever. The engineers wanted to build “the best”... and so they did.