Iconic Mercedes Vintage Cars

Posted on 31st January 2022

The name Mercedes walks hand in hand with the word iconic. As a result, Mercedes vintage cars are highly sought after. Mercedes-Benz re-wrote the book on how cars were designed and built, and how they performed on the road. For people who love beautiful cars that balance performance with aesthetic edge, a classic Merc has become the ultimate aspiration.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the fascinating story of Mercedes. Along the way we’ll discover some of the stunning Mercedes vintage cars that have graced the roads.

How the Story Began

German engineer Carl Benz created the first automobile with an internal combustion engine, which was patented in 1886. Using this new technology, the first Mercedes car was produced by the Daimler Motors Corporation in 1901.

Automobile entrepreneur Emil Jellinek worked with Daimler Motors, and it was he who registered the trademark. The car was named after his daughter, Mercedes Jellinek, and thus the iconic brand was born.

In 1926, Benz’s company and the Daimler company merged, and the first Mercedes-Benz vehicles appeared in the same year. Since then, the company has gone on to produce some of the most instantly recognisable cars in the world.

A close-up of an iconic Mercedes vintage gear console with polished wood and classic buttons.

Top Classic Models

What model you would consider your favourite will vary, depending on personal taste, so here is a small selection of some of the classics that have appeared over the years.

Mercedes-Benz W25 Silver Arrow

The Silver Arrow was produced in 1934 for the Nurburgring race and was originally painted white. Unfortunately, the car was over the race’s stringent weight limitations by just 1 kilogram. To reduce it to the required weight, all the paint was scraped off.

Not only did the car win the race, but the silver appearance also went on to become an iconic Mercedes feature.

Mercedes-Benz 500K

Launched in 1936, the 500K is one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Only 150 were ever produced, making it highly desirable for collectors of Mercedes vintage cars.

Mercedes-Benz W187 220

This luxury car produced from 1951 to 1955 was a classic of the post-war period. It was incredibly popular at the time and is still a major attraction at shows of Mercedes vintage cars.

Mercedes-Benz 190SL

Produced in 1955, this stunning car was a more affordable version of the 300SL. Though it didn’t have the same power, it allowed many more people to enjoy that thrilling driving experience.

Mercedes-Benz 300D Adenauer

First produced in 1961, the Adenauer redefined the concept of limousine design. Anyone who was anyone had to have one, and their popularity with collectors remains undiminished.

Mercedes-Benz W123

Arguably one of the most recognisable Mercedes-Benz cars, the W123 dates from 1979. It was a hugely popular family car, combining space and practicality with the luxury of the Mercedes brand.

The family-run business of Derrick Wells was established in 1989, with the Mercedes brand at its heart. We specialise in classic Mercedes restoration and servicing, and we’re passionate about what we do. To find out more about our renowned restoration services, or to go about purchasing a quality Mercedes, get in touch with our friendly team today.