vintage

“Automotive icons don’t come more substantial than the Mercedes-Benz Series of SL Roadster,” according to the Inside Line by Edmonds.com. The original 300 SL Coupe was produced from 1954-1957. Daimler-Benz recovered from WWII and began to manufacture Mercedes cars again in 1946. In the 1954 New York Auto Show, the production version of the SL 300 was shown for the first time. The hallmarks of this classic vehicle were chrome trim, the bold 3-pointed star, deeper-cut doors for easier egress of passengers, and sound-deadening leather upholstery. Price in 1954 for one of these luxury vehicles: a very high-brow $11,000 or more. In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the Mercedes-Benz 600. In the 1980s, the cars were the first to offer air-bags and traction control.

The fascination extends beyond the vehicle itself: there is the sleek, ultra-modern Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. The building is right outside the main gate of the Daimler factory. In 2007, the museum had over 850,000 attendees.

Witness also the fact that there exists The Mercedes-Benz Club with over 26,000 members. Hundreds of events are organized with the main purpose being to showcase these classic automobiles. You can view these stunning and beautiful new models in early January 2009 at these Auto Shows: Detroit, Houston and Saint Louis.

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