The History of Mercedes-Benz

For car enthusiasts around the world, the Mercedes-Benz brand is not only one of the most recognizable and significant car manufacturers in the world, but it is directly associated with the very concept of a car. This is justified at least by the historical significance of the brand: exactly 130 years ago, a German engineer Carl Benz officially issued a patent for a 'vehicle with a gasoline engine'.

The event, which marked the beginning of the history of not only the German brand, but the entire global automobile industry, took place on January 29, 1886. This very day, a German engineer and innovator named Benz received patent number 37435 for his creation - the world's first car with a gasoline engine.

Of course, Benz's invention was very different from the modern image of a car: in fact, he installed a four-stroke engine he developed from scratch on a three-wheeled bicycle.

In the same year, independent of Benz, Gottlieb Daimler created his own motorized carriage. Daimler assembled a single cylinder four-stroke internal combustion engine. It was to be installed in carriages. In developing the new technology, Daimler was assisted by engineer Wilhelm Maybach.

Both engineers founded private firms with the help of partners and investors. Benz founded the company Benz & Cie in Mannheim in October 1883, and Daimler founded the trademark Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) in November 1890. From 1901 Daimler's company began to produce cars under the Mercedes brand. The first Mercedes was a model 35 HP, produced in 1901. It had a four-cylinder engine with a capacity of almost 6 liters and 35 hp. The car was characterized by a wide wheelbase, low center of gravity and a tilt steering column. Also a distinctive feature of the brand was a 'honeycomb' type cooler. The truck weighed 900 kg and could reach a top speed of 80 km/h. Design of the model was developed by Wilhelm Maybach himself.

In 1975-1986 the Mercedes W123, known locally as the 'barrel' is formed. In the 80s, the 190 model debuts, which was produced in the years 1982 to 1993 and replaced by the C class. Then comes the popular Mercedes W124, which was produced until 1997. After that, the W210 appears on the market, with 2002 being replaced by W211, W212 versions. These very models are called the E class.

In 1998, Mercedes bought out shares of Chrysler company. As a result, Daimler-Benz has gained a chance to get wider access to the U.S. market. This agreement changed the company's corporate name to Daimler Chrysler, a collaboration that lasted nearly 10 years. The decision to break the cooperation was influenced by the results of poor financial condition of Chrysler. After the sale of shares of American concern the company returned the name Daimler AG.

Today the company produces Mercedes models of A, B, C and E class. Modern cars of the brand are famous for their safety and are still considered as the most prestigious in the world. The Mercedes S Class even made it into the Book of Records as 'the toughest car ever made'. Do not forget to use Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder in order to avoid potential problems when buying a used car.