At Auto e Moto d’Epoca 2020 the preview of the new S-Class

The W 186 and the subsequent W 189 soon became the representative car par excellence, both in political and industrial environments, the highest peak in automotive engineering of the time. For this reason, the model enters history as the 'Mercedes Adenauer': it was in fact the preferred service car of the then German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who for the entire time of his mandate used this car exclusively, even on trips to the abroad. His first official car, from 1951, is on display today in the 'Haus der Geschichte' museum in Bonn, while the 1959 model 300 d, which Adenauer used after leaving the political scene, is now part of the Mercedes Museum collection. Benz of Stuttgart. From 1963, the role of 'first lady' for kings and politicians passed from the Adenauer to the 600 of the W 100 series, which also took up the legacy in the legendary Pullman version, available only with 8-cylinder engines. A 1960 Mercedes 300 W 189 will be exhibited in Padua. Less demanding in terms of engines and dimensions, but equally exclusive are the 'Codine' or 'Heckflosse' models which, in addition to the unique and distinctive design, represent real milestones of innovation, mainly linked to passive safety. Introduced in 1959, the W 111 / W 112 series brings on board for the first time Béla Barényi's new patent: a robust passenger protection cell with deformation zones at the front and rear. The interior was also designed in the spirit of safety with a collapsible steering column, centrally padded steering wheel, padded dashboard, flexible and partially recessed instruments. Another important feature are the new special door locks, which further improve security. Among the curiosities related to this series, the fintails, two small tails from which the nickname that has always accompanied this model derives: a stylistic concession influenced by the fashion of the moment which, with a decidedly more sober design, winked at the style of American cars. A 1963 W 111 220 SE 'Codine' on display in Padua. In August 1965, the 250 S, 250 SE and 300 SE models made their debut, sharing the style of Paul Bracq, whose distinctive element was the simplicity of the shapes. The tails are reduced to become almost imperceptible and the design is immune from the contamination of fashions, characterized by a sober elegance, which still today has retained its timeless essence. Three years later, in 1968, its sportiest expression made its debut: the 300 SEL 6.3. Equipped with a 250 HP V8 engine, it is presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show, much to the surprise of the press and insiders, because no one expected that the Stella's flagship par excellence could cross over into such decisive and marked sportiness. . Evidently, Aufrecht and Melker, the founders of AMG, did not think so, enrolling it in the 1971 24 Hours of Spa, upgrading its engine. The 300 SEL 6.8 crossed the line in second place, parading under the stands in a brand new red livery, which gave it the nickname of Rote Sau, the red sow. The model exhibited in Padua is a 1968 300 SEL 6.3 (W 109). At the turn of the 1970s and early 1980s, the W 126 series established itself as a trend setter in terms of style and beauty. Born from the pencil of Bruno Sacco, it is the first Mercedes to renounce the traditional chromed bumpers, replaced by deformable bumpers in synthetic material, able to withstand small impacts during maneuvering, without reporting any damage. The design of the W 126 series, initially considered excessively sober and anonymous by some observers, was soon appreciated for its timeless elegance and still represents an important model of innovation in the field of design. But not only that: precisely on the W 126 series, in 1981 the airbag made its debut in the automotive industry, which today represents a fundamental element in terms of vehicle safety. Other peculiarities of this S-Class generation are the shapes optimized for aerodynamics and the systematic weight reduction in order to reduce the emissions of pollutants, to which the new light alloy V8 engines also contribute. Representing this star icon, a 1983 500 SEL (W 126) will be exhibited in Padua.