1950s Mercedes Benz

In the 1950s Mercedes Benz introduced one of the best cars ever the Mercedes 300S.

Mercedes Benz were to the forefront of the German economic miracle as the country recovered from the destruction and devastation of the Second World War.

Providence appeared to play a part in Mercedes Benz's success as the most of the company's tooling survived heavy allied bombing during the conflict.
 
Mercedes signalled their intention to once again become a major player in world car manufacture when they launched the Type 300 (W186) at the 1951 Frankfurt Motor Show. The W186 was available as a sedan or alternatively a four door cabriolet.

The W186, coupled with its successor the W189 were renowned as the “Adenauer Mercedes” after the German chancellor Konrad Adenauer, the man closely associated with the economic rebirth of the nation.
 
In 1952 the company introduced a vehicle which experts claim is the greatest car ever built by the German company – the Mercedes 300S. Three years later the model was revamped and rebranded the 300SC.

The 300SC was fitted with fuel injection and also featured independent rear suspension. It was also an exclusive brand with only 53 ever rolling off the production line.

In the mid 1950s Mercedes Benz introduced the W180 line, otherwise known as the Ponton.

This line was produced as sedans, coupés and cabriolets and featured a six cylinder engine. The Ponton was to be the forerunner of Mercedes world renowned S-Class range.

By the late 1950s Mercedes Benz had debuted their Fintail series. The Fintail was hailed as setting the standard in luxury motoring. It also for the first time a Mercedes car included features that are common nowadays, such as a crumple zone and disc brakes, with the upper end of the range also incorporating air suspension.

With the European and especially the German economies still recovering from the war torn 40s, Mercedes Benz need to rely on export markets, particularly across the Atlantic in the United States.

Mercedes. foothold in North America was strengthened when the German company reached a deal with the Studebaker-Packard Corporation in 1958. This gave Mercedes access Studebaker's existing United States dealing network. Studebaker also used the Mercedes name in their advertising.