Mercedes - Benz Saloons - The Classic Models Of The 1960s and 1970s

By: Laurence Meredith .

Thanks to pioneering work by Bela Barenyi and Rudi Uhlenhaut at Daimler-Benz during the 1950s, the cars produced by the Stuttgart company in the 1960s and beyond were among the safest and best engineered in the world.

Although criticized in some quarters for bland styling, the saloons of the 1960s and 1970s from the early 'Fintails' to the impressive S class cars - are today correctly regarded as classics.

Beloved of taxi drivers and company directors alike, the star motif's appeal can be traced to the company's commitment to quality and innovation. Beyond these tenets are luxury, refinement, longevity, performance, reliability and large dollops of common sense that are not always to be found in other marques.

That so many cars built in Stuttgart during the 1960s and 1970s; survive today speaks volumes for the manner in which they were constructed. Thanks to Daimler-Chrysler's Oldtimer department, which specializes in serving the owners of older, classic Mercedes, parts continue to be made available for enthusiasts involved in restoration projects.

With such a huge worldwide following and an impressive number of enthusiasts' clubs, running a classic Mercedes-Benz saloon today can be as pleasurable as it was three and four decades ago.

In this book by Laurence Meredith, the classic Mercedes Benz saloons are discussed in technical detail within their historical context. All models are covered, including the exotic cabriolets and less glamorous diesels, to give newcomers and experts alike an authentic flavour of classic, quality motoring in a bygone age.

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