Description
Mercedes-Benz W116 Hardcover book (fragment of the text)
In 1965, when Mercedes-Benz presented its luxury sedan with the W108 index and its long-wheelbase version W109, the company’s management understood that it was already necessary to concentrate efforts on developing a completely new model.
The platform used in the presented sedans was a temporary, compromise solution and actually represented a modernized architecture of previously produced models.
For the real flagship of the family, it was necessary to come up with something completely different. In addition, changes in design trends and stricter safety standards only reinforced this idea. Therefore, already in 1966, the company’s design bureau began to work on the future flagship, which was created, as they say, from scratch.
In parallel, work was also carried out on a new family of modern engines. There were two people at the origins of the project, which received the designation W116. Hans Scherenberg was responsible for the technical part.
In 1952, he headed the company’s passenger vehicle department, and since 1962, he was the chief designer of the concern. The new model was developed by the talented designer Friedrich Geiger, the author of such legendary cars as the Mercedes-Benz 500 K and 540 K for the Special Roadster, road versions of the coupe and roadster 300 SL, and other equally spectacular models of the brand.
These masters of their craft were preparing to leave for a well-deserved rest, so for them the W116 project was especially important and significant.
The new model, according to the creators, was supposed to meet the expectations and needs of buyers around the world. The significantly increased environmental requirements were taken into account when creating the new family of motors vehicles.
Much attention was paid to the revolutionary concept of a rigid interior structure with deflected front and rear body parts capable of absorbing impact energy as much as possible in the event of a collision.
After careful study of all these components, numerous tests and road tests, the car was ready – it took 6 years of painstaking work by a team of engineers and designers.
Interestingly, despite the increased size, the W116 did not become more spacious for passengers or have more space in the trunk. All the increase in length and width was “eaten” by security elements.
In addition, the weight of the car increased: for comparison, the 280 S (W108) weighed 1,470 kg (3,240 lbs.), and its successor, the 280 S (W116), was already 140 kg (309 lbs.) heavier. Until 1973, the S-Class was offered with only one wheelbase version – 2,860 mm. Since 1973, the company began producing an elongated version, with a distance between the axles of 2,960 mm.
Overall dimensions of the basic version: 4,960/1,870/1,425 mm; long-wheelbase: 5,060/1,870/1,430 mm.
In September 1972, at the Paris Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz presented to the public a new generation of luxury-class sedan, which received the designation S-Class for the first time. The new line included three modifications: 280 S, 280 SE, and 350 SE.
A few months later, the 450 SE sedan also went into the series with the most powerful 225-hp 4.5-liter V8 engine, which was installed on the 450 SL and 450 SLC sports models. In February 1973, the 450 SEL version appeared with an increased wheelbase of 100 mm, which made it possible to increase comfort for rear passengers.
From November 1973, the extended version was available in the 350 SEL version, and since April 1974, even in the 280 SEL version.
Read the continuation of Mercedes-Benz W116 story in the book.
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