Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Following the success of the 300 SL Coupe and Roadster, Mercedes-Benz’s United States importer, Max Hoffman, suggested that a similarly styled, less costly alternative might be successful. The resulting 190 SL proved popular with the public at the 1954 New York Auto Show, and it remained in strong demand throughout its nine-year production run. 1955…

The last cornerstone of the post-merger revamp of the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range was a 4.6-litre eight-cylinder vehicle that had been developed under Ferdinand Porsche and which was called the Nürburg 460. This model owed its name not to any particular sportiness, but to the fact that it had undergone endurance testing on the Nürburgring,…

When introduced, the Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier was applauded not only for its long, sweeping hood and aerodynamic design, echoing the legendary Silver Arrow Grand Prix cars, but also for its advanced engineering and superlative performance. Autobahn Kurier means “Highway Kurier” and references a period of German excellence beginning in the 1920s that culminated in the construction…

The Mercedes-Benz 600 is powered by a 6.3-litre powerplant with multi-port Bosch fuel injection, producing 247 horsepower. This was Mercedes-Benz’s first production V-8 and was used exclusively in the 600 until 1968. 1968 Mercedes-Benz 600 Sedan | © RM Sotheby’s The car was legendary for introducing an extremely complex hydraulic system that powered the divider…

Released at the Paris Motor Show in 1936, the 540K became a flagship Mercedes-Benz and was built by special order only. It followed the eight cylinder 500K and helped maintain Mercedes-Benz as a prestige marque that produced the fastest production automobiles in the world. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special-Roadster | © Favcars.com Each car was individually…

Production of the 600 model, in the “Grand Mercedes” tradition, started in September 1964. The Pullman landaulet, along with a number of limousines, was a production variant of the Pullman body with the long wheelbase of the W 100. Mercedes-Benz offered its customers four different landaulet versions based on this exclusive design: the standard version…

The W111 generation of Mercedes-Benz vehicles was first introduced in 1959 and featured numerous variations until its production ended in 1971. The two-door models were particularly sought after as the last hand-built cars by Mercedes-Benz in the great German craftsmanship tradition. The interiors of these cars exuded luxury with their genuine solid hardwood trim, tasteful…

The W111, a graceful creation by Paul Bracq for Mercedes-Benz, was first introduced in 1959 and remained in production until 1971, spawning numerous iterations. Among the most coveted versions were the two-door models, namely the 280 SE Cabriolet and Coupe, which were meticulously crafted by hand and came with a hefty price tag, reflecting the…

Introduced in February 1933 at the Berlin Motor Show, the Mercedes-Benz SS was a six-cylinder automobile that was produced until 1934. Due to several models with similar names produced by Mercedes-Benz during the 1930s (and again in the 1980s), the car is now commonly identified using the manufacturer’s Works Number, W06. A version of the…

The 190SL, a smaller and less expensive version of the Mercedes Benz 300SL, was introduced in 1954 at the New York Motor Show. Despite its smaller size, it was still equipped with advanced technology and provided capabilities for sports driving. Over 26,000 units were produced from 1955 to 1963, with only a small percentage remaining…