Mercedes Fintail (1959)

The Mercedes W111 "Fintail" series debuted in 1959. Initially powered by a line of straight-6 engines (the M180 and M127), it set a new standard for luxury. In 1961, the W111 series was augmented with a line of 3.0 L straight-6 cars, the Mercedes W112. The Mercedes W112 was the most luxurious model in the Mercedes-Benz lineup until surpassed by the Mercedes W100 line's model 600 limousines in 1963. The Mercedes W111/W112 lines contained sedan, coupe, and convertible Mercedes models.

The Fintail was among the first cars in the world to have crumple zones and disc brakes, and for the top of range Mercedes W112 models, an air suspension. The characteristic name referred to a styling feature on the rear section of the Mercedes W111/W112 models, the Heckflosse ("Fintail") which resembled the larger fins then in fashion on American luxury cars produced by Cadillac and Buick.

 

The Mercedes W112 300SE sedan, as "300 SE long" with a 10 cm longer wheelbase, was for the short period the top model of Mercedes, succeeding the baroque "Großer Mercedes" ("Grand Mercedes") 300, 300b, 300c, and 300d, which were often associated with chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Since the debut of the Mercedes W111 300SEL, each iteration of the Mercedes S-Class has included short and long wheelbase models, with the latter models (such as the W109) typically being the most luxurious, powerful, and well-equipped. In 1965, the Mercedes W111 line also added the Mercedes 230S sedan.

The larger Mercedes W111/W112 Fintail models should not be confused with a smaller Fintail line, the Mercedes

W110, which was also produced in 1961 (derived from the W111 line) and was essentially the predecessor of today's Mercedes E-Class. The Mercedes W110 featured a shorter hood for the "economy" models 190c and 190Dc. The different six-cylinder "S"-versions of the Mercedes W111 mainly differed from the smaller 4-cylinder Mercedes W110 variants by a different length of the front, and the amount of chrome applied.

Mercedes W108 (1965)

With Mercedes "Fintails" being passé and dropped in favor of a look similar to the Mercedes 600, the updated and larger Mercedes W108/W109 lines were introduced in 1965. With the Mercedes W108/W109 series, the range received V8 power for the first time (from 1969). The Mercedes W108 line launched with an initial lineup of straight-6 powered models using the M129, 2.5 liter engine. The unusual high-displacement 300 SEL 6.3 V8 model was based on this body type. The Mercedes W108 line, which included the Mercedes 250S, 250SE, 280S 280SE and 280SEL (long wheelbase) models, was larger than the Fintail models it replaced, and also eliminated the characteristic design feature of the previous model.

During this period, the designation S or SE was used for short wheelbase models including Mercedes 250S, 250SE, 280S, 280SE and 300SE. The "E" stands for the German word "Einspritzen" which was a reference to the vehicle being equipped with fuel injection for the engine. Vehicles without the E designation as part of the model number or nomenclature retained the carburetor setup. Long wheelbase models (extended by 4 inches in the rear doors) were designated SEL (L= lang or long). Since the advent of the Mercedes W108 series, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always included two wheelbase lengths, although not all wheelbases are sold in every country. The Mercedes 300 SE and Mercedes 300 SEL models were classified as Mercedes W109 chassis and had rear air suspension compared to coil spring based rear suspension of Mercedes W108 models. The more powerful Mercedes 300SE and Mercedes 300SEL models were the most luxurious versions of the Mercedes W108 line, with available burl walnut interior trim, automatic transmission, and power windows.

 

In 1968, the Mercedes W108 line dropped the Mercedes 250S and Mercedes 250SE in favor of Mercedes S-Class models with the larger engined 280S (in carbureted form) and the 280SE (with fuel injection); the 300SE/SEL models were later offered with a 3.5 litre V8 engine (in both the SE and SEL form) and 4.5 litre and 6.3 litre V8 engines (in the SEL model only). The W108/109 lines, which eventually supplanted the W111 lines, were not available with 4-cylinder engines, and thus established the distinct S-Class market position which continues to the present day.