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These Mercedes cars are already some of the coolest classics on the market, and their values will only keep climbing.
German carmakers have been around since the first half of the 20th century. German car companies have been among the most innovative in the global automobile industry. For example, Porsche designed the very first hybrid vehicle back in 1900. Porsche was not the only German carmaker ahead of the curve. Every single major German car company greatly benefited from both World War 1 and World War 2.
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While Porsche and BMW vehicles are known for their being luxurious and sporty, Mercedes-Benz earned the reputation of being old people's cars. This could be because Mercedes-Benz cars are the epitome of German elegance. With that said, several Mercedes cars are among the most game-changing German cars of all time.
Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz had been working on creating combustion engines and actual automobiles since the mid-1880s. Despite being crippled by the Treaty of Versailles, Mercedes-Benz was officially created in 1926. Three years after its creation, the Great Depression hit the world like a freight train. All those hurdles did not prevent Mercedes-Benz from designing outstanding vehicles.
The 680 S Barker Tourer is among the German classic cars that will make you want to remortgage your house. Winner of the 2017 Best of Show at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it is clear that the 680 S Barker Tourer is a highly-valuable oldie. On top of the fact that only one was ever made, the 680 S Barker Tourer turns out to be a true race car from the pre-war era. Fitted with a 7.0L M06 straight-six that pumps out 200 hp at 3,300 rpm, the 680 S Barker Tourer reaches a top speed of 115 mph.
During the early 1930s, Germany was undergoing a major transformation. Following the election of Adolf Hitler as Germany's chancellor, things started to improve for the average German. As a result, unemployment rates fell and Germans across the board saw their income increase. This could have been a motivator for Mercedes-Benz to come up with sports cars like the 370 S.
Mercedes-Benz manufactured the 370 S Mannheim in large numbers given the situation in Germany at the time. With 183 units made between 1931 and 1933, it was one of the most beautiful Mercedes-Benz during that time. Equipped with a 3.7L straight-six engine, the 370 S makes 77 hp. The gorgeous German grand tourer from the early 1930s makes up for its lack of power with its exquisite physique.
Most people are unaware of the fact that several household brands are intertwined with the military. Northrop Grumman or Lockheed Martin seem like the only Department Of Defense contractors, but companies like McDonald's or General Motors used to or still have ties to the military. This phenomenon is not exclusive to the United States.
The Mercedes-Benz 770K W150 is one of the most infamous Mercedes cars ever made. It is the car used by Adolf Hitler during his most important parades. Hitler's close entourage, collaborators, and even foreign allies would also use the 770K W150 as their car of choice. The ultra-luxurious limousine comes with a 7.7L inline-eight unit that pumps out 150 hp at 2,800 rpm. Needless to say, 770K W150 does not come cheap, regardless of their condition.
Mercedes-Benz had six years to try out new technology during the war. During the postwar era, the German carmaker applied what it had learned to more peaceful purposes. Pre-war Mercedes-Benz cars were mind-blowing, but what came after was simply out of this world. One of the most memorable Mercedes-Benz cars from that era remains the 300 SL Gullwing.
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The 300SL Gullwing is one of the most beautiful German cars of the '50s. On top of being absolutely stunning, the 300SL Gullwing used to be the fastest production car upon its release in 1954. The 3.0L M198 straight-six powerplant makes 240 hp at 6,100 rpm and 217 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This allows the 300SL to reach a top speed of 161 mph.
Maybach is synonymous with luxury. Not just the typical definition of luxury. The cars are so luxurious that they cost a lot more than regular high-end Mercedes-Benz cars. When taking a look at the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S V12, it is easy to see why Maybach is a couple of notches above the already impressive S 500. Back in the day, the equivalent of today's Maybach cars was offered under the Mercedes-Benz brand.
Popular among several dictators including Saddam Hussein, Mao Zedong, and Kim Jong-il, the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine tends to attract leaders ruling with iron fists. The 6.3L M100 V8 develops 247 hp at 4,000 rpm and 368 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, but what really attracts its buyers is the level of luxury Mercedes included in the 600. The 600 is the last ultra-luxurious car sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand. Following limousines were Maybach-badged vehicles.
American car companies offered a convertible version of their most popular vehicles. Usually produced in low numbers, these convertibles have greatly appreciated in value. The same phenomenon has been noticed across the Atlantic Ocean. Mercedes-Benz released a fair amount of convertibles over the years. Even if not all of them are not worth millions of dollars today, they remain incredible.
Often mistaken for the 280 SL W111 and W112, the 280SL W113 is a beautiful two-door coupe from the hey-days of the automotive industry. The 280 SL comes at best with a 2.8L M130 inline-six rated at 168 hp at 5,750 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm. Though mass-produced, the 280SL still became a collectible that is worth its weight in gold.
It is often believed that BMW kicked off the SUV craze when it launched the X5. While it is fair to say that the Bavarian automaker released the first modern SUV made by a non-off-road oriented automaker, BMW only rode Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz's coattails. In fact, Mercedes-Benz released its very first SUV during the late '70s. The G-Class was born.
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Mercedes-Benz's very first SUV set the tone for one of the most exclusive SUVs in the world. The jaw-dropping 2022 Brabus Rocket G 900 originates from the 1979 280 GE. Upon its release, Mercedes-Benz equipped the SUV with a sluggish 2.8L M110.994 inline-six engine rated at 156 hp at 5,250 rpm and 167 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. Even if the first G-Class was not stellar, it paved the way for generations of amazing SUVs.
Starting in the early '80s, German automakers started producing one mean sports car after another. BMW set the tone with the M3 E30. Around the same time, the Audi Sport Quattro was released. Mercedes-Benz was not going to sit back and watch the competition win on and off the track. As a result, Mercedes-Benz gave some of its mass-produced cars a steroid shot.
Created as a homologation car, the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II is bonkers. Including a myriad of DTM performance parts, the Evolution II is meant to bully the competition on and off the track. Underneath the hood sits a naturally aspirated 2.5L M102 four-cylinder engine tuned by Cosworth and rated at 232 hp at 7,200 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. That is an insane amount of power out of a four-cylinder engine from the 1990s.
During the early '90s, American sports cars were simply disappointing. Both the Mustang and the Camaro looked awful and were powered by grossly underpowered engines. The Mustang SVT Cobra comes with a V8 rated at 235 hp. The Camaro Z8 is fitted with an LT1 that produces 275 hp. Needless to say, they were far from being as fast, and consequently valuable, as the beast coming out of Germany.
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This mean machine from the early '90s is quite interesting. Sold when AMG and Mercedes-Benz were still separate entities, the 500SL AMG is worth looking into. Equipped with a 6.0L V8 powerplant developing 369 hp at 5,250 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, the 500SL AMG was a true monster back in the early 1990s.
As flabbergasting as it may sound, German carmakers were no longer threatened by domestic sports cars by the time the 1990s came around. German car companies were mostly focusing on outperforming vehicles coming out of Japan. Instead of simply striking back, the Germans were making sure to offer vehicles that would be instant classics.
Dubbed "The Hammer," the 300 CE AMG was one of the meanest Mercedes-Benz cars of the early '90s. Recognizable thanks to its wider shoulders, the Hammer comes with a naturally aspirated 6.0L V8 that cranks out 375 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The Hammer is among the German performance cars gearheads would buy over any muscle car. In fact, the Hammer is so rare that it is practically impossible to find any to buy.
Max Veron is an avid fan of anything equipped with a powerful engine. Spending time between Southeast Asia, Europe and the US, Max is travel bug with a great taste for cars.