Mercedes-Benz W116
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The Mercedes-Benz W116 automobiles were produced from 1972 through 1980 and were the first Mercedes models to be officially called S-Class, although earlier sedan models had already unofficially been designated with an s.
They were large luxury sedans, which replaced the W108/W109. The new car was larger on the outside than its predecessor, but it had a similar interior capacity, as the additional bulk was driven by new theories on car safety regarding occupant protection in case of a crash. It was one of the first cars to be available with the anti-lock braking system, airbags or a turbo diesel engine. Also, the "6.9" performed so highly that it was introduced in spite of the 1973 oil crisis.
Production totalled 473,035 units. The W116 was succeeded by the W126 S-Class in 1979.
Models:
- 1973–1980 280 S
- 1973–1980 280 SE
- 1974–1980 280 SEL
- 1973–1980 350 SE / 350 SEL
- 1973–1980 450 SE / 450 SEL
- 1975–1980 450 SEL 6.9
- 1978–1980 300 SD turbo diesel (USA and Canada only)
The 300 SD was only available in North America. When it was featured being driven by "J. R. Ewing" in the popular Dallas (TV series), fans of the show from other parts of the world wondered about this rather unknown model, and why a rich "oil baron" would choose a fuel efficient Diesel version.
The vehicle in the 8 minute short film C'était un rendez-vous, a no-holds-barred romp through the streets of 1976 Paris, was commonly believed to be a Ferrari 275 GTB due to the engine sound. A recent interview with the producer, Claude Lelouch, revealed that the camera-carrying vehicle was actually a 6.9L 450SEL 6.9, with sound dubbed over.
| Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1946—1970s | later--> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class | Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||
| 4-cylinder | sedan | W136/W191 | W120/W121 | W110 | W115 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| roadster | W121 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6-cylinder | sedan | W187 | W105/W180/W128 | W111 | W114 | W123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| coupe | W187 | W180/W128 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| large | sedan | W186/W189 | W111 | W108/W109 | W116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| luxury | W188 | W112 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| limousine | W186/W189 | W112 | W100 (600) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sports | roadster | W198 | W113 | R107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
