Anniversaries

March 2023

Benz sales in France established Spring 1888

The Paris-based French engineer and designer Émile Roger is granted exclusive distribution rights in France for vehicles and engines from Benz & Co.

First production car in Austria

19 March 1893

Eugen von Zardetti, the Swiss artist living in Bregenz, Austria, takes receipt of one of the last examples of the Benz Patent Motor Car. Zardetti’s vehicle is the first series-built petrol-driven automobile in Austria.

Premiere for Benz series-produced four-cylinder

8 - 22 March 1903

The first series-produced four-cylinder Benz is presented at the Berlin Motor Show In contrast to the company’s two-cylinder models, the 16/20 hp Benz Parsifal is fitted with a chain drive.

Power-assisted steering for the Mercedes-Benz 300

3 March 1958

The Mercedes-Benz 300 is available with a ZF-Saginaw power-assisted steering gear as an optional extra. It is the first Mercedes-Benz model offered with power steering.

New SL and long-wheelbase saloon at Geneva show

14 - 24 March 1963

The Mercedes-Benz 230 SL (W 113) is presented at Geneva to replace the 300 SL and 190 SL sports cars. This is the world's first sports car to feature the safety bodywork developed by Béla Barényi. Its hardtop has a concave roof line which leads to it being called the "Pagoda SL".

Sports car level: V8 engine for 300 SEL 6.3

14 - 24 March 1968

At the Geneva Motor Show Daimler-Benz presents the 300 SEL 6.3 (W 109), whose 6.3-litre V8 M 100 engine is familiar from the 600 model and ensures performance worthy of a sports car

ESF 22 experimental safety vehicle

13 March 1973

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At the Fourth International ESV Conference in Kyoto, Japan, Daimler-Benz presents the ESF 22 experimental safety vehicle, based on the S-Class (116 series).

Debuts at the Geneva Motor Show

15 - 25 March 1973

The 450 SE and 450 SEL (116 series), 450 SL and 450 SLC (107 series) passenger car models are unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. They are fitted with the 165 kW 4.5-litre V8 M 117 engine and round of the range of S-Class, SL Roadster and SLC Coupé models at the top end.