Mercedes-Benz

At the September 1972 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris, the luxury W116 was presented. Development already began in 1966, only a year after the launch of the W108/109 which it succeeded. The basic design concept continued the themes originally introduced on the R107 SL, especially the front and rear lights. It was Friedrich Geiger's last design for Mercedes-Benz, who's career had started designing the Mercedes-Benz 500 K in 1933. The model range initially included two versions with a 2,746 cc six-cylinder engine - the 280 S (using a Solex carburetor) and the 280 SE (using Bosch D-Jetronic injection), plus the 350 SE, powered by 3,499 cc V8. In 1973, the 450 SE and long-wheelbase SEL were added to the range. The most notable model was the high-performance, limited-production 450 SEL 6.9, which was introduced in 1975. This model boasted the largest engine installed in a post-war Mercedes-Benz up to that time.

1972

1973

1975

1977

1978

1979