The history of Mercedes-Benz is entwined with this history of the car itself: it was co-founder Karl Benz who created the first petrol-powered car, the Benz Patent Motorwagen that was patented in 1886.
At the same time, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach – who ran a rival company – had added a petrol engine to a stagecoach to make their own version of a motorcar. They went on to market the first Mercedes car in 1901.
Mercedes-Benz itself was formed in the 1925, when Daimler and Benz merged their businesses to create the Daimler-Benz company. Cars were thereafter badged ‘Mercedes-Benz’, and their 770 model was particularly popular during the Nazi period. The trademark Mercedes badge was also formulated at this early stage, when Daimler merged his distinctive three-pointed Mercedes star with Benz’s laurel wreath design.
As well as creating the world’s first production diesel and racing cars such as the SSK in its early years, Mercedes also produced the record-breaking car the Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen, which enabled Rudolf Caracciola’s to set a speed of 268 mph over the flying kilometre on 28 January 1938. This remains the fastest ever officially timed speed on a public road.
After the war, Mercedes became known for its focus on passenger safety, and in 1958 they became the first to initiate crash-testing for every new model. It also concentrated on pushing the frontiers of engineering and technology, which resulted in a wide variety of exceptional vehicles, ranging from the comfortable C-Class to the powerful and dazzling AMG, not to mention distinctive workhorses such as the powerful Unimog truck.
Synonymous with technological innovation, safety and comfort, Mercedes is a marque that conjures up images of luxurious long-distance journeys and a quiet yet powerful glamour. To find out more about hiring the Mercedes cars in our fleet, visit us.
