1. ‘The Mercedes-Benz group of companies in South Africa has maintained its
growth trajectory through sixty years of momentous change. With a contribution
of over R30 billion to the South African economy in 2012 alone, we are significant
partner in the growth and development of the country. Mercedes-Benz maintains
leadership of the premium and luxury passenger car market. With regards to
the Mercedes-Benz brand, Daimler is further strengthening its core brand values
of fascination, perfection and responsibility to broaden the customer base and
address younger customers. This will be facilitated by the five new models of the
new-generation compact car, and also by highly emotive vehicles such as the
CLS Shooting Brake.Every genuine car legend appeals equally to the heart and
mind and so, this, Sixty Years of the Best or Nothing, is our unique South African
story of the legendary three-pointed star. A story that combines functionality and
fascination, unmatched by any other automotive brand. In this book, we celebrate
sixty years of stylish design and innovative technologies to bring you the essence
of the age of Mercedes-Benz. We are confident that Mercedes-Benz will continue
its South African success story.’ Dr. Martin Zimmermann
2

2. 3

4. Ascendance in the South
Porestetur aliquo erio ex endaesequi doluptae voluptae omniminctur audio et de serspitiore rehent ute
moluptatios etur, erum reptas eatectas ipsant, simolup tatemporerem eum dolore.

6. The W180 line debuted in 1954, and is the first
lineup of “Ponton” models associated with the
Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The designs focused
on passenger comfort and safety.
Mercedes-Benz emerged from World War II as an automaker zones that would absorb kinetic energy from impact. The
in the early 1950s with the expensive 300 Adenauers and automaker also patented retractable seatbelts.
the 300SL roadsters that gained it fame, but it was the So, Mercedes-Benz decided to break its previous taboo
simple unibody Pontons that were the volume models. In and placed the big six-cylinder 3-litre engine from the
the late 1950s, Mercedes-Benz began to initiate a new W189 into a W111. This was a big gamble, as many 300
policy economy of scale, and decided to unify its luxury customers would not see kindly their exquisite vehicles
and standard range in the next generation of cars. replaced by an ordinary car, but the sales of the W112
The W180 line debuted in 1954, and is the first lineup showed the opposite. The exterior was designed for the
of “Ponton” models associated with the Mercedes-Benz European and North American markets. The body was
S-Class. The designs focused on passenger comfort and modern and featured characteristic tailfins that gave the
safety. The basic Ponton cabin was widened and squared models their nickname — the fintail (German: Heckflosse).
off, with larger glass area improving driver visibility. Mercedes-Benz set large marketing measures in place to
A milestone in car design were front and rear crumple separate the W112 from the W111.

8. W 121 - 190 SL Roadster (1955-1963) Oluptat
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sinctae re, sundam sit, con por abor alitia pra
arcid millabore, inimus, temolecab ius pero vid
Unt, od que is a natur maio con pedi iunt ilit
laborum iducipsae id ut la de eaqui ut aturepr
eriorem lanis am, cusande odi.

12. Previous page: W198 - 300 SL Gullwing
Oluptat aniame pos plibus as et, cor aut
officiurior sinctae re, sundam sit, con por abor
alitia pra arcid millabore, inimus.
This page: W111 1959 – 1965 Oluptat aniame
pos plibus as et, cor aut officiurior sinctae
re, sundam sit, con por abor alitia pra arcid
millabore, inimus.
The Mercedes-Benz W111 was a chassis code given to but it was the simple unibody Pontons that were the high
its top-range vehicles, including 4-door sedans, produced volume models.
from 1959 to 1968, and 2-door coupes and cabriolets from Work on replacing these cars began in 1956, and the
1961 to 1971. The W111, was initially attributed only to design focused on passenger comfort and safety. The
6-cylinder cars with 2.2-litre engines. The luxury version basic Ponton cabin was widened and squared off, with
with big-block 3-litre engines were given the chassis code larger glass area improving driver visibility. A milestone in
W112. The entry-level vehicles with 4-cylinder engines car design were front and rear crumple zones that would
were called W110. All three versions W110, W111, and absorb kinetic energy from impact. The automaker also
W112, in both 2- and 4-door bodies, were built on an patented retractable seatbelts.
identical chassis. The exterior was designed for the European and North
Mercedes-Benz emerged from World War II as an American markets. The body was modern and featured
automaker in the early 1950s with the expensive 300 characteristic tailfins that gave the models their nickname
Adenauers and the 300SL roadsters that gained it fame, — the fintail (German: Heckflosse).

14. W112 built on a unified Ponton unibody
chassis. Topping them was the exquisite 300
series of sedan, coupe, cabriolet and roadster,
hand-built on the increasingly archaic
X-frame chassis based on pre-war models. The
construction was with luxurious features and
a price tag, that made these vehicles available
only to the elite of royal pedigree.

16. Left Page: Open-top safety: Béla Barényi,
pioneer of vehicle safety, next to a Mercedes-
Benz 280 SL.
Below: Mercedes-Benz 280 SL W 113 series
(1963-1971). Because of its elegant yet sturdy
hardtop this series was dubbed “pagoda.”

17. My Mercedes-Benz ‘W 113 was nick-named ‘Pepper’ by my daughter in 1964. This
was one of the first cars delivered into Transvaal province of South Africa and
it’s been in my family ever since. It’s pretty much the only car my family ever talk
about”. Fred reckons because of its hardtop roofline, it is one of the most beautiful
cars ever made. “Over the years I got into a hobby of buying nice samples in
need of restoration, having them restored to the highest standards, and enjoying
them before moving to the next one. Having learned from his mistakes the first
time around, he set himself the objective to restore a good base car with the
highest possible standards and complement it with upgrades, some nowadays
very difficult to obtain, to improve comfort and reliability, making it the most
beautiful Pagoda to look at and enjoy driving everyday. His other “Pagoda” was
one of the last 830 280SLs built in 1971 for the US market, automatic, fully loaded
with heating rear window, the chrome strips on top of the hard top to put on the
luggage rack and a complete toolkit.’ Fred van der Merwe
2

18. 3