Mercedes Benz

Preview February 2009

PREVIEW OF ANNIVERSARIES 2009

5 February 1889 – 120 years ago:
Gottlieb Daimler concluded an agreement with Louise Sarazin to market his inventions under licence in France. The deal provided the initial spark which ultimately led to the commercial success of the motor car.

5–10 February 1979 – 30 years ago:
The 460 series cross-country vehicle was presented to the international press. This vehicle provided the basis for today’s Mercedes-Benz G-Class, one of the longest-running model series in the cross-country vehicle segment.


Other notable events:

26 February 1914 – 95 years ago: Ralph de Palma won his second Vanderbilt Cup driving a Mercedes in Santa Monica, California, USA.

8 February 1924 – 85 years ago: The world’s first production diesel truck, a five-tonne vehicle by Benz, made its debut at the commercial vehicle show in Amsterdam.

8/9/14 February 1939 – 70 years ago: Rudolf Caracciola broke several international
D-Class records driving two record-breaking Mercedes-Benz 3.0-litre cars on the autobahn near Dessau.

6–14 February 1954 – 55 years ago: The legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” and the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL were exhibited at the International Motor Sports Show in New York.

February 1954 – 55 years ago: The new Mercedes-Benz W 196 R racing car was completed. The car went on to notch up numerous international successes for the brand during that season and the one that followed.

20–25 February 1984 – 25 years ago: Mercedes-Benz presented its new “light class” truck to the international press.

February/March 1994 – 15 years ago: Mercedes-Benz AG took the decision to build the Micro Compact Car (MCC), which was launched on the market in 1998 as the smart City Coupé. It was the fruit of a collaboration with the Swiss microelectronics and watch company Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Mikroelektronik und Uhrenindustrie AG (SMH).

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