Mercedes-Benz, The Fifties, Volume 1 - Softcover

The history of Mercedes-Benz of the 1950s is an exciting one, as some of these cars belong today to the most thought after European vintage cars. This new, second edition from Aug. 2012 contains over 170 pictures, most of them in color. The majority of them has never been published in a book before. In this first volume of MERCEDES-BENZ, The 1950s, the reader can experience - how it was to drive the Mercedes 170V back in the 1950s, - how it is to experience a 170S Cabriolet today, - how it is to drive today the first Mercedes 220 six-cylinder car after World War II, - how first German chancellor Konrad Adenauer saw his 300 and why he did not choose a BMW (no, it was NOT the hat), and - how it feels to enjoy the majestic 300S Roadster today. It covers the history of Mercedes-Benz cars from the late 1940s to the early 1950s: - the 170V and its OTP and station wagon versions, - the 170S and its wonderful cabriolets, - the 220, its cabriolet and coupe derivations plus the coachbuilt cars, - the 300 Adenauer series with its 4-door cabriolets, coachbuilt cars and - the luxurious hand-built 300S and Sc two-door models and their Pinin Farina derivations. It also gives all technical details and talks about production figures and improvements within the individual model range.

Bernd S. Koehling grew up in the 1950s and 1960s in Northern Germany. His interest in anything automotive started early on visits to the Nürburgring with his father. He grew up with Mercedes cars in his family and his uncle, who had a small collection of pre-war cars, introduced him at the end of the 1960s to vintage cars. From the mid 1970s he started collecting vintage cars himself. Naturally his first such car was a Mercedes, a rather neglected prewar 170V Cabriolet B. Later additions were from a 200D fintail, 250SE, 300d Adenauer to a 280SE 3.5 Coupe and a 350SL. Mercedes cars became a passion he has kept and further developed throughout the years. His other interest are British cars, here especially Alvis and Jaguar. He had collected an Alvis TC 21/100 Grey Lady Tickford DHC and various Jaguar models. Among them a 420G and a more modern XJ 40 Vanden Plas.