Mercedes' Most Notable Pre-2000 Models
More Than Just A Car
Hans Werner von Aufess rightly said, “A Mercedes is not just a car—it's somebody's dream.” Here are a couple of pre-2000 Mercedes models that highlight the brand’s unstoppable quest for engineering excellence in the 1900s.
Mercedes 35 HP (1901)
Emil Jellinek decided to name this car after his daughter Mercedes. The honeycomb radiator fixed the overheating problems that other cars had. The car ran at 35 horsepower, while most cars only had 10, and it totally smashed speed records at Nice Racing Week.
SSK (1928)
Apparently, only 33 original SSKs were ever made, which makes them rarer than most modern supercars. It displayed a supercharged 7.1-liter inline-six engine producing 180 hp naturally aspirated and 300 hp with the supercharger engaged. The model was designed by Ferdinand Porsche.
170V (1937)
During WWII, the 170Vs were tucked away in bomb shelters, and after the conflict, they played a key role in rebuilding Germany. These cars had a double-wishbone front suspension and a swing axle rear, which made them tough and reliable.
170V (1937) (Cont.)
People could even run the engine on cooking oil when there was a shortage of fuel. This one was powered by a 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine and produced 38 hp. Around 91,048 units were produced between 1937 and 1955.
