A Breakthrough Victory: Mercedes-Benz Monte Carlo Rally , 1-2-3 in 1960.

29th Rallye Monte Carlo, 18 to 24 January 1960. The Mercedes-Benz team at Stuttgart Central Station. From right to left: Roland Ott/Eberhard Mahle, Eugen Böhringer/Hermann Socher, Walter Schock/Rolf Moll and race director Karl Kling with the winning car, a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) with start number 128.

29th Rallye Monte Carlo, 18 to 24 January 1960. The team that finally won it: Walter Schock and Rolf Moll in a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111).

Early post-WWII Mercedes-Benz motorsport successes included the triple victory at the renowned Monte Carlo Rally 60 years ago: the 29th edition of the rally was held from 18 to 24 January 1960 over a route spanning 3567 kilometers. Walter Schock and Rolf Moll led the first German overall victory with the Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) ahead of Eugen Böhringer and Hermann Socher as well as Eberhard Mahle and Roland Ott – also in 220 SE.

 From the 1950s right until the 1970s, Mercedes-Benz used vehicles that were close to series production highly successfully in rallies. The modifications include the reinforcement of chassis elements, larger fuel tanks, the modification of the engine characteristics as well as adjustments to the transmission and axle reduction ratio. The Mercedes-Benz 220 SE, which won the Monte Carlo Rally 60 years ago, was also prepared in this way. With these “tail fin” saloons, the brand from Stuttgart won the European Rally Championships in 1960 and 1962.