20 to 30 May 1949 – 75 years ago
Debut of the Mercedes-Benz 170 D and 170 S (W 136 model series) at the Hanover Export Fair
- A spirit of optimism in front of an international audience
- 170 D as the highly acclaimed first Mercedes-Benz diesel passenger car of the post-war period
- The luxurious 170 S was also available as a two-seater and four-seater convertible
A spirit of optimism prevailed at Mercedes-Benz 75 years ago: at the Technical Export Fair in Hanover, the German automotive industry was able to present itself to an international audience in its own country for the first time since the end of the Second World War. Two new passenger cars were on display. Both belonged to the W 136 model series. The 170 D in particular was a sensation. The four-door model had the smallest diesel engine ever in a production vehicle at the time and immediately aroused enthusiasm in the relevant specialised media. The second new model, the 170 S, had a more spacious body and offered separately adjustable ventilation of the passenger compartment on both sides as standard. Heating was available at an extra charge. A new front axle design contributed to the comfortable and safe driving behaviour of the 170 S. The top Mercedes-Benz model at the time was also offered as a Cabriolet B and as a particularly luxurious Cabriolet A. The great importance of all new models became clear against the backdrop of the economic situation at the time: the “economic miracle” of the young Federal Republic was only vaguely recognisable in 1949. Supply restrictions for electricity and coal as well as production bottlenecks for iron and petrol rationing were still determining the pace of the upturn.
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