Founded in 1926, Mercedes Benz has an illustrious history of producing iconic cars, with many becoming collectors items for the most avid car fans. Given their history, Mercedes has produced cars in a huge range of classes that have become notorious in their own right for being luxurious, powerful or even just good to look at.

With this in mind, we have listed our top 5 classic Mercedes cars, each as iconic as the last when it comes to the history of the vehicle and the brand.

5. Mercedes Benz 500E

Released in 1991, the Mercedes Benz 500E was manufactured with assistance from Porsche, not only creating an incredibly popular vehicle but also helping factory workers at Porsche who were facing company-wide issues at the time and were struggling for work.

Since then it has gone on to become an instantly-recognisable classic Mercedes, given its bold chassis and executive look. Under the bonnet it featured a 5.0L V8 engine and for this reason was referred to as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” by the press at the time. Due to the limited manufacturing run between 1991 and 1994, as well as the fact that every vehicle was hand-built, it is considered a modern Mercedes classic.

4. Mercedes Benz 600 Pullman

The height of luxury from 1963 to 1981, the Mercedes Benz 600 Pullman was a regal vehicle to say the least, with a short-wheel-base version for drivers and a long-wheel-base version for those wanting to be driven. There were many different versions created, including a 6 door limousine and a Laudolet version with a convertible top over the passenger section of the vehicle.

This classic model became especially popular for transporting German government officials, as well as famously, the Pope. It was also embraced by celebrities such as Coco Chanel, John Lennon, Elvis Presley and Elizabeth Taylor. However, it gained notoriety for being popular amongst divise political figures and dictators in countries such as Kim Jong-un, Saddam Hussain and Robert Mugabe.

3. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren

This distinctive sports car was created in conjunction with McLaren and sold between 2003 and 2010, becoming increasingly popular with motorsports enthusiasts who were enthralled by a racing company collaborating on a road car.

Several models of this grand tourer were created including a coupe, roadster and even a speedster named after famous driver Stirling Moss. Even after this modern classic was discontinued, a McLaren edition was created as a limited 25-unit run.

2. Mercedes Benz 710 SSK Trossi Roadster

This sleek looking roadster is the oldest of our classic cars, created in 1930 for extreme performance with the SSK standing for Super Sport Kurz. These short-chassis two-seaters could get up to speeds of 115mph, so were also driven on the racetrack at events such as LeMans and Monaco.

This classic supercharged Mercedes Benz was named after Count Carlo Felice Trossi, who was one of the first owners of the vehicle and an initial investor in Ferrari. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, there are supposedly only 5 original SSK’s still in existence, and for that reason are highly sought after.

1. Mercedes Benz 300SL

Our number one classic Mercedes Benz comes as no surprise, as the famous 300SL with ‘Gull-wing’ doors has been iconic for more than half a century, as well as inspiring many of the Mercedes vehicle classes since then.

Originally it was aimed at affluent racing fans in a booming post-war market, and the fuel-injected engine and stunning chassis was just part of the appeal. The distinctive vehicle was available as a coupe and roadster from 1954 until 1963 when it was discontinued. However, the legacy of the 300SL lives on through tributes such as the incredibly popular SLS AMG which was released in 2009.

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