Mercedes-Benz W109
| Mercedes-Benz W108 | |
|---|---|
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|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
| Production | 1965–1972(1973 North America only) 383,361 built W108: 364,699 W109: 18,662 (incl. 300 SEL 6.3: 6,526) |
| Assembly | Stuttgart, Germany |
| Designer | Paul Bracq , Friedrich Geiger (1963) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car (F) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related |
Mercedes-Benz W111 Mercedes-Benz W112 Mercedes-Benz W113 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 3-speed automatic 4-speed manual 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
Mercedes-Benz W111 Mercedes-Benz W112 |
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz W116 |
The Mercedes-Benz W108 and W109 are luxury cars produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1965 through to 1972 and 1973 in North America only. The line was an update of the predecessor W111 and W112 fintail sedans. The cars were successful in West Germany and in export markets including North America and Southeast Asia. During the seven-year run, a total of 383,361 units were manufactured.
The car's predecessor, the Mercedes-Benz W111 (produced 1959–1971) helped Daimler develop greater sales and achieve economy of scale production. Whereas in the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz was producing the coachwork 300 S and 300 SLs and all but hand-built 300 Adenauers alongside conveyor assembled Pontons (190, 190SL and 220) etc., the fintail (German: Heckflosse) family united the entire Mercedes-Benz range of vehicles onto one automobile platform, reducing production time and costs. However, the design fashion of the early 1960s changed. For example, the tail fins, originally intended to improve aerodynamic stability, died out within a few years as a fashion accessory. By the time the 2-door coupe and cabriolet W111s were launched, the fins lost their chrome trim and sharp appearance, the arrival of the W113 Pagoda in 1963 saw them further buried into the trunk's contour, and finally disappeared on the W100 600 in 1964.
The upgrade of the W111 began under the leadership of designer Paul Bracq in 1961 and ended in 1963. Although the fins' departure was the most visible change, the W108 compared to the W111 had a lower body waist line that increased the window area, (the windscreen was 17 percent larger than W111). The cars had a lower ride (a decrease by 60 mm) and wider doors (+15 mm). The result was a visibly new car with a more sleek appearance and an open and spacious interior.
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Wikipedia