The Ultimate History Of Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz G-Class specialist Jörg Sand has written the ultimate book on this all-wheel-drive legend, from its design and development to its extraordinary and diverse career up to the present day. Very few automobiles remain as faithful in their character and appearance as the hardcore, all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz G-Class luxury SUV. Even when it comes to the most recent series, the W 463 A, with its technically profound changes, the designers at Mercedes have barely changed the classic look. And for good reason. From its first year, 1979, the G-Class has always been one of the very few off-road legends. Tourists, firefighters, foresters, race drivers, and boat owners all appreciate the unique qualities of this indestructible force, the "G Wagon," from Graz, Austria.

From the earliest workshop days to the grandest marque in the automotive world, the story of one of the most important enterprises of the twentieth century comes alive in this complete history. The rich history of Daimler-Benz (now DaimlerChrysler) has its roots in the early experimentation with the use of the internal combustion engine by three men: Carl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler, and William Maybach. Benz, working alone, and Daimler and Maybach, working together, the two shops separated by a mere sixty miles, in the late 1880s simultaneously laid the foundation of what would become the German automotive industry. At first there was competition between Benz & Cie. and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, as they engineered and styled the earliest motorwagens and began to develop markets for their products. These early efforts led to the establishment of an entire industry by the start of World War I. But the war and its aftermath devastated these two companies, as it did the German economy overall. By the early 1920s it became apparent that the only way to survival was a merger, and thus, on June 29, 1926, the stockholders of both companies gave approval to the new company, Daimler-Benz, which led directly to the birth of one of the world's best-known brands: Mercedes-Benz. In the hands of noted automotive photographer, author, and editor Dennis Adler, the history of the marque and the company unfolds through the decades, as Mercedes-Benz advances in fame, from the racing glory years to the present, becoming the standard that all automakers strive to meet. With archival (many never before published) and the author's own photographs, the beauty and power of the automobile comes alive, from the earliest models to the first crop of twenty-first-century Mercedes-Benzes. It is a story of excellence that is in many ways unmatched in the history of any industry. Today, as a global leader in design, safety, and overall excellence, Mercedes-Benz continues to lead the way.

"Fully illustrated and highly detailed, The Ultimate History of Mercedes-Benz reveals the fascinating story of one of the world's most prestigious and desirable marques." "Here are the stories behind all of the greatest cars - the earliest engine-powered Motorwagens, the record-breaking Blitzen Benz, the famous Silver Arrows racing cars, the instantly-recognizable 300SL Gullwig model, the elegant sedans and sports cars of the late twentieth century, the tiny Smart city car, the fabulous Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and many more."--Back cover.

This book contains an in-depth study including some 340 photographs -most of them published for the first time- of the all-road Mercedes Benz G4: the magnificent automobile clearly associated with Adolf Hitler who favored it before and during WWII for traveling and parades. Only three out of a limited series of 57 units have survived till today. But only one of these is in fully original condition: the G4-540 presented by Hitler to General Franco. This car is thoroughly documented here in an outstanding pictorial report.

It is the dream of many to own the world’s most beautifully designed automobiles, but most often only a handful of collectors ever come close. Now, The Impossible Collection of Cars makes that dream come true, showcasing the one hundred most exceptional cars of the twentieth century in ASSOULINE's third volume in the Impossible Collection series. Each luxury automobile—from the 1909 Blitzen Benz to a 1996 McLaren F1—was chosen for its revolutionary engineering, magnificent lines, and head-turning capabilities. Assouline is pleased to announce this exquisite tome, which features cars owned by celebrities like Marlene Dietrich, Ralph Lauren, Greta Garbo, Pablo Picasso, and Elvis Presley. This Impossible Collection volume is presented on cotton paper in a beautiful black rubber clamshell box with a cutout metal plate.