Mercedes-Benz Classic will be flexing its collection of stunning vintage vehicles at next month’s Rétromobile exhibition in Paris.
The range of pristine classic cars will be on show as part of the 40th edition of the event, taking place February 4 to 8, which is this year entitled "The Past Still Has a Future" (Le Passé a Toujours un Futur).
Cars from a host of different eras will be displayed, such as the Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner (W 29) and the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Coupé (C 217), which demonstrate innovative engineering and the pinnacle of comfort in their respective decades.
The “future” part of this year’s slogan will also be prevalent with the addition of the Mercedes-Benz C 111 experimental vehicle and the latest Mercedes-AMG GT (C 190) high-performance sports car.
At the Rétromobile event, more than 500 vehicles will be on show in Hall 1 of the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, spread across the 46,000 square-metre space. Organisers are expecting around 100,000 visitors this year. Classic car auctions from the likes of Artcurial are just one of the highlights in the event program.
Some of the Mercedes-Benz Classic cars at Rétromobile 2015:
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner (W 29, 1938)
Built in 1938, the Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner was, at the time, the pinnacle of the aerodynamically optimised vehicles developed by Mercedes-Benz. Based on the Stuttgart-based brand's top sports car model, the vehicle set both technical and aesthetic benchmarks. It also allowed Mercedes-Benz to take the lead in a development that impacted the entire automobile industry at that time; as technology advanced rapidly in tandem with the quick expansion of road networks, enabling faster cruising speeds.
Technical data for the Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner (W 29):
Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Coupé (C 217, 2014)
Mercedes considers the S 63 AMG Coupé to be the epitomy of luxurious sportiness. Introduced in 2014, the top AMG model in the S-Class Coupé family is powered by a 5.5-litre V8 ‘biturbo’ engine boasting an output of 430 kW (585 hp). Features such as the AMG sports suspension based on Magic Body Control with Active Body Control (ABC), curve tilting function and Road Surface Scan deliver outstanding handling.
Technical data for the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Coupé (C 222):
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing prototype (W 194, 1953)
Early 1953 saw the appearance of a revised version of the 300 SL racing car that had been driven from victory to victory in 1952. Thanks to direct petrol injection, this new racing sports car had access to 215 hp (158 kW) for the 1953 season, a good 40 hp (29 kW) more than before. Reducing the vehicle's width also lowered the wind resistance.
Technical data for the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing prototype (W 194):
Mercedes-Benz C 111-II experimental vehicle (1970)
Mercedes-Benz presented the C 111 at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in September 1969. With its extreme wedge shape and gullwing doors, the research vehicle had a glass-fibre-reinforced plastic body and was powered by a three-rotor Wankel engine with an output of 206 kW (280 hp). This futuristic sports car could reach a speed of up to 270 km/h. The following year, the revised C 111-II version was shown at the Geneva Motor Show – except now with a four-rotor Wankel engine delivering 257 kW (350 hp). This version could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 300 km/h. Despite numerous orders, the C 111 remained a purely experimental vehicle and never entered production.
Technical data for the Mercedes-Benz C 111-II:
Mercedes-AMG GT (C 190, 2014)
The Mercedes-AMG GT appeared in 2014 and was the second sports car to be developed entirely under Mercedes-AMG's own direction. The coupé stands out for its front mid-engine concept with a transaxle transmission configuration and intelligent aluminium lightweight construction. Here the sporty performance for which Mercedes-AMG is renowned is based on the new AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine with the turbochargers mounted inside ('hot inside V') and dry sump lubrication. There are two versions of the engine: a GT generating 340 kW (462 hp) and a GT S rated at 375 kW (510 hp).
Technical data for the Mercedes-AMG GT / Mercedes-AMG GT S: