The Grand Mercedes

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Type Nürburg 460, Type 500 (W08)

This was true of the very first Mercedes-Benz vehicle with factory-integrated special protection, the Nürburg 460 (W 08) of 1928 which has already been mentioned. Unfortunately, there are no longer any documents which describe the technical details of this first special-protection vehicle. All that is known, thanks to contemporary archive photographs, is that a Pullman limousine of this type built in 1931 was armoured with sliding steel plates which allowed the window areas to be shielded from the inside. The windscreen was protected by a folding steel plate with only a small observation slit provided for the driver to see through when it was in use. As for the passengers, a roof-mounted periscope allowed them to survey their surroundings when the protective plates were deployed. A Pullman limousine version of a Type 500 (W 08), a later variant of the Nürburg, is still in existence today. The doors and windows of this vehicle, which was delivered to Japan in 1937, are protected on the basis of the same principles which apply today.

 

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Type Nürburg 460, Type 500 (W08)

 

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"Grand Mercedes" Type 770 (W 07)

The next vehicle which Mercedes-Benz offered in a version with factory-integrated armour was the Type 770 "Grand Mercedes" which was launched in 1930. Notable characteristics of this model included rigid front and rear axles, which were attached to a ladder frame consisting of U-section‑profiles by means of semi-elliptical springs, as well as a 7.7-litre eight-cylinder in-line engine with an output of 150 hp (200 hp with a supercharger). Between March 1932 and January 1935, the Japanese imperial court took delivery of at least six "Grand Mercedes" models in Pullman limousine guise. At least one of them was armoured and has been in the Mercedes-Benz Museum collection since 1971.

 

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"Grand Mercedes" Type 770 (W 07)

 

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"Grand Mercedes" Type 770 (W 150)

An enhanced version of the "Grand Mercedes" with a sophisticated swing-axle suspension was presented in 1938. The perimeter frame of this model consisted of thin-section oval tubes which combined great rigidity with low weight. Independent double-wishbone front suspension and‑a rear De Dion axle represented additional improvements. The engine, the technical characteristics of which were largely based on the predecessor model, developed 230 hp with a supercharger.

The "Grand Mercedes" was officially available as a Pullman limousine, as Cabriolet D and Cabriolet F models and as an open touring car. A number of special armoured versions of each of these body variants were built. Furthermore, the state commissioned armoured four-door limousines between June 1943 and July 1944. Whereas the permissible gross vehicle weight of the standard cars was 4200 kg, this figure increased to as much as 5420 kg in the case of the armoured versions. However, the maximum speed of the latter was reduced from 170 km/h to 80 km/h in order to maintain the service life of the tyres.

 

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"Grand Mercedes" Type 770 (W 150)

 

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Type 600 / 600 Pullman

In September 1963, Mercedes-Benz presented a new, exclusive prestige vehicle to meet the requirements of the most demanding customers – the 600 model which became an instant legend. It was outstanding in every respect – generous dimensions, majestic design and exceptional technical characteristics. Its V8‑injection engine developed 250 hp from a displacement of 6.3 litres and allowed the almost two-and-a-half-tonne vehicle to attain a top speed of more than 205 km/h with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of ten seconds. The standard-fit air suspension, whose shock absorbers could be adjusted from the steering column while the vehicle was moving, ensured excellent ride comfort. The Type 600 was available as a five to six-seater limousine with a 3200-mm wheelbase and also in several Pullman variants with a wheelbase of 3900 mm.

It was only a short time after the launch of the top-of-the-range model that the German government asked Daimler-Benz AG to build an armoured version for state visitors. Although Mercedes-Benz had a remarkable track record in building special-protection vehicles, this on its own was not enough as the technical fundamentals had changed dramatically, not least because of the adoption of the self-supporting body. As a result, the engineers and materials experts at Mercedes-Benz embarked on nothing less than the reinvention of the concept of special protection.

Thus it was that a small team set out to develop a new approach. In May 1964, at the Sindelfingen plant, they conducted the first armour tests with new steel grades and prepared the first design drawings. They eventually decided on high-alloyed steel grades, using double layers in certain situations and weight-saving ceramics for some flat-surfaced components. At the same time, working with a glass manufacturer experienced in equipping banks, they came up with a solution for the windows, the vehicle requiring not only a curved windscreen, but a curved rear window, too.

In June 1965, a bullet-resistant Pullman limousine was produced – the first special-protection vehicle built by Daimler-Benz since the war. Working under the pressure of an extremely tight schedule, the company managed to complete it just in time for the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The armoured Pullman limousine had a raised roof element so that Her Majesty did not have to remove her hat. This generous headroom subsequently benefited other state visitors, many of whom wore hats in those days.

To make it easier to open the doors, whose weight had increased dramatically because of the protective elements, the engineers installed a hydraulic system for the rear compartment. It was activated at the touch of a small button housed in the door handle recess – security staff and hotel doormen were instructed accordingly.

Along with a number of "normal" Pullman limousines, this vehicle remained in the company's fleet, ready to be hired to the government or other users when required. A second version of this special variant was built in 1980. This, too, spent its working life in the company's fleet before joining the Mercedes-Benz Classic vehicle collection.

On special request, Type 600 limousines and Pullman limousines were also built with special protection for private customers. Between May 1971 and November 1980, several special-protection 600 models were built. However, unlike the two vehicles in the company fleet, these models had a standard-height roof.

 

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Type 600 / 600 Pullman

 

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Type 280 SEL 3.5

After the Type 600, which was built as a one-off, Daimler-Benz initially gave no further consideration to the production of special-protection models. This changed in 1970 when several diplomats in Latin America were attacked, kidnapped, and, in some cases, murdered. The German foreign office felt it necessary to provide a number of its heads of mission with specially protected vehicles. Several German federal authorities suggested that Daimler-Benz should build armoured vehicles as the comfortable, reliable and powerful limousines from Stuttgart were highly regarded by many governments – a reputation which had been established by the Type 300 – popularly known as the "Adenauer" – in the 1950s. The result was the special-protection Type 280 SEL 3.5, which was produced between May 1971 and September 1972. Most of these vehicles were delivered to Germany's foreign missions judged to be at particular risk while the remainder went to governments and exposed politicians abroad.

 

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The 116 model-series S-Class Saloons

The attacks by the RAF terrorist group in the 1970s led to a sharp increase in demand for protected vehicles. Daimler-Benz therefore decided that the all-new luxury-class generation – with the internal model-series designation W 116 – which was launched in September 1972 should also be offered in the form of a special-protection variant. The company's experts built on the experience they had acquired developing the special-protection 280 SEL 3.5 and improved the protection technology continuously. The special-protection variants of the eight-cylinder 350 SE, 350 SEL, 450 SE and 450 SEL models were supplied to a select group of customers, including many state bodies in Europe and beyond.

In order to provide even greater protection from projectiles and explosives, the authorities and Daimler-Benz resolved to work together closely during the subsequent years – indeed, this relationship continues to this day – as no other German car manufacturer was able to offer special-protection vehicles at the time. Together, they developed appropriate and feasible technical standards.

The Mercedes-Benz engineers began by testing individual components for their suitability. In the next phase, complete vehicles were tested by firing different types of ammunition at them in various conditions. Finally, the vehicles were also subjected to testing with explosives. Daimler-Benz established its own firing range in 1983.

The results of these tests were used to prepare requirement profiles for different situations – examples being opportunistic crimes such as attacks while cars are waiting at traffic lights, robberies committed using small arms and terrorist attacks with military weapons. This phase was conducted by the official ballistics authorities and Mercedes-Benz specialists who were responsible for many technical innovations. These first technical descriptions formed the basis for today's test regulations for the different resistance levels.

 

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The 116 model-series S-Class Saloons

 

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The 126 model-series S-Class Saloons

Enhanced special-protection technology resulting from an intensive development programme was available for the new generation of the S-Class which was launched in 1979. Particular mention should be made of two 500 SEL models which were built with a 200 mm longer wheelbase and a 30 mm higher roof element. The first one, which was completed in January 1983, joined the company's own fleet of prestige vehicles. The second limousine was built at the request of the Vatican for the Holy Father and was presented to Pope John Paul II in August 1985.

 

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The 126 model-series S-Class Saloons

 

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The 140 model-series S-Class Saloons

In March 1991, the 140 model series – the successor to the 126 model series – was launched at the Geneva Motor Show. However, it was not until April 1992 that the last special-protection versions of the 126 model series were completed. From February 1992, the W 140 saloons could also be supplied as special-protection versions – with a choice of a 5-litre V8 or a 6-litre V12 engine. The V12, a completely new design, was the first series-production twelve-cylinder passenger-car engine from Mercedes-Benz and, with a rated output of 300 kW (408 hp), also the most powerful Mercedes-Benz passenger-car engine at the time.

In a surprise move in September 1995, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the S 600 Pullman Guard which it had developed as a new state limousine with special-protection technology – the latest in a long tradition of such vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. At 6213 mm long, this specially built model was exactly one metre longer than the long-wheelbase S 600. The extra length benefited the rear passengers who were accommodated in comfortable‑facing‑seats and who could separate their rear compartment from the driver's area by means of a partition.

 

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The 140 model-series S-Class Saloons (VV140)

 

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The 220 model-series S-Class

September 1998 saw Mercedes-Benz launch the 220-model series S-Class Saloon. True to the company's decades-long tradition, this generation of the S-Class had once again been designed as a large touring saloon with superior ride comfort, a high level of passive safety and effortlessly superior performance. It differed from its predecessor principally in terms of its reduced exterior dimensions, a new, slimmer design and over 30 technical innovations which once again made the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the trailblazer for the whole spectrum of passenger-car technology.

From the year 2000, Mercedes-Benz also offered this generation of the S-Class with a long body in several special-protection variants. These included the S 500 long as well as the S 600 long – both with Highest Protection (B6/B7). In 2004, the special-protection line-up of this S-Class generation was complemented by the S 500 Pullman – again with Highest Protection (B6/B7).