Top 10 Best Mercedes-Benz Road Cars Ever Produced

1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen

In July 1886, Carl Benz made the first public outing in his three-wheeled Benz Patent-Motowagen. Based on his patent for a “vehicle powered by a gas engine” it's widely considered the first true automobile. Built on a tubular steel frame, the Benz featured two seats and a small four-stroke single-cylinder engine. Producing a whopping 0.75 hp the engine was equipped with an automatic intake slide and a controlled exhaust valve. It also included a high-voltage electrical ignition with a spark plug and water-cooling - features we see on cars today. Shortly after it was built, Carl's wife Bertha Benz borrowed the car to visit her mother, leading to the world's first road trip.  

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG

Mercedes-Benz SSK

Before Dr. Ferdinand Porsche launched his own company, he designed cars for Mercedes-Benz. The most iconic of these cars are the SSKs. Built from 1928 to 1932 many of these cars were powered by a supercharged 7 liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower. An impressive number today, it was also 10 times more powerful than the first VW and many of Porsche's early Type 356 sports cars. Like many of Porsche's designs, the SSK is simple yet pleasing and elegant. According to Mercedes-Benz, it performed well on the track and won a number of victories, cementing Merdedes' reputation as a builder of excellent motorcars. 

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Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster

The 500K is not only the finest prewar Mercedes-Benz but one of the best cars of the prewar era. A true dream car, its inline eight-cylinder engine was equipped with a supercharger producing 160 hp and it could sustain speeds over 100 mph. It also boasted advanced features like hydraulic brakes, a 12-volt electrical system, and electric power locks. The 500K was so exclusive it could be ordered with custom bodywork. Only 342 cars were built and they rarely come up for sale. But when they do, they trade hands for more than $5 million.  

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Mercedes-Benz 300SL

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of the most iconic sports cars of the 20th century. Developed as a race car, the gullwing doors were a necessity because of the lightweight tubular frame. The success of the 300SL both revitalized Mercedes-Benz's racing heritage and its reputation for building epic road cars. But the gullwing doors made the car a legend. Cars like the Bricklin and DMC DeLorean copied the gullwing concept but matched the 300SL for performance and style.     

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Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda

If there was ever a timeless car, it would be the Mercedes-Benz 230SL. Known as the "Pagoda" because of its removable hardtop, the lines and proportions are understated and elegant. It defines what we think an SL should be. Performance is good due to the 2.3-liter inline-six producing 150 hp. It's not powerful or blindingly fast but more than respectable, allowing the car to seem relaxed at any speed. The car glides effortlessly, always seeming to have a reserve well of power when you want it. The R107 and R129 models followed this formula but never got it as right as the original.   

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG

Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser

Until they revitalized the Maybach, the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz luxury was the 600 Grosser. Meant to be chauffeur-driven, its famous owners included Elvis Presley, Elton John, Chairman Mao, Saddam Hussein, and Kim Jong-un. The rich and infamous liked it for its sheer size and presence but the Grosser was also an opulent masterpiece. Equipped with a complex hydraulic suspension and hydraulically powered windows, seats, sunroof, and even doors, the car could be custom ordered to the buyer's every whim. 

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Mercedes Benz 190E

Seemingly at the opposite end of the spectrum from the Mercedes-Benz 600 Grosser, the 190E still shared a lot with its opulent ancestor. Engineered to be the best small car in the world, it featured the understated design work of Bruno Sacco who styled Mercedes-Benz cars for the 1980s and 1990s. It was a hit with the public, selling more than 1.8 million units in 10 years. Even as an entry-level car it sacrificed little to the larger E-class and S-class and introduced new levels of safety features including airbags, side-impact beams, and high-strength steel bodies. Early in its run, Mercedes teamed up with Cosworth to produce the 190E 2.3-16, kicking off the small performance sedan battle with BMW's M3. 

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Mercedes-Benz 500E

Mercedes brought the Hammer down on its competition in the late 1980s. Stuffing a 322 horsepower 5.0 liter V8 into the W124 E-class, they launched the modern Mercedes-Benz muscle car. With an assist from Porsche, who helped engineer a wider body to accommodate the engine, along with beefier brakes and suspension. The result looked like an E-class in a Savile Row tailored suit. It's an understated and underestimated sedan supremely fast and will stay on the back bumper of many sports cars. Today it's a rare, highly sought-after collectible that still delivers a fantastic driving experience.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren teamed up to produce a modern successor to the 1950s SLR. Featuring a hand-built, supercharged 617 hp V8, the modern SLR reaches 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 207 mph. Just over 2,300 SLRs were produced from 2003 to 2009 including several coupe and roadster versions. If the SLR wasn't exclusive enough, you could purchase the SLR Stirling Moss. Only 75 copies were made as a tribute to Sir Stirling Moss, the famous British Formula One driver who raced for Mercedes in the 1950s.  

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The first thing you notice about the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is the gullwing doors. But if you're lucky enough to see one in person, or drive it, all you'll think about is the wonderful noise. The 6.2-liter V8 develops 563 horsepower and crackles like thunder. As the first car built exclusively by AMG, it's a barely tamed beast that will tear up any road. And it's also a rare animal, one that will likely never be replicated, as the world moves on from naturally aspirated, large displacement V8s.  

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG

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