Post War Mercedes at the Cincinnati Concours

Much of Germany was rocked and struggling following World War II. Like many manufacturers, especially automobiles, during the war Mercedes Benz turned their factories toward making materials for the military. And, like many manufacturers, Mercedes was slow to return to making automobiles following the war. Their big break came in 1958 when a deal was struck with Studebaker to sell their luxury and new sports cars in North America. Many of these post-war automobiles became luxury standards. The Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance created a class for these cars, those made between 1949 and 1980. Among the cars in this class was a 1971 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet. These were the last of the hand-built Mercedes and only 679 were ever made. The car has a 3.5-liter V 8 engine that generates 200 horsepower and reaches at top speed of 130 miles per hour.

Paul Bracq designed this 1967 300 SE Cabriolet. Bracq, a Frenchman, is credited with designing some of the most memorable Mercedes automobiles. Only 708 of these were ever built. It features a three-liter inline six-cylinder engine the puts out 195 horsepower. 

Another of Paul Bracq's designs was this 1967 250 SE Cabriolet. At the time this was one of Mercedes most expensive and exclusive offerings. In fact, only 954 were ever made. The car features a 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine that creates 150 horespower.

Here is a beautiful 1952 220 Cabriolet B. Only 997 of these were ever made. The current owner's family purchased the car in Munich, Germany in 1958 for $700. The car has a 2.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 80 horsepower. This car is a previous concours Best in Class winner.

Safety and durability have always been hallmarks of Mercedes-Benz and this 1960 190B sedan helped to introduce a significant safety feature, crumple zones. Nicknamed the "Ponton" due to its pontoon shaped fenders, the car has a two-liter inline four-cylinder engine that generates 95 horsepower. 

In 1971, this 280 SE 3.5 coupe was the flagship offering from the Stuttgart based company. This year was the last time all Mercedes were hand built. The car has a 3.5-liter V 8 engine that turns out 200 horsepower. This car won a concours Best in Class title in 2023.

Here is an ultra-luxury 600 SWB. This car is the forerunner to the current Maybach models. (Wilhelm Maybach was the engineer for Carl Benz's partner, Gottlieb Daimler.)  Fewer than 2200 SWB or short wheelbase models were ever built. The car has a 6.3-liter V 8 engine that creates 250 horsepower.

This is a 1980 230 G. Also known as a G-Wagon, it was an early luxury SUV style vehicle. It was built in Austria and is a very rare two door convertible version. It sports a 2300 cc inline four-cylinder engine that creates 90 horsepower. 

Fourth of July Parade

 

Each year our township holds a parade to celebrate the 4th of July. This year marked the 20th time they had done so (with the Covid lockdown year being skipped). And every year there are some interesting vehicles in the parade. Here at the ones I could shoot this year.

Contemporary Mercedes Sports Cars at the Cincinnati Concours

 

Starting in the 1950s, Mercedes Benz has been making outstanding sports cars. In order to highlight the full range of these masterful automobiles, the Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance team has created three classes of sports cars. Today's class is for the contemporary vehicles, those from 2005 to today. While there were only two that were on the Alt Park lawn they were both amazing. One was a 2009 SLR McLaren Sterling Moss. Built in honor of Moss's 1955 victory at the Mille Miglia and only 75 were made. This car has a 5.4-liter V 8 power plant that generates 641 horsepower.

The other sports car in this class was a 2009 SL550. This version of the iconic SL series introduced some new body designs and unique L-shaped headlights. This car runs on a 5.5-liter V 8 engine that punches out 382 horsepower. 

Later Mercedes Sports Cars at the Cincinnati Concours

 

Mercedes Benz has been making sports cars since the mid-1950s. Seeing that Mercedes was the featured marque at this year's Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance, the event decided to set up three sports car classes with the one posted here running from 1972 through 2005. This class included a 1987 560 SL. This car has a 5.5-liter V 8 engine that puts out 227 horsepower. This model was the last of the R107 line.

About 100,000 of the SL 500 models were manufactured between 2001 and 2012. This is an early 2002 model. This car has a five-liter V 8 engine that puts out 302 horsepower. It has a removable hard top and a hydraulic soft top along with an automatic pop-up roll bar. 

This 1993 600 SL is one of the most expensive and powerful of its era. Originally costing $122,900, it sports a six-liter V 12 engine that generates 389 horsepower.

Early Mercedes Benz Sports Cars at the Cincinnati Concours

 

With Mercedes Benz being the featured marque at this year's Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance it was pretty obvious that there were going to be some sports cars. And there were plenty. They were divided into three classes. This one is cars from 1955 through 1971 and includes what many see as the ultimate Mercedes sports car, a 1955 300 SL Gullwing coupe. Priced new at $6820, the car has a three-liter inline six-cylinder engine that makes 215 horsepower. At the time this was the fastest production car being made, topping out at 162 miles per hour. This car won the Best of Show Esprit de Sport.

This 1967 250 SL was one of about 5000 ever produced. The car has a 2.49-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 148 horsepower. The current owner of this car bought it from the former owner of the Cincinnati Reds and found, in the trunk, a pennant from the 1975 World Series Champion season.

The original price of this 280 SL was $7900. It was the last of the "pagoda" removable hard tops. The car has a 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine that generates 195 horsepower. This is enough power to get it from zero to 60 in 7.6 seconds and gives it a top speed of 128 miles per hour.

A little fewer than 13,000 280 SLs were produced for the American market between 1967 and 1971, and this 1968 model is one of them. This car has been in the same family since new. It sports a 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine.

The entry level Mercedes sports car back in 1960 was this 190 SL. It was something of a "younger sibling" of the famed 300 SL. It has a 1.9-liter inline four-cylinder engine that puts out 104 horsepower. This is a European spec car.

Intended as the successor to the 190 SL and 300 SL models, this 1965 230 SL introduced the removeable "pagoda" top. It runs on a 2.3-liter inline six-cylinder engine that churns out 150 horsepower. It was the first sports car with an engineered "safety body."

Another European spec car with metric dials and Euro headlights, this is a 1960 190 SL. This one was a limited production six speed manual transmission. Otherwise, the underpinnings are the same as the 190 seen above. 

Early Pre-War Mercedes at the Cincinnati Concours

Mercedes Benz was the featured marque at this year's Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance. Seven different classes were presented on the grass at historic Alt Park with the oldest, pre-war vehicles getting a lot of the attention. Among them was the Best in Show winner, a 1936 540K Spezial Roadster. The K in the name stands for Kompressor which designates that this car has a supercharger. According to the owner, this car was found tucked away in a barn in Switzerland where it was being hidden from the Nazis. It has a 5.4-liter inline eight-cylinder engine that generates 180 horsepower.

 Perhaps the most unique vehicle on the Alt Park lawn was this Mercedes ordered replica of the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen. This is largely considered to be the first true, practical automobile. This belt driven motorized tricycle has a 53 cubic inch, single cylinder four-stroke engine. It generates two-thirds of one horsepower.

This large luxury car is a 1938 320 Cabriolet B. Its numbers matching engine is a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder power plant that produces 73 horsepower.

An Honored Collector at the Cincinnati Concours

 

In 2005 when their daughter was getting married, Larry and Carol Pumphry, through a twist of fate, discovered Packards. This led to some research and then to collecting various 1937 12-cylinder Packard automobile. As is their tradition, the Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance celebrated the Pumphrys and their Packards as this year's Honored Collector with a special exhibit. Among the 1937 Packards on display was a Twelve 1508 LeBaron. When new this car cost $5900 and sports a 473 cubic inch engine that puts out 173 horsepower. This car has been a winner at the famed Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance.

Sitting on a long 144-inch frame, this Twelve 1508 seven passenger was once considered a parts car before the decision to restore and save it. It has the same 473 cubic inch V 12 engine.

Here is a Twelve 1507 convertible coupe that is number 238 of 1300 Packards manufactured in 1937. It is one of only 69 convertible coupes that were made with only about 25 still known to exist. It, too, has the same 473 cubic inch engine.

This Twelve 1507 Victoria convertible is one of 45 to have been produced in 1937 and one of only 12 or so known to still exist. Sporting the same 473 cubic inch V 12 engine it also features "Safe-T-Flex" independent front coil suspension.