Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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The W116 was the first car to wear the S-Class badge because it was such a step change. But why was it so good?

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Sources:
Mercedes-Benz W116: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W116
Mercedes-Benz S-Class: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_S-Class
Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_450SEL_6.9
Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_300_SEL_6.3
Béla Barényi: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9la_Bar%C3%A9nyi
Karl Wilfert: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Wilfert
Hanns Martin Schleyer: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_and_murder_of_Hanns_Martin_Schleyer
W116 S-Class: hagerty.co.uk/articles/buying-guide-mercedes-benz-w116-s-class-1972-80
W116: hagerty.com/media/market-trends/hagerty-insider/market-spotlight/your-handy-1972-80-mercedes-benz-w116-s-class-buyers-guide
6.9L: octane-magazine.com/articles/features/mercedes-benz-450sel-6-9-class-act
6.9L: pistonheads.com/news/ph-features-heroes/ph-heroes-mercedes-450sel-6-9/26084
6.9L: classicdriver.com/en/article/mercedes-benz-450-sel-69
6.9L: hagerty.co.uk/articles/50-years-of-the-mercedes-benz-450-sel-6-9
W116: w116.org
W116: autoevolution.com/cars/mercedes-benz-s-klasse-w116-1972.html
Mercedes Media: media.mercedes-benz.com
ESF 22: mercedes-benz.com/en/art-and-culture/museum/visitor-information/architecture/close-ups/safety-vehicle-esf-22
ESF 24: mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com/marsClassic/en/instance/print/Press-Information-June-3-1974-German.xhtml?oid=3507734&ls=L2VuL2luc3RhbmNlL3BpY3R1cmUueGh0bWw_b2lkPTE2MTk3NA%21%21&rs=0&relId=61184
S-Class climate control: perfanalysis.com/climate-control
ABS: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-lock_braking_system