Mercedes-Benz models in 1950s

1951: 300, known as the "Adenauer Mercedes"

The Mercedes-Benz W186 model 300 was a four-door luxury tourer produced by Mercedes-Benz between 1951 and 1957. The company's largest and most prestigious automobile, it was the Maybach of its day, elegant, powerful, exclusive, and expensive. Three versions were produced in succession, known informally as the 300a (or simply 300), 300b, and 300c. An enlarged "300d" variant built on the W189 chassis succeeded it in late 1957.

Also referred to as a "Type 300", the W186 was equal in features and price but superior in performance to the rival Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Favored by statesmen and business leaders, it offered options such as a glass partition, VHF mobile telephone, and dictation machine.

1953: "Ponton" models

The Ponton was Daimler-Benz's first totally new Mercedes-Benz series of passenger vehicles produced after World War II. In July 1953, the cars replaced the pre-war-designed Type 170 series and were the bulk of the automaker's production through 1959, though some models lasted through 1962.

The nickname comes from the German word for "pontoon" and refers to one definition of pontoon fenders — and a postwar styling trend, subsequently called ponton styling.

1954: 300SL "Gullwing"

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W198) was the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer and fastest production car of its day. Introduced in 1954 as a two-seat coupé with distinctive gull-wing doors, it was later offered as an open roadster.

Built by Daimler-Benz AG, the direct fuel injected production model was based on the company's highly successful yet somewhat less powerful carbureted overhead cam straight 6 1952 racer, the W194.

1956: 190SL

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (W121) is a two-door super luxury roadster produced by Mercedes-Benz between May 1955 and February 1963. Internally referred to as W121 (BII or B2), it was first shown in prototype at the 1954 New York Auto Show, and was available with an optional removable hardtop.

The 190 SL presented an attractive, more affordable alternative to the exclusive Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, sharing its basic styling, engineering, detailing, and fully independent suspension. While both cars had double wishbones in front and swing axles at the rear, the 190 SL did not use the 300 SL's purpose-built W198 tubular spaceframe. Instead, it was built on a shortened monocoque R121 platform modified from the W121 small saloon.

1959: "Fintail" models

Mercedes Benz Fintail (German: Heckflosse) is a nickname given to the W110, W111, and W112 series of Mercedes sedans produced from 1959 to 1968. These replaced the Ponton series sedans introduced in 1953.

These series' modest tailfin era styling reflected the US-led trend. In Mercedes terminology the short rear fins were designated Peilstege, parking aids which marked the end of the car for aid in backing.

The production series included:

Six-cylinder sedans

1959–68 Mercedes-Benz W111 — 220b, 220Sb, 220SEb, 230S

1961–65 Mercedes-Benz W112 — 300SE

Four-cylinder sedans

1961–68 Mercedes-Benz W110 — 190c, 190Dc (1961–65), 200, 200D, 230 (1961–65)