Mercedes-Benz is a famous German brand of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks owned by DaimlerChrysler.
The brand originated in 1926 when the companies Benz & Cie.and DMG (Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft) originally founded by Gottlieb Daimler merged. Daimler had died in 1900 and Maybach, his chief collaborator, had left DMG in 1909. In 1924 the two companies entered an agreement to remain associated until 2000. This initial agreement left each company to manufacture and sell products with their original brands. In 1926 a formal merger occurred and the new brand that both companies would share Mercedes Benz was created.
The origins of the company date back to the mid 1880s, when Daimler and Benz invented the internal combustion engine.
The company is most famous for limousine models, nonetheless
a number of notable sports cars also have been produced. For example,
the early supercharged SSK developed by Ferdinand Porsche, and the Gullwing
300SL in 1954. Mercedes Benz also has produced higher volume, less expensive
cars, however. Interestingly, the prototypes of the Volkswagen were
built and tested in Stuttgart, in cooperation with Porsche. Before that,
Mercedes Benz had a similar rear engined
In 1958 Mercedes-Benz entered a distribution agreement with the Studebaker
Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana (USA), makers of Studebaker
and Packard brand automobiles. Under the deal, Studebaker allowed Mercedes
Benz access to their US dealer network, handle shipments of vehicles
to those dealers, and in return receive compensation for each car sale.
When Studebaker entered into informal discussions with Franco American automaker Facel Vega on offering their Facel Vega Excellence model in the US, Mercedes Benz objected. Studebaker, which needed Mercedes-Benz distribution payments to help stem heavy losses, dropped further action on the plan.
Mercedes Benz maintained an office in the Studebaker works in South
Bend from 1958 to 1963 when Studebaker's U.S. operations ceased. Many
U.S. Studebaker dealers converted to Mercedes-Benz dealerships at that
time. When Studebaker closed its Canadian operation and left the automobile
business in 1966, remaining Studebaker dealers had the option to convert
their dealerships to Mercedes Benz dealership agreements.
Trivia
Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase was handed the keys to a Mercedes
car after winning a bet made with former tennis star Ion Tiriac.
The fastest (production) automatic road car in the world, was the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren at 334 km/h (208 mph). The car was co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars. However its record is now held by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.
Michael McClure's song "Mercedes-Benz", famously sung a cappella
by Janis Joplin, was intended as a gentle satire on materialism, but
has been used in the company's advertising. On a BMW advertisement on
German TV, the driver of a BMW Z3 convertible raised his eyebrows after
the first "buy me a Mercedes-Benz" and threw out the tape
after "my friends all drive Porsches."
From 1926 Mercedes & Benz, were successful in motor racing throughout their separate histories, both having entries in the first automobile race in 1894. The Mercedes Simplex of the early 1900s, built by Daimler Motors (DMG), was the first purpose built race car, much lower than usual designs, which were similar to horse carriages; it dominated racing for years. In 1914, just before the beginning of the First World War, the Daimler Mercedes 35hp won the French Grand Prix.
In 1993 Mercedes-Benz made its return to Formula One as engine supplier to the debut F1 team Sauber, with a V10 engine manufactured by Ilmor. In 1995, the normally aspirated Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor F1-V10 moved to McLaren. The team had great success, under Mika Häkkinen.
Fangio won titles with Alfa Romeo in 1951, Mercedes in 1954 and '55, Ferrari in 1956 and Maserati in 1957.
The Mercedes-Benz cup is an important tennis tournament in LA.
Origin of the name Mercedez
The French surname Mercedes has a dynamic ancestry. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Artois were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. As well as the names of the saints of the Christian Church, many of the most common French are derived from personal names of Germanic origin. They derive from the language of the Franks who controlled France after the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The surname Mercedes is derived from the name Marchand, which is derived from Latin and Old French words for merchant.
Spelling variations include: Mercier, Mercié, Merciait, Merciai,
Merciaie, Merciay, Merciez, Mercyer, Mercyé, Mercyait, Mercyai,
Mercyaie, Mercyay, Mercyez, Merciée, Mercyée, Merciaies,
Mercyaies, Merciey, Mercyey, Merciest, Mercyest, Merciet, Mercyet, Mercereau.
First found in Artois where they were anciently seated.
Origin of the surname Benz
South German: (in Alemannic areas) from a short form of the Germanic
personal name Berthold, or to a lesser extent of Bernhard. Medieval
Austria is a homeland of the Benz family. Austria, which was originally
home to a Celtic people, conquered by the Roman Empire in about 15 BC
Following the fall of Rome, Austria was repeatedly invaded by barbarian
tribes, such as Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, who swept east. During
the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemanni, Avars and Slavs settled Austria.
The Avars were defeated in 785 by the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne,
who set up the East Mark, which became Österreich. Austria was
ruled by the Babenburger dynasty until 1278, when they were succeeded
by the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria until the 20th century.
Spelling variations include: Benz, Benns, Bennze, Benze, Bennse, Bense,
Bensz and others.
First found in Austria, where the name was closely identified in early
mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent
throughout European history.
A film floated for production in 2004 was Wheeler Dealers starring Dustin
Hoffamn as a Mercedes car seller.
Companies and people with similar names to the car company
Mersedes ukhodit ot pogoni (1980) was a film made in the Soviet Union.
Mercedes is a common name in Spanish society for women. Mercedez is often chosen as a name.
mersaides was the name of a pedigree horse that was on sale on an internet site in 2006.
Marsha DesLauriers is a singer from North Dakota
Mursade is the name of one of the many subclans in Somalia
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