The latest Automobile magazine has an an interview with MB's retired Head of Design Bruno Sacco. I thought this part was interesting:

Q: What Mercedes-Benz models do you consider to be your best designs?

A: The 1980s W126 S-class, the 1990s R129SL, the CLK, the SLK, and the W220 S-class that debuted in the late 1990s. But my favorite is the Mercedes-Benz 190 [W201] because of its importance to Mercedes.


Q: Is there a model you designed that you're unhappy with?

A: The W140 S-class from the early 1990s, because it is four inches too tall.


Q: What cars do you own?

A: A Mercedes 560SEC. I love the car except for the large plastic door-handle surrounds. I am considering having my car modified to fix this design flaw.

Just thought this was interesting and relevant to this site.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Cool!!!!!!!!!!

Strange, I also really don't like the SEC door handles but I like everything else about it, particularly in Euro trim. My 560SL's door handles look out of proportion also compared to my 380SL.

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

Excellent..good to know DC Still remembers their pinnacle;-)

Jonathan

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Blue Ridge Mercedes
Jonathan Hodgman
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I'll have to look at a W140 at work...I had never noticed that they are too tall...I guess the 190e was important to MB corporately, but little tiny cars with vinyl seats leave me cold.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

the 140 is rather tall...it's bloody cavernous inside.. The 190 was the precursor to the C class, the best $$$$ maker for DB/DC yet!

Jonathan

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Blue Ridge Mercedes
Jonathan Hodgman
http://www.blueridgemb.com/
Enthusiast Service, Restoration & Tuning.
Follow Us on Facebook!
Located in the Atlanta area
Specializing in all pre and post merger AMG's including Hammers and DOHC M117 engines.
Mercedes Repair Atlanta

his interview in the mercedes magazine shows him owning a CL almost light blue with cream interior. didnt say anything about him owning a sec. i wonder why he said two diff things for two diff magazines. in terms of w140 he claimed it was over done to over come the bmw models of that time.

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Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.

I just got the Mercedes Enthusiast magazine today and saw that picture of the CL. I'll read the article tomorrow sometime.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

yea seems like the guy gave different views for different magazines for some reason.... i'm wondering why.

__________________
Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.

I read that article tonight, and he is pretty proud of the w126 S-class. The article goes into detail about some elements of that model, and why they made certain changes to the w140. There is little talk about the w140 two-door, but there is a pic of him in the w140 light-blue coupe.

Last paragraph of the article states: "But there is another distraction to keep him busy in his retirement - a recently purchased low mileage 560SEC in Anthracite with black leather and burl walnut."

It's a good story on the guy - he really was an MB institution. Amazing work he was involved in.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

What attracts me to the W126 is that they don't really have any bad angles. Not to mention they are just a pretty car. I have been known to site down on the back of a boat and just look at my car with a drink for a bit. Love the lines, nice being able to drive a car everyday that’s worth having a drink while simply admiring the lines.

I agree about the door handles on the C126. They stick out to much and destroy the smooth flow, they need to be a bit more understated.

W220 is a pretty car, I know a lot of people don't like them. But I do like how they look.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You won't notice unless its parked next to a 126. The first time I parked my 140 next to my 126 I thought my tires were low on the 126. Its MUCH taller.

I think the 220's appearance wise are rather nice. Its the engineering that kills it for me. The early model Command systems were a bit of a joke in comparison to some of the other nav units on the market in addition to a car that just feels cheap in comparison to its predecessor. Car's are supposed to get better not get worse as the model years tick by. While Im the first to agree the 140 was "overdone" at least the let down could have been slower.

Get over it fellas . . . the W201 is still his favorite.

While it gets overlooked as the "baby benz" it was a big risk on a radical design from Sacco's staff, but it paid off for Daimler with more than a million units sold in 10 years and innovations like the multi link rear suspension, monowiper and the use of lightweight steel and alloys in the chassis.

I could understand saying the 140 is 4 inches too long - but too tall? This woud appear to be a sign that some form of senility has set in - necessitating the retirement and casting some doubts over all other comments. At his age it's very hard to keep chassis numbers straight.