Four Point Five:

There is no doubt that today's Mercedes Benz automobiles are refined means of personal transportation. They are sleek, aerodynamic, but somehow less appealing than the sedans of the classic era. One is hard-pressed to tell a new Mercedes apart from a BMW or . . . Japanese Lexus. Sorely lacking is the old-world build quality and ambiance that made their predecessors--among them the last hand-built sedans, the W108/109 series of the late '60s and early '70s--so famous.

It is questionable if any of the contemporary sedans will ever become collectibles in the true sense of the word and withstand the challenges of time as well as the W108 did. In direct comparison, it is utterly fascinating to note just how much character the ultra-comfortable W108 has. A well maintained example will also definitely hold its own in modern-day traffic, its brakes, suspension and handling being fully capable of handling the task.

In 1972, North America was at its boiling point with muscle cars. Germany knew this very well and had no intentions on standing on the sidelines. Mercedes-Benz set this vehicle, along with the some of the /8 family, especially the 300SEL 6.3, to do battle with the muscle cars. These vehicles featured large, bulletproof reliable 8 cylinder engines that were fuel-injected and styling that understated their superior performance. Recall that emissions control were not that much of an issue yet, so these classic V8 engines have immense power. Adding to the powerful and modern engine selections, these cars have vastly superior handling, safety, technology and stopping power when compared to the Detroit competitors.

This vehicle still roasts the majority of 2004 vehicles, with it's "conservatively" rated 225 bhp electronically fuel-injected 4.5L (4,520cc) V8 engine. Conservative meaning that these cars have a lot more power than Mercedes-Benz ever released to the press. Even Mercedes-Benz doesn't make them like this any more!