Montreal, PQ -- Nowadays, it's hard to picture the Mercedes-Benz lineup without the small B-Class and C-Class models. Yet, if you go back in time to the early 1970s, the German automaker used to sell nothing but large premium cars in North America.
The oil crisis of 1973 and the company's desire to increase its presence on the global market soon led to the birth of a more compact Mercedes. "Some members of the Daimler-Benz management doubted it was possible to create a small car that would offer the same levels of quality and safety as a large Mercedes," recalls Werner Breitschwerdt, the man known as the "father" of the C-Class.
Now at 81 years of age, Breitschwerdt still has the same passion for automobiles which allowed him to play various managing roles at Daimler-Benz, including Chairman of the Board. His eyes light up when he talks about the development of the 190 (code-named W 201 by those inside the company). Auto123.com met with him in Montreal on the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix. He gladly agreed to tell the story of the "Baby Benz".
25 years already!
A quarter of century has passed since Mercedes first introduced the 190 compact sedan, which later became the C-Class. But while this model is now a jewel in the brand's lineup, it was considered at the time as truly revolutionary by some people.
Truth is, the W 201 was not actually the first-ever small car produced by Mercedes. In the 1930s, the automaker built a rear-engine vehicle that was barely larger than a Volkswagen: the 130 (W 23). Then, from 1953 to 1962, the mass-produced Mercedes-Benz 170 (W 120) was similar in size to today's C-Class. However, back then, it was marketed as a midsize car. This sedan eventually grew bigger and bigger, spawning what we now know as the E-Class.
Mercedes-Benz Canada President and CEO Marcus Breitschwerdt, who's a cousin of Werner Breitschwerdt, claims that "today's Mercedes-Benz cars are often viewed as technological masterpieces." He's right: 25 years ago, the brand essentially focused on luxury and prestige cars, especially in North America.
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| Werner Breitschwerdt, "father" of the Baby Benz! |
The oil crisis of 1973 and the company's desire to increase its presence on the global market soon led to the birth of a more compact Mercedes. "Some members of the Daimler-Benz management doubted it was possible to create a small car that would offer the same levels of quality and safety as a large Mercedes," recalls Werner Breitschwerdt, the man known as the "father" of the C-Class.
Now at 81 years of age, Breitschwerdt still has the same passion for automobiles which allowed him to play various managing roles at Daimler-Benz, including Chairman of the Board. His eyes light up when he talks about the development of the 190 (code-named W 201 by those inside the company). Auto123.com met with him in Montreal on the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix. He gladly agreed to tell the story of the "Baby Benz".
25 years already!
A quarter of century has passed since Mercedes first introduced the 190 compact sedan, which later became the C-Class. But while this model is now a jewel in the brand's lineup, it was considered at the time as truly revolutionary by some people.
Truth is, the W 201 was not actually the first-ever small car produced by Mercedes. In the 1930s, the automaker built a rear-engine vehicle that was barely larger than a Volkswagen: the 130 (W 23). Then, from 1953 to 1962, the mass-produced Mercedes-Benz 170 (W 120) was similar in size to today's C-Class. However, back then, it was marketed as a midsize car. This sedan eventually grew bigger and bigger, spawning what we now know as the E-Class.
Mercedes-Benz Canada President and CEO Marcus Breitschwerdt, who's a cousin of Werner Breitschwerdt, claims that "today's Mercedes-Benz cars are often viewed as technological masterpieces." He's right: 25 years ago, the brand essentially focused on luxury and prestige cars, especially in North America.
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| The 190 achieved higher sophistication levels than any other Mercedes-Benz at the time, or so says Werner Breitschwerdt. |