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S-Class (W116)

Premium-class vehicle generation.

S-Class (W116)

The first officially designated “Mercedes-Benz S-Class” was initially comprised of three models: the 280 S, 280 SE and 350 SE.

Mercedes-Benz Classic Parts Search Series Overview S-Class (W116)

Six-cylinder engine.

S-Class (W116)

Six-cylinder engine.

The 280 S and 280 SE models featured the six-cylinder engine M 110 with dual overhead camshafts that had made its debut in the W 114. Six months later the S-Class saloon was also offered with the larger 4.5-liter V8 engine in parallel to the 450 SL and 450 SLC. At the same time the 450 SEL was introduced, its wheelbase lengthened by an extra 100 millimetres; as with its predecessor models, the additional space served to increase legroom in the rear.

Wheelbase lengthened.

S-Class (W116)

Wheelbase lengthened.

The long version was also available from November 1973 as a 350 SEL and from April 1974 as a 280 SEL. One noteworthy engineering innovation first featured as standard in the W 116 series saloons was the double-wishbone front suspension with zero-offset steering and anti-dive control, as tested originally in the C 111 experimental vehicle. This permitted further dynamic handling improvements.

Dynamic handling improvements.

S-Class (W116)

Dynamic handling improvements.

Rear suspension was essentially the same as the design that had by this stage been tried and tested over many years in the Stroke Eight models and which was also in use in the 350 SL. The 4.5-litre models were fitted with a coupled-link axle. In terms of passive safety, too, the S-Class was at the forefront of engineering. The variety of safety design features integrated for the first time into the 350 SL were of course included without exception in the S-Class saloons.

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Original parts for this series.

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