Mercedes-Benz: Illustrated Books - Constructors and Designers

Mercedes-Benz C 111 - The Definitive History of the Mysterious Supercar That Never Was

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In March 1969, Daimler-Benz announced plans for a Wankel rotary-engine sports car, surprising the automotive world. Six months later, the C 111 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. With its striking design and advanced performance, it was seen as a potential successor to the 300 SL.

Though interest was high, the C 111 was never mass-produced. Over the following decade, several versions were built with different engines and design updates. Mercedes-Benz used the C 111 to test technologies and set speed records.

This book offers a full history of the C 111 program, based on interviews with past and current Mercedes-Benz staff and material from the company archives.

Product details

Author:	Gerhard Heidbrink, Joachim Hack
Details:	520 pages, 10.6 x 9.25 x 2.05 in (27 x 23.5 x 5.2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	1100+ b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2025)
ISBN:	9780764369001

Bruno Sacco - Leading Mercedes-Benz Design 1979-1999

When Bruno Sacco walked through the doors on his first day at Mercedes-Benz on 13 January 1958 it is highly unlikely that his Daimler-Benz colleagues could ever imagine that this nervous young man would not only revolutionize design but would change the way design and innovation connected with brand tradition forever.

Bruno Sacco is one of the most influential automotive designers of the late twentieth century; many models launched during his era now characterize the Mercedes-Benz brand.
When Nik Greene asked Bruno Sacco to assist with this book, he replied humbly 'No-one designs a car alone, and more to the point, I never, for one minute, wanted to. From the moment I became Head of Design, I put down my pens and became a manager of minds.'

With over 330 photographs and illustrations, this book includes an overview of the early days of functional vehicle design; the influence of safety on design evolution; protagonists of Daimler-Benz design from Hermann Ahrens to Paul Bracq; design philosophy and innovation under Bruno Sacco; the Sacco-designed cars and, finally, the Bruno Sacco legacy.

Product details

Author:	Nik Greene
Details:	192 pages, 10.25 x 8.5 x 0.79 in (26 x 21.5 x 2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	334 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	The Crowood Press Ltd (GB, 2020)
ISBN:	9781785007170

Rudolf Uhlenhaut: Engineer and Gentleman - Father of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

This first comprehensive biography of Rudolf Uhlenhaut, illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, depicts his life and technical accomplishments, including a complete compilation of his patents which puts them into a technical and historical context.

Born in 1906 in London, the son of an English mother and a German father, Rudolf Uhlenhaut joined Daimler-Benz in 1931 after finishing his mechanical engineering studies in Munich.
An engineer and designer for Daimler-Benz, he became famous for his achievements regarding the Silver Arrows, the 300 SL with the famous gull wing doors, the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, and the various record-breaking experimental C 111 versions.

Based on numerous interviews with Uhlenhaut himself, contemporary witnesses, colleagues and family members, the book paints a vivid picture of the person behind the technical innovations and explores his character and motivation.

Product details

Author:	Wolfgang Scheller, Thomas Pollak
Details:	208 pages, 12 x 8.7 in (30.5 x 22 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	296 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dalton Watson Fine Books (USA, 2017)
ISBN:	9781854432827

Mercedes-Benz C 111 - Design-Ikone, Traumsportwagen und Rekordjäger

In this book, the authors present the fascinating history of the dream sports car and record-breaking C 111 based on extensive holdings in the Mercedes-Benz corporate archives.
With over 1100 illustrations, including numerous previously unpublished pieces of information, the development of this outstanding vehicle is traced in detail. The C 111 remains one of the most prominent vehicles in automotive history to this day.

This updated new edition not only covers the C 111 in detail, but is also dedicated to the cutting-edge Vision One-Eleven sports car study, which progressively reinterprets the 1970 design icon.
The multiple award-winning reference work thus offers a comprehensive insight into the world of the C 111 and undoubtedly belongs in the library of every Mercedes-Benz enthusiast.

Product details

Author:	Gerhard Heidbrink, Joachim Hack, Wolfgang Kalbhenn
Details:	520 pages, 10.6 x 9 x 1.81 in (27 x 24 x 4.6 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	1100+ b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2023)
ISBN:	9783613044821

Heilige Hallen - Die geheime Fahrzeugsammlung von Mercedes-Benz

Anyone who has visited the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart has only seen a fraction of the huge vehicle collection that belongs to Mercedes-Benz Classic. The car brand's "holy halls" are located in secret locations outside the city: true treasure troves whose contents seem like the embodiment of sports car history.
The crème de la crème of the silver stars is parked here, from racing legends and state cars to collector's items with famous previous owners and prototypes that have never been shown - strictly guarded and inaccessible to the public.

The doors of the Mercedes treasure chambers have now been opened for the first time for Christof Vieweg. The result is a fascinating illustrated book with exclusive photos and stories about the special vehicles from over 100 years of Mercedes history:
- Cars with special technology and equipment
- Special Mercedes models: from Carl Benz's first automobile to the self-driving research car
- Unique items and prototypes that never went into series production
- 12 particularly interesting racing and record-breaking cars in detail, including the first Silver Arrow from 1934

Many of these guarded treasures are presented for the first time in large-format images, exciting background stories and lively photo reports.

Product details

Author:	Christof Vieweg
Details:	244 pages, 11.4 x 10.6 in (29 x 27 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	207 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Delius Klasing Verlag GmbH (D, 2021)
ISBN:	9783667116666

Paul Daimler - König des Kompressors

Paul Daimler, the eldest son of the German automobile engineer Gottlieb Daimler, joined his father's company at the end of the 19th century. He left a lasting impact through his vehicle and engine designs. Between 1907 and 1914, he developed 16 different types of engines, including the groundbreaking compressor engines.

This book by Harry Niemann explores the life and work of Paul Daimler, a pioneer of technology still found in automobiles today. The biography is illustrated with over 200 images, including rare material from the Daimler AG archives.

Product details

Author:	Harry Niemann
Details:	272 pages, 10.4 x 9.1 in (26.5 x 23 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	358 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783613042674

Béla Barényi und seine Erben - Sicherheitstechnik made by Mercedes-Benz

The history of technology is more than the chronology of inventions, it is also the history of the people who created them - especially in the history of the automobile.

Pages of the book "Béla Barényi und seine Erben - Sicherheitstechnik made by Mercedes-Benz"

This magnificent volume by Dr. Harry Niemann skilfully spans the gap from yesterday to today, from "vintage cars" to high-tech limousines that meet every conceivable safety standard. Many of these - crash tests, airbags, side impact protection - are inventions of Mercedes engineer Béla Barényi.
The pioneer in automotive safety was inducted into the "Automotive Hall of Fame" - the Olympus of automotive engineers - in August 1994.

Product details

Author:	Harry Niemann
Details:	240 pages, 10.4 x 9.1 in (26.5 x 23 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	87 b&w and 111 color photos, 52 drawings
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2016)
ISBN:	9783613038707

Carl Benz: Lebensfahrt eines deutschen Erfinders

These are the original notes by Carl Benz, who recapitulates his life and his invention of the automobile from the first draft to the functional vehicle. Using illustrations, sketches and technical drawings, the brilliant German inventor describes the numerous hurdles that had to be overcome before the automobile was finished.
Man's fascination with the automobile continues to this day. This work describes a special life story and the realization of a dream that made history.

Carl Friedrich Benz, born in Mühlburg near Karlsruhe in 1844, is considered one of the most important developers of the automobile. After studying mechanical engineering, he worked as a locksmith and designer and founded the "Iron Foundry and Mechanical Workshop" in 1871. In 1883 he founded the "Benz & Cie. Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik" (later "Daimler-Benz AG") and from then on devoted himself to the construction of automobiles, for which he received his first patent in 1886. In 1888 and 1889 Benz presented his three-wheeled, later four-wheeled automobiles at exhibitions in Munich and Paris.

In 1903 he left "Benz & Cie." and in 1906 founded the company "Carl Benz Söhne" in Ladenburg, where an automobile manufacturing factory was established. Benz was married to Bertha Ringer from 1872 onwards, with whom he had 5 children. He died in Ladenburg in April 1929.

Completely revised new edition of the original edition from 1925.

Product details

Author:	Carl Benz
Details:	152 pages, 8.7 x 6.1 x 0.63 in (22 x 15.5 x 1.6 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	German
Publisher:	Severus Verlag (D, 2013)
ISBN:	9783863476588