The Mercedes-Benz W111 sedan which debuted at Frankfurt in 1959. Image: Daimler.

1950s

In 1959 the Mercedes-Benz W111 sedan debuted at Frankfurt, stepping out into the glittering lights with its distinctive vertical headlights and American-style tailfins. Nicknamed Heckflosse (German for “fintail”), the four-door W111 debuted a new direction in technology and styling for Mercedes-Benz, introducing the world to the idea of the safety body, with a rigid passenger cell and front and rear crumple zones.

1960s

Six years later, in 1965, the Mercedes-Benz W108 appeared at Frankfurt as an evolutionary update to the hugely successful W111. With its stacked headlights, curvy hoodline and large front grille, the W108 is regarded by many as the last model to feature what is often described as the definitive “Mercedes look”.

1970s

Frankfurt 1979 will be remembered for the reveal of the legendary W126 S-Class, the second generation of the brand’s world-renowned Sonderklasse or “special class” long wheelbase saloon. Lighter and more fuel efficient than its predecessor, the Bruno Sacco designed W126 went on to become the most successful S-Class ever, with almost 900,000 sedans and coupes built during a 12-year production run.

1980s

Despite being known as the decade of excess, the early ‘80s were marked by a period of economic recovery in Europe, and Mercedes-Benz responded in 1982 with its first compact model the W201, better known as the 190E. But it was the following year at Frankfurt that the brand’s engineers really lit the blue touch paper, whipping the covers off the high performance 190 E 2.3-16V. Designed as a homologation special for the German Touring Car Championship, the scorching Cosworth-engined performance variant went on to establish several world speed and endurance records.

1990s

By 1997 the world’s automotive tastes were shifting again and Mercedes-Benz cannily read the change in sentiment by downsizing and launching the W168 A-Class compact car. With its front-wheel drive layout and tall but short body, the revolutionary A-Class looked like no other Mercedes-Benz before it, but its compact dimensions, fuel efficiency and Tardis-like interior packaging efficiency soon made it the darling of urban commuters around the globe.

2000s

Fast forward six years and Frankfurt show crowds were stunned by the reveal of a machine that could not have been more different to the diminutive A-Class, the stunning Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Featuring an epic hand-built 5.4-litre supercharged V8 that hit like Thor’s hammer the motorsport-inspired supercar was designed to showcase the performance capabilities of Mercedes-Benz and its Formula One partner, McLaren. With its active aerodynamics, extensive use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastics and staggering performance, the car was in many ways a harbinger of modern Mercedes-AMG models.

2010s

While the second decade of the 21st century has been a busy one in terms of significant Mercedes-Benz reveals at Frankfurt, it’s hard to go past the stunning Mercedes-AMG Project One concept car, revealed there in 2017, as the defining car of this decade. With its Le Mans racer styling, plug-in hybrid drivetrain and Formula One inspired technology, this jaw dropping creation sets the template for supercars of the future, drawing a line in the sand for rival manufacturers to aspire to.

By Jonathan Weller