The internal combustion engine has been around for a very long time, and over the many decades there has been all manner of configurations. From tiny two-cylinder units to Bugatti’s epic W16 – and just about everything else between – there’s one type that’s always been that bit rarer; the five-cylinder.
The Mercedes-Benz 240 D 3.0 is widely recognised as the first series-production car with a five-cylinder engine, launching back in 1974. So, to celebrate 50 years of the five-pot, we’ve brought together a selection of our favourite examples. From comfy cruisers to focused sporty hatches, there’s something here for every taste.
MERCEDES-BENZ W115 (1974-1976)
Launched alongside the W114 back in 1968, what we essentially have here is a forerunner to today’s E-Class model. What separated the two versions was that the W114 used six-cylinder engines while the W115 got inline fours, except for the one we’ve chosen. The OM617 engine was Benz’s first five-cylinder diesel, and while it lacked power by today’s standards – its measly 79hp meaning 0-62mph took a yawn-inducing 20 seconds – what it could do was last incredibly well.
Capable of a galactic mileage, it’s no wonder that taxi drivers loved it; in fact, a Greek cabbie was reported to have covered almost 3 million miles in his. It shouldn’t really come as a surprise because this model came from an era when almost nothing on the road was as solid as a Mercedes, and when it comes to depth of engineering, they were pretty much unbeatable. This wasn’t a car that would quicken the pulse, but that’s exactly how buyers liked it. Robust, dependable and understated, the W115 felt like it could last forever.
The restrained styling was courtesy of Paul Bracq, and while the cabin was
