MERCEDES W126 S-CLASS (1979-1991)
After officialising the ‘S-Class’ moniker with 1972’s W116 – a car that immediately made the luxury car establishment like Rolls-Royce and Bentley look rather old-fashioned – Mercedes began work on its successor within a year. The 1973 oil crisis prompted a focus on better fuel economy, while improvements to the ride and handling balance were also targeted. Head Designer Bruno Sacco wanted an aerodynamic, modern shape that was still instantly recogniseable as a Mercedes S-Class, and the result, codenamed W126, was exactly that.
The overall profile was imposing but simple, with few body lines and the rounded nose sharing the same light profile and grille shape as the W116, but with smoother, more streamlined edges. Details like the upswept front bumper, wipers hidden beneath the bonnet
