The Mercedes-Benz W123 E-Class Has Been on This Planet for 40 Years

By Tony Markovich - February 1, 2016

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Raise your coffee mugs, beer bottles, protein shakers, and sippy cups, everyone. This week, we remember and honor the debut of a monumental vehicle in Mercedes-Benz’s history: the W123 E-Class.

It first hit the media’s pupils at the Paul Ricard Circuit in southern France in saloon form. It later was offered in coupé, estate, or wagon, and in all, this thing sold nearly 2.7 million units. Thank the classic styling, high build quality, large variety of options (both power and models), and the comfort offerings for making it an imprint in German and general auto history.

Mercedes-Benz used this car to advance and experiment with numerous types of technology. Safety features like crumple zones and airbags were incorporated, alternative fuel options like hydrogen were tried, and the double wishbone suspension was incorporated.

Cheers, W123. Here’s to you, a classic from the get-go.