MERCEDES-BENZ

  Although born in Germany just 60 miles away from each other and a decade apart, Carl Benz and Gottlied Daimler were both fascinated with machinery from youth.  Considering that neither one of them would take the same approach to building cars or designing, it was only by circumstance that they met.
In 1886, Carl Benz had produced a motorized tricycle while Gottlieb Daimler had produced a horseless carriage.  Two years later, Gottlieb Daimler made a deal with William Steinway (of piano fame) to produce Daimler’s vehicles in the U.S. on Long Island, New York from 1904 until 1907.  Back in Germany, by 1893, Benz had built his first 4-wheeler called the Victoria and by 1894 had built his very first car.  The following year was the introduction of Benz’s first truck.  In 1902, the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschat  Company had produced a passenger car for a special customer who named the vehicle after his daughter Mercedes.  Smaller, lighter and faster, the Mercedes had a 35 HP engine and a top speed of 55 mph.  As a side note, it is indicated by cybernet.com that Daimler was considered the father of modern automobiles although he said he never liked to drive.
Simply because of the promotional value involved with racing, both Daimler and Benz were involved in the sport even though Daimler had always overshadowed Benz when the rubber met the road (or dirt).  Just like the U.S. did when involved in national security and sacrifice, both Benz and Daimler’s plants were converted into war production at the outbreak of World War 1 and re-opened after the war in spite of social unrest and a failing economy.  As a result of a horrendously bad economy, the market sent Benz in search of a stronger partner. 
Quite interestingly, by 1923 even though almost 15 million cars (of all makes) were registered in the world, over 80% of them were registered in the United States and half of those were Fords.  Benz had built only 1382 cars while Daimler just 1020 and, in 1919 had briefly attempted to join forces but could never quite make it work. Now, out of necessity, Benz & Daimler signed an Agreement of Mutual Interest in 1926 that was valid until the year 2000.
Mercedes-Benz launched their biggest and most prestigious car in 1930 called the Grosser that was powered by an 8 cylinder, 7.6 LT. Engine.  Truly a car for the world’s wealthy, it was quite a vehicle especially being introduced in an economy reeling from a disastrous recession.

On March 6, 1990 Gottlieb Daimler passed away leaving control of his company to his chief engineer, William Mayback.  Does the name sound familiar?  Well he was the guy who designed engines for the lighter than air Zeppelins Remember the ultra-luxurious and extremely 2000 Mayback that Mercedes allowed produced under the Mayback name? Reclining rear seats and all.  Carl (Karl) Benz died in 1929 and never saw the success that his company and vision provided.