[libranof1987]

The Mercedes-Benz Museum at Stuttgart is sort of a holy shrine for the automobile enthusiast. And for the rest, an immense source of knowledge, wonder and entertainment.

And why not? This museum talks about the journey of the very people that invented the internal combustion engine and brought us the automobiles and the company that makes stunning cars.

The museum has nine levels; each dedicated to a particular phase of the company, era and the industry segments. It starts (the top most level) from the invention of the engine to the first automobile, rail carriage, boat, bus, birth of the "Mercedes" brand and culminates into the future of the company (Hydrogen-cell, EV) and the racing division.

The museum:



https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mer...lassic/museum/

- Open 9am - 6pm on almost all days (list of holidays is on the website)
- I was in the museum from 9am until 4pm, so plan your day accordingly. It involves a lot of walking
- You can book tickets online at the link below. The price of the ticket is the same online/at counter but you save time by skipping the queue

https://museum-ticket.mercedes-benz....yService.faces

- Entry is 10 Euro and there's an Automobile Tour (in English) for 15 Euro, which includes entry

* The Tour is for an hour, and although the guide just breezes through the nine levels, there are some interesting tidbits of information that they'll tell you. You'd miss it otherwise, so I found it worth the time and money

* Included in either (10/15 Euro) is an audio guide

- There are easily more than a thousand exhibits and each exhibit has a lot of information on the audio guide so if I were to listen to everything, it'd take me days, or if I were to post all the pictures, GTO might have to get us a new server

- There are well spaced restrooms, a couple of a cafeterias and a full service restaurant so your gastronomical needs are taken of

- Don't forget the visit the shop and showroom (on the basement floor); they've some cool (but expensive) souvenirs and accessories. They even have a lot of restored classic cars for sale!

This beauty is right at the entrance. Talk about a tease!

[libranof1987]

Now, Mercedes-Benz wasn't always Mercedes and Benz. In fact, Mercedes wasn't even anywhere related to the company's origins.

The history is such:

Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach were working together at Deutz-AG-Gasmotorenfabrik, under Nikolaus Otto. When differences arose during engine development, Daimler left the company and Maybach followed him

The two formed Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft and started working on IC engines

Karl Benz, with the help of the dowry from his wife, formed Benz & Cie. He too was working on IC engines and their implementation in automobiles (and boats and other vehicles)

The world's first gasoline-powered IC engine, and the world's first automobile (a cycle)



The name Mercedes first appeared in 1901; Mercedes was the name of Emil Jellinek's (an Austrian businessman) daughter. It was Jellinek who pushed Daimler and Maybach to design cars for races.

The two companies merged in 1926; resulting in the brand Mercedes-Benz





Trivia:

- Daimler and Maybach, and Benz never met each other during their life time
- The location of the Mercedez-Benz museum has a significance. When Benz created the first automobile (a cycle), his son was entrusted in test driving it. Because the cycle had wooden tyres, the ride made his bum sore and he stopped much, much before of the intended destination. Where he stopped, today stands the museum
- Benz is the first person to have a Driving License



- Bertha Benz, Karl Benz's wife, is the world's first female driver

[libranof1987]

The first gasoline-powered IC engine (the grandfather clock)



The first gasoline-powered automobile



The first gasoline-powered four-wheeler



The engine-powered fire truck. The truck was pulled by horses but the water pump was now driven by the engine. The engine, at 1.5 hp, could pump out the same water as 32 men.



The first small car, one with a large scale production



The first four-stroke engine

[libranof1987]

One of the first offerings from Mercedes-Benz



You want to know what the silver handle just behind the driver seat is? It's for the co-driver to hold, so that they don't fly off!



The Mercedes 75 PS Doppelphaeton: the first 6-cylinder series-production model



The invention of the honey-comb mesh radiator



The Mercedes-Benz 12/55 Pullman Limousine: first passenger car under the Mercedes-Benz monicker



The IVRM: think it came up for safety reason? Nah!

[libranof1987]

The Benz Flugmotor FX: first aero engine designed for aircraft



The chassis that resulted in the gall-wing door





Daimler-Benz introduces the ABS unit



The Airbag module

[libranof1987]

The Silver Arrow







David Coultard's F1 uniform





This is the race car simulator; runs for about 5 min, costs 4 Euro. There's too much talking and very little "simulation"

[prasadee]

Very nice. Thanks for the pics. Brought me sweet memories of my life in Stuttgart some 20 years back. The same old cars, and even the entrance looks the same. I had those Mercedes 3 pronged star key chains for years. Every time a friend visited me, we went to the museum only to get a Mercedes cap. They used to sell them for 5 DM. And the key chains for 3 DM.

[rohitoasis]

Thank you for the pictorial. A mecca for any automobile enthusiast for sure.

One small correction to be done.

Originally Posted by libranof1987

David Coultard's F1 uniform
Attachment 1596870

Of the items in the image, the uniform and gloves belong to Nico Rosberg and the helmet belongs to Lewis Hamilton.