The first Mercedes came to dominate the automotive scene of the early 1900s, although it was not called the Mercedes at first. During the late 1800s, much of the European social elite spent their free time in Nice on the French Riviera. It was here that the new automobiles raced to Salon and back during the “Week of Nice,” and the Daimler car made its debut. The race covered 240 miles of terrain, including a treacherous hill dubbed ” La Turbie.”
The vehicle first invented by Gottlieb Daimler attracted the attention of Austrian businessman and diplomat Emil Jellinek. Jellinek purchased four of the 1899 Daimler Phoenix models to race in Nice, later selling the vehicles to friends and colleagues. After racing the Phoenix, Jellinek was convinced that Daimler could do more in terms of speed and more. He ordered 36 more Daimler cars at a price of 550,000 gold marks, with the demand that the newest model be named after his daughter, Mercedes.
Mercedes Simplex
The 1902 Mercedes simplex became so popular that the name Mercedes was placed on all following models and became the Daimler trademark. Mercedes Jellinek became immediately famous at the age of 11 thanks to her father’s business deals with the automobile manufacturer. The Mercedes Simplex varied greatly from the earlier horseless carriages introduced by both Daimler and Benz & Co. It had a 4-cylinder, 5.3 liter engine, ad was capable of achieving 40 hp at 1050 rpm. The vehicle’s top speed was 47mph, which was quite impressive at the time.
The new Mercedes began a new era of automotive history and dramatically changed the way that other automobile manufacturers of the time operated. A period of intense competition began worldwide to create faster, more durable, and more comfortable vehicles that could travel longer distances than ever before. The steering wheel was introduced, and a longer wheelbase accommodated low-pressure tires that were quite a change from the spoked wheels used in earlier models.
The Daimler Name
The new Mercedes had a lower center of gravity, making it easier to climb inside. It had four speeds, as well as reverse, all connected by a coil-spring clutch. The gearbox was fitted with a differential, and a sprocket wheel shaft transmitted power to the rear wheels. The Mercedes Simplex was a marvel of engineering innovation. The car was engineered and produced by Daimler prior to its merger with Benz & Co. The car’s introduction came less than two years after the death of the company’s founder, Gottlieb Daimler, who is often credited with the invention of the gasoline-powered engine