Special Purpose Vehicles At The Mercedes-Benz Museum

In the United States, we tend to think of Mercedes as a luxury car company. In reality, Mercedes is more than willing to tackle anything that moves. Cars, buses, utility vehicles, an airplane or two. You need to haul something, chances are Mercedes-Benz has pondered how best to move it. The museum had some fun examples of these special-purpose vehicles.

A convertible for a princess, Diana. She eventually had to return the car after the purchase created an uproar over buying foreign German over something home English. Alas, Jaguar or Rolls Royce were better options.

The Pope mobile.

Two buses, an early, proper English model and a bright, snazzy example from Latin America.

A custom-made hauler for race cars.

And plenty of race cars to haul. Before the wireless, computer age, Mercedes used this trail vehicle to gather test information by way of cables between the two vehicles.

Don't worry, Mercedes can be with you right up until you die. And after!

Ogling The Automobiles At The Mercedes-Benz Museum

The Mercedes-Benz museum could easily seem indulgent and a crass attempt at corporate propaganda if it weren't for the high quality of the product they're promoting. The vehicles deliver.

A gallery of early 20th century motoring masterpieces.

Who couldn't make a grand entrance in this blue baby? Early example of the iconic symbol.

An interior, outrageous attention to design and detail. Oh, why are we cursed with black vinyl and fake woodgrain?

Post-war expansion into India, as if it ever looks so sedate. New offerings for the autobahn age.

The lineup gets sleek. The vehicle in the foreground is pure red, not some goofy 60s sunburst (although, kind of cool). The spot-lighting played tricks on photo exposure.

No Mercedes history would be true without a Gullwing on display. A 60s color palette wheel, great, understated colors.

A turbodiesel wagon. Nondescript, but for a family connection.

Let's Go To The Mercedes-Benz Museum

Talk about a temple to engineering and our modern world. The Mercedes museum isn't some sort of hangar with a bunch of old cars crammed into it. The building itself is a cool, efficient architectural statement, emulating its contents. Call it Mercedes myth-making.

Hi-tech entrance.

A lineup of current Mercedes products stand guard out front. The five horse(power) of the apocalypse?

Future Mercedes owner? If the company has anything to do with it... At the beginning of the tour, Mercedes leaving little doubt what they were trying to best.

The inside atrium with pod elevators. The future is now!

Stamp dyes of the famous three point star symbol. Easily transferred to baked goods at the restaurant, no opportunity for corporate identity preening missed.

Finally, a vehicle! The first Mercedes cars.

Next, more Mercedes, much more.