Mercedes-Benz| Volkswagon
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is part of the “German Big 3”, along with Audi and BMW, which are the best-selling luxury automakers in the world.
The first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926.
The Mercedes-Benz SSK (Super Sport Kurz) roadster (1928 – 1932) was a short wheelbase development of the earlier Mercedes-Benz S. The SSK’s extreme performance and numerous competitive successes made it one of the most highly regarded sports cars of its era. Only four or five entirely original models remain, and their scarcity and rich heritage make them among the most sought after cars in the world. A streamlined “Count Trossi”-bodied version owned and restored by fashion designer Ralph Lauren, has won best of show at both the 1993 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the 2007 Concorso D’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
Other significant models produced include the 1954 300SL Gullwing, 1960 300d “Adenauer”, 1964 220SE Fintail Sedan, and the 1971 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet. And of course the 300SL racing car that Stirling Moss drove to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia.
Throughout its long history, Mercedes-Benz has been involved in a range of motorsport activities, including sportscar racing and rallying, and is currently active in Formula Three, DTM, V8 Supercars Australia and Formula One.
Current models include the SLK series and the SLS AMG (with gullwing doors – the spiritual successor to the Mercedes 300SL).
Volkswagen (VW) is a German automobile manufacturer established in 1937. Volkswagen is now the biggest automaker in both Germany and Europe.
Volkswagen has three cars in the top 10 list of best-selling cars of all time compiled by the website 24/7 Wall St. – the VW Golf, VW Beetle, and VW Passat. Volkswagen means “people’s car” in German. Its current international slogan is “Das Auto” (“The Car”).
The VW Beetle, officially the Volkswagen Type 1, informally the VW Bug, is a two-door, four passenger, rear-engined, economy car manufactured from 1938 until 2003. In the 1999 Car of the Century competition, to determine the world’s most influential car in the 20th century, the VW Beetle came fourth, after the Ford Model T, the Mini, and the Citroën DS. The marque was successfully reintroduced in 1997 as the “New Beetle”.
The VW Bus, officially Volkswagen Type 2, a.k.a Camper, Transporter, Kombi or Microbus, is a panel van introduced in 1950 by VW as its second car model. Because of its popularity during the counterculture movement of the 1960s it also had the nickname “Hippie Van”.