Mercedes is one of the major car manufacturers. The German giant has been making cars since the late 1800s and over the years they have become the symbol for luxury, reliability, power, and respect.

Mercedes know how to build a good car and with their current success in F1, they have begun to create more driver-focused cars implementing F1 tech into their road cars. Over the years then they have created some beautiful machines all becoming legends of the car community. Here are some of the best Mercedes cars ever created, all of which defy technology, luxury,  speed, and power.

Related: These Cars Are Long Overdue To Make A Comeback

10 Mercedes SLS AMG

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The Mercedes SLS is an incredible supercar produced between 2010 and 2014. It was Mercedes' answer to the likes of the Ferrari 458 and the Lamborghini Gallardo. It was a complete homage to the 300SL with its striking gullwing doors. However, under the pretty looks, this car was a complete muscle car. Under the hood lays a 6.2 liter V8 pushing out 563hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. It will it 60 in 3.8 seconds and flat out will do 196mph.

SLS AMG GT speeding on the highway
Via autoexpress.co.uk

The SLS was one of the best AMG cars ever made. It was stylish, sporty, and fast, A car that was completely different from anything else on the market. The doors were the ultimate show-off factor and the car itself looked razor-sharp. It was a fun tire-squealing car and a proper muscle car at heart.

9 Mercedes S-Class W140

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The Mercedes S-Class W140 was the last of its kind. Fully hand built and really "overengineered." The W140 project cost well over $1 billion and was truly made to be the best luxury car ever seen. This car demanded respect everywhere it went, which meant it was heavily favored by world leaders and celebrities. Notable owners include 50 Cent, Michael Jackson, Sadam Hussein, and Vladimir Putin.

Via: nfautomotive.nl

The W140 was an absolute tank and most cars built still stand today. The quality was beyond exceptional and shames any modern S-Class cars today. Unfortunately the successor the W220 was an absolute embarrassment to the S-Class legacy because cost-cutting was put in front of proper engineering.

Related: 10 Classic German Sports Cars We'd Drive Over A Supercar

8 Mercedes 300SL

Meercedes benz 300sl gullwing
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The 300SL is easily the most iconic Mercedes ever made. Its striking design and gullwing doors really set it apart from other cars. Launched in 1954, it became the world's fastest car, hitting speeds of 163 mph. The car is powered by a 3.0 inline-6 pushing 215hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. It could hit 60 in 7.1 seconds. The 300SL is easily a drivers' car with stunning sharp looks and a 4-speed manual gearbox mounted to a RWD setup.

Via: cheatsheet.com

The 300SL is an insanely good car with extraordinary levels of comfort. Its one of the most iconic classic cars ever made making it also one of the most expensive. A good one of these will easily set you back way past $1 million today. Rarer models include the AMG tuned version from the 1990s.

7 Mercedes C63 AMG W204

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Mix a compact and sensible sedan with a large gas-guzzling 6.2 V8 and what do you get? A sedan that really makes most sports cars look slow. This was an ultimate German muscle car packing in 451hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, enough to embarrass the American muscle cars. Made to rival the BMW M3 and Audi RS4, Mercedes decided to take a different approach. Rather than make a drivers-focused sedan like the other two were, why not make something a bit more fun?

via automobilenews.net

This car is more at home doing burnouts and doughnuts than setting laps at the Nürburgring. Yet this car is still quick, hitting 60 in 4.3 seconds and topping out at 155mph. It even shares the same engine as the SLS AMG supercar. It is a great car and one of the all-time Mercedes greats!

6 Mercedes CLK AMG GTR

Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR parked outside
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The Mercedes CLK GTR is an ultra-rare supercar made by Mercedes in 1999 after the cancellation of the FIA GT1 class. Thirty were built, as promised by Mercedes following FIA homologation rules. The CLK GTR shared a lot of components with the GT1 racer such as the 6.9 liter V12, the carbon fiber body, and design features. The only difference was the rear wing which was now a "hoop" shape. The car also shared a few parts such as the rear lights from the standard CLK coupe.

Mercedes-Benz-CLK-GTR
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In 1999, it was the world's most expensive car costing over $1.5 million. There were 2 prototypes, 20 coupes, and 6 roadsters. Twenty-nine cars were LHD with only one owned by the Sultan of Brunei being RHD. The car produced 612hp and 572 lb-ft of torque. It would hit 60 in 3.8 seconds before topping out at 214 mph.

5 Mercedes McLaren SLR

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In 2003 Mercedes teamed up with McLaren to create the ultimate GT car; the SLR McLaren. It was inspired by the 300 SLR race car from 1955. It packed a handbuilt 5.4 supercharged V8 pushing out 617hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. It could hit 60 in 3.4 seconds before topping out at 208mph.

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Even by today's standards, this car is seriously quick, let alone in 2003. However, if you wanted to reach that speed then you had to pay way over $400,000 new. A total of just 2157 of these cars were produced. This car also packs some crazy technology, you may not know of.

4 Mercedes SL R129

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The millionaire's ultimate toy. The Mercedes SL R129 was the pinnacle of SL cars, the last of the overengineered beauties. What makes this car so great is that it was a bi-word for class and style. The R129 Mercedes SL was adored by rappers, real estate investors, businessmen, actresses, and more.

1997 SL 73 AMG
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There were 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder engines available but Mercedes took things to a whole new level with their V12 engines. First, there was a 6.0 V12, then came a 7.0 AMG V12 and finally a Pagani Zonda derived AMG 7.3 V12. It is truly an insane car yet it's so refined and well-built. Princess Diana even had one, does that prove just how stylish this car is?

Related: The SL73 Pagani v12 model is also by far one of the best AMG cars ever made

3 Mercedes 500E

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In 1991 Porsche and Mercedes decided to take on the BMW M5 and Lotus Carlton with their own 500E. This car was not like any other E-Class. In fact, it was far different. Under the hood lays a 5.8 V8 from an SL500. The suspension and drive-terrain were also beefed up. Where did Porsche come into this? The simple fact was that 500E could not fit through the E-Class production line due to its widened arches.

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Therefore, Mercedes had to contact Porsche, who at the time was in financial disarray, to build the 500E. They happily accepted the job since their factory at the time had a low workload. The 500E pushed a menacing 322hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 only took 6.1 seconds, and flat out the 500E would do 161 mph.

2 Mercedes CLS W219

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A weird choice, but for a reason. Mercedes hit the nail on the head when they combined a sedan with a coupe. It really did change the industry and it welcomed the likes of the 6 series/8-series Gran Coupes and the Audi A7. The CLS is a really stylish car that really worked well.

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The best CLS model is the first-generation W219. Why? Because it was so radical. Nobody had ever thought of combining a sedan with a coupe because the two body types were just so different. The CLS W219 really was a challenge for designers, but they showed that it was possible.

1 Mercedes G-Class

Mercedes-G63-AMG on the road
Via autocar.co.uk

The Mercedes G-Class is one of the most iconic cars ever made. Some are also bargains second-hand nowadays. The G-Class started out as a military project but soon it became a sweetheart in Hollywood. Now you will see Kylie Jenner and Mesut Ozil roll around in them. The G-Class however, is still used in military operations.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class
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Engines range nowadays from a 2.0 4-cylinder in the Chinese-market G350 to a 4.0 Biturbo V8 in the G63. Over the years, the G-Class has usually been powered by 6 or 8-cylinder engines, but there were limited V12 models such as the G65 AMG. An awesome badass car that people have loved since the late 1970s.

Next: 10 Supercars From The 1990S You've Forgotten About