German carmakers have been around since the first half of the 20th century. German car companies have been among the most innovative in the global automobile industry. For example, Porsche designed the very first hybrid vehicle back in 1900. Porsche was not the only German carmaker ahead of the curve. Every single major German car company greatly benefited from both World War 1 and World War 2.

Updated July 2023: Wondering what some of the best classic Mercedes ever made are? Here, we've compiled 10 of the most iconic Mercedes-Benz Classics ever. We've added new images and a spec sheet for each selection to help provide key information at a glance.

While Porsche and BMW vehicles have become famous for their being sporty and luxurious, Mercedes-Benz earned the reputation of being old people's cars. This could be because Mercedes-Benz cars are the epitome of German elegance. With that said, several Mercedes cars are among the most game-changing German cars of all time.

We've used performance data from the official Mercedes-Benz site (where available) and other external websites such as Automobile Catalog, Ultimatecarpage, Auto Data, ZePerfs, and Classic Driver to compile this list. In addition, we obtained price data from Hagerty and Classic.com.

10 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer

Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz had been working on creating combustion engines and actual automobiles since the mid-1880s. Despite being severely crippled by the Treaty of Versailles, Mercedes-Benz was officially created in 1926. Three years after its creation, the Great Depression hit the world like a freight train. All those hurdles did not prevent Mercedes-Benz from designing outstanding vehicles.

Specs

The 680 S Barker Tourer is among the German classic cars that will make you want to remortgage your house. Winner of the 2017 Best of Show at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it is clear that the 680 S Barker Tourer is a highly-valuable oldie. On top of the fact that only one was ever made, the 680 S Barker Tourer turns out to be a true race car from the pre-war era. Fitted with a 7.0-liter M06 straight-six that pumps out 203 hp at 3,300 rpm, the 680 S Barker Tourer reaches a top speed of 115 mph.

Pricing

At this point, the cost of a 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer isn't publicly available. However, given the car's prestige, a well-maintained and restored model could cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1,000,000.

9 1933 Mercedes-Benz 370 S Mannheim Sport Cabriolet

During the early 1930s, Germany was undergoing a major transformation. Following the election of Adolf Hitler as Germany's chancellor, things started to improve for the average German. As a result, unemployment rates fell and Germans across the board saw their income increase. This could have been a motivator for Mercedes-Benz to come up with sports cars like the 370 S.

Specs

Mercedes-Benz manufactured the 370 S Mannheim in large numbers given the situation in Germany at the time. With 183 units made between 1931 and 1933, it was one of the most beautiful Mercedes-Benz during that time. Equipped with a 3.7L straight-six engine, the 370 S makes 77 hp. The gorgeous German grand tourer from the early 1930s makes up for its lack of power with its exquisite physique.

Pricing

According to Classic.com, a 1929-1934 Mercedes-Benz 370 S Mannheim Sport Cabriolet costs $260,000 on average.

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8 1940 Mercedes-Benz 770K W150

Most people are unaware of the fact that several household brands are deeply intertwined with the military. Northrop Grumman or Lockheed Martin seem like the only Department Of Defense contractors, but companies like McDonald's or General Motors used to or still have ties to the military. This phenomenon is not exclusive to the United States.

Specs

The Mercedes-Benz 770K W150 is one of the most infamous Mercedes cars ever made. It is the car used by Adolf Hitler during his most important parades. Hitler's close entourage, collaborators, and even foreign allies would also use the 770K W150 as their car of choice. The ultra-luxurious limousine comes with a 7.7L inline-eight unit that pumps out 150 hp at 2,800 rpm. Needless to say, 770K W150 does not come cheap, regardless of their condition.

Pricing

Classic.com lists the Mercedes-Benz 770 as having an average cost of $2.6m.

7 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

Mercedes-Benz had six years to try out new technology during the war. During the postwar era, the German carmaker applied what it had learned to more peaceful purposes. Pre-war Mercedes-Benz cars were mind-blowing, but what came after was simply out of this world. One of the most memorable Mercedes-Benz cars from that era remains the 300 SL Gullwing.

Specs

The 300SL Gullwing is one of the most beautiful German cars of the '50s. On top of being absolutely stunning, the 300SL Gullwing used to be the fastest production car upon its release in 1954. The 3.0-liter M198 straight-six powerplant makes 240 hp at 6,100 rpm and 217 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This allows the 300SL to reach a top speed of 161 mph.

Pricing

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing costs an average of $1.5 million, according to Classic.com.

RELATED: 10 Times German Manufacturers Built Cars That Became Cult-Classics

6 1963 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine

Maybach is synonymous with luxury. Not just the typical definition of luxury. The cars are so luxurious that they cost a lot more than regular high-end Mercedes-Benz cars. When taking a look at the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S V12, it is easy to see why Maybach is a couple of notches above the already impressive S 500. Back in the day, the equivalent of today's Maybach cars was Mercedes-Benz badged.

Specs

Popular among several dictators including Saddam Hussein, Mao Zedong, and Kim Jong-il, the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine tends to attract leaders ruling with iron fists. The 6.3-liter M100 V8 develops 247 hp at 4,000 rpm and 368 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, but what really attracts its buyers is the level of luxury Mercedes included in the 600. The 600 is the last ultra-luxurious car sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand. Following limousines were Maybach-badged vehicles.

Pricing

Per Classic.com, a Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine would cost a buyer an average of $465,289.

5 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda

American car companies offered a convertible version of their most popular vehicles. Usually produced in low numbers, these convertibles have greatly appreciated in value. The same phenomenon has been widely noticed across the Atlantic Ocean. Mercedes-Benz released a fair amount of convertibles over the years. Even if not all of them are not worth millions of dollars today, they remain incredible.

Specs

Often mistaken for the 280 SL W111 and W112, the 280SL W113 is a beautiful two-door coupe from the hey-days of the automotive industry. The 280 SL comes at best with a 2.8-liter M130 inline-six rated at 168 hp at 5,750 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm. Though mass-produced, the 280SL still became a collectible that is worth its weight in gold.

Pricing

The average market price for the Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda is $95,472.

4 1979 Mercedes-Benz 280 GE

It is often believed that BMW kicked off the SUV craze when it launched the X5. While it is fair to say that the Bavarian automaker released the first modern SUV made by a non-off-road oriented automaker, BMW only rode Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz's coattails. Mercedes-Benz released its very first SUV during the late '70s. The G-Class was born.

Specs

Mercedes-Benz's very first SUV set the tone for one of the most exclusive SUVs in the world. The jaw-dropping 2022 Brabus Rocket G 900 originates from the 1979 280 GE. Upon its release, Mercedes-Benz equipped the SUV with a sluggish 2.8-liter M110.994 inline-six engine rated at 156 hp at 5,250 rpm and 167 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. Even if the first G-Class was not stellar, it paved the way for generations of amazing SUVs.

Pricing

Data from Hagerty indicates that the Mercedes-Benz 280 GE costs at least $7,613, with the most expensive model going for $118,580.

RELATED: 10 German Classic Cars Known For Precision Engineering

3 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II

Starting in the early '80s, German automakers started producing one mean sports car after another. BMW set the tone with the M3 E30. Around the same time, Audi released the Audi Sport Quattro. Mercedes-Benz was not going to sit back and watch the competition win on and off the track. As a result, Mercedes-Benz gave some of its mass-produced cars a steroid shot.

Specs

Created as a homologation car, the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II is bonkers. Including a myriad of DTM performance parts, the Evolution II was primarily built to bully the competition on and off the track. Underneath the hood sits a naturally aspirated 2.5L M102 four-cylinder engine tuned by Cosworth and rated at 232 hp at 7,200 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. That is an insane amount of power out of a four-cylinder engine from the 1990s.

Pricing

The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II has an average used market value of $276,977.

2 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL AMG

During the early '90s, American sports cars were simply disappointing. Both the Mustang and the Camaro looked awful and featured grossly underpowered engines. The Mustang SVT Cobra featured a V8 rated at 235 hp. The Camaro Z8 had an LT1 that produces 275 hp. Needless to say, they were far from being as fast, and consequently valuable, as the beast coming out of Germany.

Specs

This mean machine from the early '90s is quite interesting. Sold when AMG and Mercedes-Benz were still separate entities, the 500 SL AMG is worth looking into. Equipped with a 6.0L V8 powerplant developing 369 hp at 5,250 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, the 500SL AMG was a true monster back in the early 1990s.

Pricing

On average, the Mercedes-Benz 500SL AMG costs $65,276.

RELATED: 10 German Performance Cars That Are Virtually Indestructible

1 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 CE AMG

As flabbergasted as it may sound, German carmakers were no longer threatened by domestic sports cars by the time the 1990s came around. German car companies were mostly focusing on outperforming vehicles coming out of Japan. Instead of simply striking back, the Germans were making sure to offer vehicles that would be instant classics.

Specs

Dubbed "The Hammer," the 300 CE AMG was one of the meanest Mercedes-Benz cars of the early '90s. Recognizable thanks to its wider shoulders, the Hammer comes with a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V8 that cranks out 375 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The Hammer is among the German performance cars gearheads would buy over any muscle car. In fact, the Hammer is so rare that it is practically impossible to find any to buy.

Pricing

Considering a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 CE 6.0 AMG 'Hammer' sold for $266,954 in 2019, we expect the performance car to cost anywhere between that and $800,000 in the current market if the price of this 1998 model is any indication.