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Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Mercedes-Benz offered a variety of vehicle models where the designation primarily characterized chassis and engine; for these a variety of body variants were then available ex factory, often with up to ten or more different designs. At the same time, it was the age of the coachbuilder in automotive design, with many owners having customized bodies fitted to a chassis to meet their own specifications. Eventually the companyБЂ™s own БЂњSindelfingenbodyБЂ« gained general acceptance. It reflected not only the stylistic self-assurance of the vehicle owners, but also of the Mercedes-Benz designers БЂ" those БЂ

The БЂњSindelfingen bodyБЂ« prevails

Throughout its history Mercedes-Benz has offered coupes in a variety of designs. The 10 hp Benz Mylord coupe of 1901, for example, still bore close resemblance to the horse-drawn carriage, with a seat for the driver open to the elements. One not uncommon feature for the day was the folding roof above the passenger seats, which could be opened in good weather to enhance enjoyment of the journey БЂ" and which at a top speed of 35 to 40 km/h detracted only minimally from the elegance of the Mylord coupeБЂ™s appearance.

Coupes by Mercedes-Benz and predecessor brands carry the self-image of this exceptional vehicle type in every detail БЂ" right through to the new Mercedes-Benz CLC, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008. Although a member of the compact class, the vehicle demonstrates the size and spaciousness befitting a coupe. It fits comfortably into the family of other Mercedes-Benz coupes and perfectly rounds off the brand range. The CLC demonstrates new class. At the same time it is rooted in the brandБЂ™s rich coupe heritage, even though it has БЂњonlyБЂ« one direct sports coupe predecessor.

Nowadays, owning a coupe and enjoying utility value are no longer mutually exclusive aspirations. Although many coupe enthusiasts would contest the fact, even in a coupe a spacious trunk, folding rear seat bench and ski bag are popular equipment features. After all, the body does not reveal externally the paraphernalia of modern leisure activities that now also vie for space alongside the passengers.

The term coupe has evolved and grown over the decades. Early coupes, for example, generally only had room for two people; since the 1950s, however, they have more usually had four seats. But the body incorporates a number of basic features that persist to this day. A coupe generally has very low, flowing lines which create a stretched silhouette. It often dispenses with the B pillar altogether, and the C pillar slopes gently into the tail. The roof is generally shorter than in the case of a sedan, and curved at the rear. The side windows are usually frameless.

Flowing lines for a dynamic appearance

The early automobiles borrowed heavily from various styles of horse-drawn carriage. The coupe retained a strong focus essentially on two persons traveling in style, and to this day it typifies an exclusive form of transportation. Use of a coachman eventually gave way to owners who preferred to take control of their vehicle themselves; todayБЂ™s coupes are also driver-oriented. So would it be entirely wrong to suggest that one decides upon a coupe rather as one might choose an elegant coat БЂ" with the aim of wearing it for comfort and self-confidence?

The coupe is an exclusive body design. This was true even in the days of the horse-drawn carriage, when the coupe БЂ" presumably so-called because it resembled a four-seater carriage with its front end cut-off (French: БЂњcoupц©БЂ«) БЂ" offered two seats in the comfort of the cab with the coachman seated up front on the open box seat. People who chose this mode of travel clearly liked to demonstrate a sense style and individuality.

Posted October 7, 2008 At 8:00 AM CST by C. Danielson

eMercedesBenz Feature:  Coupes By Mercedes-Benz

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