1956

Event16

Successful rally season in the 300 SL

Successful rally season in the 300 SL

24 - 28 February 1956
Walter Schock and Rolf Moll in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL capture overall victory in the Rallye del Sestrière. Two months la...

New passenger car models with the star

New passenger car models with the star

4 May 1956
The first 563 units of the new 190 (W 121), 219 (W 105) and 220 S (W 180) passenger car models leave the Sindelfingen pl...

First win of the season for Paul O'Shea

20 May 1956
Paul O'Shea, who a year earlier won the National Sports Car Championship for Class D production cars staged by the Sport...

Mercedes-Benz 300: special version for the German Chancellor

Mercedes-Benz 300: special version for the German Chancellor

20 June 1956
The 300 model is offered as an extended special version with a 100 mm longer wheelbase and 140 mm more legroom in the r...

New Supervisory Board Presidium

25 June 1956
Friedrich Flick becomes First Deputy Chairman and Herbert Quandt Second Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Toget...

Stylish and elegant: 220 S Convertible

Stylish and elegant: 220 S Convertible

July 1956
Sindelfingen begins series production of the 220 S Convertible (W 180), presented in September 1955 at the Frankfurt Mot...

First LG 315 produced at the Gaggenau plant

July 1956
The first LG 315 is produced at the Mercedes-Benz Gaggenau plant. The cross-country capable 5-tonne truck was developed...

300 SL: victory in Europe's toughest rally

300 SL: victory in Europe's toughest rally

29 August - 2 September 1956
A Mercedes-Benz 300 SL again takes first place in the toughest rally on the European contient, the Liège – Rome – Liège...

30 hp Unimog makes its debut

30 hp Unimog makes its debut

9 - 16 September 1956
The new 411 series, which replaces the 401 and 402 series, debuts at the German Agricultural Society (DLG) show in Hano...

Assembly plant in Brazil officially opened

Assembly plant in Brazil officially opened

28 September 1956
Three years after the official founding of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil, the São Bernardo do Campo plant is dedicated in the...

L 319 and O 319: new panel van, pickup and minibus variants

L 319 and O 319: new panel van, pickup and minibus variants

September 1956
Production begins of the L 319 light van – available as a panel van and pickup – at the Sindelfingen plant. The O 319 mi...

Five-day week with 45 working hours

Five-day week with 45 working hours

1 October 1956
The five-day 45-hour week is introduced for wage and salary earners in the metalworking industry.

Exclusive 220 S Coupé debuts in Paris

Exclusive 220 S Coupé debuts in Paris

4 - 14 October 1956
The 220 S Coupé, a closed-body two-door car based on the 220 S Convertible and fitted with a hard coupé roof, debuts at...

L 326 heavy-duty truck expands model range

L 326 heavy-duty truck expands model range

November 1956
The L 326 heavy-duty truck adds a 200 hp / 147 kW commercial vehicle to the Mercedes-Benz model range for the first time...

O'Shea again successful in the USA

O'Shea again successful in the USA

28 December 1956
The Sports Car Club of America announces the standings in the National Sports Car Championship. Last year's winner Paul...

Exports to 127 countries

Exports to 127 countries

31 December 1956
The foreign sales of Daimler-Benz AG reach DM 618.6 million, a 21 % increase over the previous year, and equivalent to 3...