MERCEDES BENZ CL-Klasse and predecessors Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

2010 - 2013

Mercedes-Benz introduced a facelifted version of its CL-Class at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed, raising the bar for high-performance, luxurious coupes. The German automaker launched the third generation of the CL in 2006 at the Paris Motor Show as a personal luxury coupe. It was more than a GT in terms of luxury but didn't lack in the performance department either. Yet, it wasn't exactly a sports car. With the updated version, the automaker enhanced the car's look and improved the engine lineup to comply with the Euro 5 emission standards. Unlike its more potent AM...

2006 - 2010

The 2006 Mercedes-Benz CL continued the great line of Gran Tourer vehicles from the German premium car-maker. It was offered only with gasoline engines. The 2006 CL was a bit longer than its predecessor, but it had a lot more to offer. From the interior room and bigger trunk to the advanced suspension and more powerful engines, everything was changed. It was the result of six years of development. A long hood, curved greenhouse, and no B-pillars were some of the features of the Mercedes-Benz CL. It kept that from its predecessor and enhanced them in every way. With a better aerodynamic...

2002 - 2006

After three years on the market, the CL lineup from the German premium automaker Mercedes-Benz went through a facelift that improved it in more areas. By 2002 standards, the refreshed version of the CL was more than people could ever dream of having in their cars. Features such as fiber-optics sound systems, bi-Xenon headlights, and adaptive suspensions were things only envisioned on some concept cars from that era. And yet, the three-pointed-star brand brought them on the market and offered them to the public, for a hefty fee, of course. With its quad-headlights front fascia and the t...

1999 - 2002

Not only have the blokes over at Mercedes-Benz practically invented the coupe-class but they have endowed it with outrageous features. Such is the case with the CL, especially the 600 model, built on an S-Klasse sourced platform. Smaller and leaner, this particular model is powered by a V12 which not only holds you in your seat when throttled but also delivers a painstaking punch to your internal organs. Powerful and refined with a finely crafted interior emphasized by multiple steering wheel, console and door wood-insertions, the CL is a must-have speeding beauty. It even comes with a pneum...

1996 - 1998

In its pursuit to offer a coupe version for its flagship model, the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz struggled to find a proper name and, in 1996, it came up with the CL designation. The 1996 CL was more of a facelift for the SEC model, that was built since 1992. Both the SEC and the CL shared the same modified platform from the W140 S-Class sedan. It was built more like a grand tourer, with four rear seats and comfortable suspension. The CL didn't look like a sports car. It was tall, wide, and with a big front fascia. It borrowed some styling principles from the S-Class. On the side, the f...

1992 - 1996

The C140 is the result of avantgarde thinking and costly development that is said to have pulled close to $1 billion out of the MB vault. However, the new S line-up exceeded expectations and became immensely successful. Ownership of such a car is a privilege due to small production volume comprising some 20,000 units compared to number registered by the sedan which was built in nearly half a million units. Engineering breakthroughs led to fitting both the coupe and saloon with modern suspension systems (double wishbone front axle/ multi-link rear) and ESP. Both cars were avaialble with a cho...

1981 - 1992

Mercedes-Benz launched the 380 SEC and 500 SEC at the 1981 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was the successor of the previous SLS range, and it was based on the same platform with the S-Class W126. With a high-demand for personal luxury coupes, Mercedes-Benz offered a new generation of S-Class coupe in the form of the SEC models, in 1981. Its success was so big that the car-maker decided to make it until 1992. The SEC was facelifted in 1984. From the outside, the sleek coupe line was inspired by the four-door sedan version, but it didn't carry too many body panels from that. The front fas...

1972 - 1981

Mercedes-Benz introduced the SLC at the 1971 Paris Motor Show as a fixed-roof version for the SL Roadster R107. While the carmaker already offered a removable hardtop for the SL roadster, the customers demanded a two-door version. Despite having a closed-body construction, it wasn't stiffer than its roadster brother, but it was a personal luxury coupe that carried over the legacy of the SL300 "Gullwing" model. Unlike its open-top sibling, it featured a longer wheelbase. At the front, it featured the same front fascia with a black grille that sported the big three-pointed...

1965 - 1965

After the Mercedes-Benz 600 Laundaulet built in one unit for former racing driver Count von Berckheim in 1967, the 600 Coupe was the rarest W100 ever made. The 600 Coupe was built in only two original units and none of them were sold. They were offered as gifts for the former chief designer Rudolf Uhlenhaut and the other for Fritz Nallinger, former head of research and development department of the Mercedes. These were the only two vehicles built in 1965. These cars had a shorter wheelbase 22 cm (8.6“) than the SWB sedan. There was a custom-built third vehicle, which was transformed from ...

1961 - 1971

Part of the Fintail(Heckflosse) line-up, the coupes were released along the full-size sedan stablemates to increase market coverage. Large and luxurious, these vehicles were primarily tailored for the North American market, hence the name which came from the rear fintail-like adornments that are said to have been atrophied replicas of those found on the exagerrately finned American cars. However appealing the exterior may have been, the car's underpinnings were the true attraction with the advanced air-suspension system and crumple-zones that acted like buffers in the event of a crash a...

1961 - 1971

In 1961, Mercedes-Benz showed an open-top version of the 220 SEb sedan coupe. It was the successor of the 128 convertible, a model that was no longer produced since 1960. Unlike their predecessors, the W111 and the W112 were planned to be true four-seated vehicles. To get that, the car-maker used the same chassis from the sedan, with the same wheelbase. Unlike the sedan though, it didn't feature the same tailfins. The success of the car showed by the German car-maker, convinced the management that it will be a successful model. And it was. The headlights and the radiator grille we...

1956 - 1960

Asides from having assumed a new form due to the innovative unibody construction, Pontons were also upgraded thanks to a large number of engine and suspension tweaks. The previously popular independent suspension, comprising front coil springs and rear de Dion axle, introduced on the second Grosser series, was replaced with a contemporary front double wishbone with coil springs mated to a stabilizer bar setup and a rear swing axle with radius arms and coil springs ensemble. Among other technical aspects, steering was controlled through a recirculating ball system while braking was made thro...

1956 - 1960

The 1956 Mercedes-Benz 220 S and 220 SE Cabriolet are rare gems in automotive history. The German car-manufacturer built only 5731 of these, from which 1942 were the fuel-injected SE. Just two months after the last 220 A Convertible roll-out from the factory in 1955 and a 220 Convertible based on Type 220 A sedan was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It was built on a shortened chassis by 120 mm (4.7") when compared with the 220 S. But the vehicle shown was just a show and it didn't go into production. The model series that went into production in 1956 but was based instead...

1952 - 1958

In the early '50s, Europe was coming back from the debris left by WWII, and, despite anyone's beliefs, Mercedes-Benz introduced the stunning luxurious 300 Coupe at the 1951 Paris Motor Show. After the war, Mercedes-Benz started to build vehicles mainly for commercial vehicles, taxi companies, police, and authorities. In late 1951, though, it launched the luxurious 300 lineup, followed by the Coupe version in the same year, with sales in 1952. While the era of wide fenders and narrow engine compartments started to fade away, the German carmaker still relied on that design lang...

1952 - 1957

Mercedes-Benz tried to get back after WWII and still relied on some technologies developed before 1938, but it managed to bounce back. In late 1951, the German automaker introduced the stunning luxurious 300 Coupe and the 300 Cabriolet A at the 1951 Paris Motor Show. These were the most expensive cars on the market and aimed high at those looking for luxury vehicles and had deep pockets for them. While the era of wide fenders and narrow engine compartments started to fade away, the German carmaker still relied on that design language when it made the 300 Cabriolet. When compared to pre...