Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW
They once went to the edge of a cliff
What are the three vehicles that brought the brand to life?
Automobile brands such as Ford and Mercedes-Benz export vehicles worldwide. They are recognized for their excellent performance but were on the verge of quitting the business due to financial difficulties. It is said that there were vehicles that made a living for the company in this situation.
The vehicles that helped revive an automobile brand going through a crisis and created its current image can be said to be the most significant contributors to the brand’s growth.
Ford 1949 model, with over 100,000 orders
With the end of World War II, the airplanes, tanks, military trucks, and jeeps used during the war were no longer needed. Ford mainly supplied military supplies and suffered significant financial difficulties as soon as the battle ended. Ford also produced vehicles for soldiers returning home, but they did not sell well because they were all outdated cars based on pre-war designs.
When Henry Ford II, the grandson of Ford’s founder, became president of the company in 1945 at 28, he created a team of engineers and business analysts. That team developed the Ford 1949 from a concept car to a production model in just 19 months. It is said that on the day the Ford 1949 was first unveiled in June 1948, more than 100,000 orders were received. Afterward, 1.12 million units were produced, making huge profits, and the company could rebuild.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL with a unique design
Classic design and exceptional performance
Mercedes-Benz was experiencing a different problem than Ford. When World War II broke out, many factories were destroyed by bombers, so many factories had to be rebuilt to return to mass production. Mercedes-Benz began designing luxury vehicles for the rich and famous to raise money to build a factory. In this way, the uniquely designed Mercedes 300SL was born.
Although its exterior was rooted in the design of the 1930s, it boasted tremendous performance thanks to its fuel injection engine and racing technology that allowed it to run up to 217 km/h (135 mph). In 1954, the 300SL was a revolution for people and made Mercedes-Benz recognized as a luxury automobile brand.
BMW faced financial difficulties in 1950
BMW’s first monocoque 700
Like other automobile brands, BMW suffered great financial difficulties in the 1950s after the end of World War II. Germany was divided into East and West, and BMW’s management was so difficult that an American automaker almost acquired it
However, the company was able to rebuild with the launch of the 700 in 1959. In particular, BMW’s 700 was groundbreaking in that it was the brand’s first monocoque structure vehicle, and although it was initially released as a coupe model, a sedan model was soon launched as well. It is said that approximately 15,4557 units were sold at the time and that a rear-mounted 697cc flat twin engine powered it. BMW’s sophisticated coupes and sedans as we know them today can be said to have originated from that vehicle.
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