Although the first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles weren't produced until 1926, the company traces its origins to Karl Benz's 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which is widely regarded as the world's first production automobile.

The Mercedes-Benz logo consists of a simple three-pointed star that represents the company's domination of land, air, and sea.

The Mercedes-Benz F200 "Imagination" coupe featured a drive-by-joystick design that could be toggled between the driver and passenger.

Karl Benz patented his three-wheeled, petrol-powered Motorwagen in 1886, which his wife Bertha Benz proceeded to take on a 120-mile tour through Germany without his knowledge.

Jellinek was a businessman and marketing strategist who sold "horseless" Daimler automobiles to the most influential members of society, including U.S. billionaires Rockefeller, Astor, Morgan and Taylor. He was responsible for creating the company trademark when he named the 1901 Mercedes 35 hp after his daughter Mercedes.

The 770 was introduced in 1930 as the successor to the Mercedes-Benz Typ 630. These high-priced cars were mainly used by governments as state vehicles. Adolf Hitler, Emperor Hirohito and Pope Pius XI were among the company's customers.

It was powered by a 954cc single-piston, four-stroke engine that boasted a blistering-for-that-time 0.9 hp.

The Mixte was actually developed as a race car in 1906, with a reported top speed of 75 mph. It had a gas engine in front with a dynamo that supplied spark for two electric motors in the rear hubs.

The 300 SL was first produced as a coupe from 1954 to 1957 with gullwing doors and then from 1957 to 1963 as a roadster. It was voted the "sports car of the century" in 1999.

With the F300 Life Jet, Mercedes wanted to combine the best of both worlds: the comfort of a car with the agility of a motorcycle. The F300 took the naturally aspirated four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine of the A-Class, but rather than sending the 102 hp (75 kW) to the two front wheels, it channeled the power to a single rear wheel.