One might think that coupes, convertibles or open touring cars were at all time derivatives from the sedans. Partially that is right. But, as we've learned from the 300SL, the racing and sport cars were another source of creativity for development of roadsters or sport-tourers.

The very first motor vehicles might also be called "cabriolets", applying modern terminology of course. The removable sunroof, making the "cabriolet" a real convertible, was a big progress at that time. And it also was good for a rainy day !

Benz 10, 35 PS, 1925. Grandmother's dream.

To drive a convertible was and is up to now something like a lasting adventure for the real motor fan.

Convertibles of the '30s.

Sporty style and exclusivity are somelike ideally joined in this kind of leisure-time activity. Not to forget "representation", although one might expect that real "representants" must have a chauffeur and don't like the risk of security of an open car after the Kennedy assassination. They fafour the armoured black sedans.

"Open or closed", hence, remains an alternative for the "petty bourgeois" of the affluent society. "Open and also closed", so the credo of a convertible sounds. The consequence is (not necessarily but in most cases) "two doors only". If two doors then why four seats ? We relatively easy ended up with the "SL" ! If we sum in addition to it "sporty driving", the demand for a powerful engine seems to be naturally. But max speed in an open car ? Put a hard-top on, and you have your sport tourer, your "SLC". Max speed you don't want to go having your family with you, right ? So two seats are enough, the more two doors. For the vacation together with all the kids a sedan is better suited. Now God knows what sence makes a 4-seat coupe ? ... Solely one fact seems to be plausible: You can not afford several cars, you need the "all in one" model to satisfy your tremendous amount of wishes and dreams !!! And so it is more than wonderful that one can find such cars all along in the middle-class.

Do you feel now what step was done with the SEC in 1981 ?

And what's the summary ? The coupe became to be "in" for representation of an exclusive life style and for satisfaction of individual yearnings. It is the most practical solution. Stretch the SL to win place for four seats in an SLC, remember that the SEb Coupe still belonged to the upper class, keep in mind the level and design of the middle-class coupes and choose a powerful engine ... combine and differentiate ... the result is the SEC with its V8 ! And the "SEC Cabriolet" remained for the tuner.

In the 1980s an era found its finale for Daimler-Benz with the W/V/C 126. More classics is hardly possible. The fully developed Ponton form of the sedans and the stylistic elegance of the SEC mark the culmination of classical car design. It´s another time today ...