The Mercedes-Benz archives hold a unique treasure. There has long been an online archive for journalists and researchers. Since the beginning of the year, however, anyone and everyone can now browse the almost 130-year history of Mercedes-Benz on the new Public-M@RS online portal. And without registration and without any costs.
From the beginnings to the present day
"Fascinating history is made up of exciting stories. This is particularly true of the history of Daimler AG, which goes back to the invention of the automobile by Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler in 1886.
We want to involve the general public in this even more than before," says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Customer Center. "With Public-M@RS, we are therefore making information from our unique brand, company and technology history available as a comprehensive database."
Online archive now for everyone
The abbreviation "M@RS" stands for Multimedia Archive and Research System. Under this name, Mercedes-Benz Classic developed an Internet portal with information from the archives 15 years ago, in which registered specialist journalists and researchers, for example, can research details and background information on the diverse history of Daimler. This database was also the starting point for the development of the new Public-M@RS, which has been online since January 30, 2015.
Focus on passenger cars
The focus of the new portal in its first stage of development is on passenger cars. The corresponding vehicle portraits, technical data and illustrations are divided into five historical chapters (Benz & Cie. until 1926, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Mercedes until 1926, Mercedes-Benz from 1926 to 1945, Mercedes-Benz since 1946 and Maybach since 2002).
Within these chapters, vehicle classes and model series form the framework of the portal. In this way, information from the product history from the first automobiles of 1886 to the predecessor series of the current Mercedes-Benz models can be found quickly and transparently. This content is to be expanded in future to include further topics from the product and company history.
It all began with an order
The Mercedes-Benz Classic archives are one of the largest business archives in Europe and are unique in the automotive industry in terms of their scope. Officially, its history begins with Administrative Order No. 1145 issued by the then Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft in 1936: it commissions engineer Max Rauck to "collect and sift through our historical written and photographic material for the purpose of setting up and maintaining a historical archive". The new online portal Public-M@RS now provides public access to the results of the work of Rauck and his successors.
Click here to go to the Mercedes-Benz Public-M@RS: www.mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com.