You always know what you are going to get with Mercedes - the higher end of the market but excellent quality and reliability. And if you look closely, cheap, second hand merecedes vans are availalbe
Mercedes vans were introduced into the market about 50 years ago and have maintained a unique image in the market, making them best-sellers. The Sprinter model has for instance sold 1.3 vehicles. A majority of these vans have been sold in Europe. Within the period of 50 years that these vans have been in the market, about 4.5 million vans were built. The first model to be made in this category of vans was L 319 which appeared in the autumn IAA show of that year.
The Hanomang vehicle was the basis of the model series that followed the successful L 319 model. Another model which is manufactured in Spain is MB 100 D. The L 319 model appeared in the market as a need to modernize the available heavy and light trucks became urgent. Series production started the following year. It had the frame of Ladder-type which made it fit in with the pick-up versions of the day. It had a distinctive appeal in terms of its appearance. It was easier to access the cab because of the oval grill and the fact that the front axle was in a forward position.
Another model, L 406 D, succeeded the pioneer L319 model. It had a higher capacity than its predecessor. In order to save some space, the engine slightly extended into the cab so that some space could be saved. The front axle extended into the forward position, a feature inherited from its predecessor.
The new best-seller from this company was introduced in 1977. The new model had a slightly new appearance and bore the label T1 or sometimes TN. This abbreviation meant “Transporter neu” which in English means “new van”. This is the time that these vans began spotting the firmly established principles of three stars. The initial design of these vehicles was used to manufacture a wide range of models of the van variety. The 1977 van also saw new styles emerge in terms of distinctiveness of design and relevance to business needs in the market.
The year 1987 saw the van range increased to encompass MB 100 D which was a new and stylishly compact van of unmatched capabilities. This model was the main technological attraction in a model show which was staged in 1994 after undergoing some major improvements. It was the first vehicle to hit the road using the power of a fuel cell. Other models of the Mercedes make being rolled out today are Vito, Sprinter and Viano MPV, all of which are manufactured in Germany, Spain, Argentina and USA among other countries.
