The forgotten station wagon from Liège – or how the Mercedes-Benz "Universal" paved the way for the Model T.

In August 1966 Mercedes-Benz included the 230 S "Universal" in its model range. The vehicle was based on the then-current luxury sedan of the W 111 series, better known as the "tailfin." It was a remarkable step for a manufacturer that had long focused on sedans. For the "Universal" combined the comfort and solidity of a Mercedes-Benz sedan with the practical characteristics of a station wagon. However, the vehicle was not produced by Mercedes-Benz itself. The conversion was undertaken by the Belgian company IMA (Industrie Meccaniche Automobili) in Liège. There, since the early 1960s, various wagon versions of Mercedes models had already been produced. What was new now was that Mercedes-Benz officially integrated these vehicles into its distribution program.

Kombis waren „Handwerkerfahrzeuge“

For the time, that was quite unusual. Station wagons in the 1960s were mainly regarded as commercial vehicles for tradespeople, authorities, or larger families. They were utilitarian, but hardly prestigious. Mercedes recognized early that behind the concept there was more than just extra storage space. The 230 S "Universal" offered exactly what many customers were looking for: a representative vehicle with high everyday practicality. Behind the generous tailgate, a loading compartment was created that offered significantly more space than the classic sedan. At the same time, the driving comfort for which the brand was known remained intact.

From today's perspective, the concept seems self-evident. In the mid-1960s, however, it was an experiment. Accordingly, the production period remained relatively short. The 230 S "Universal" was produced only until 1968. The wagon versions of the smaller W-110 series enjoyed greater success. The models 200 D, 200 and 230 were also offered as "Universal" and found interest especially among commercial customers.

Not yet as a taxi

Here, in particular, an interesting connection to the taxi trade emerges. In the 1960s, sedans dominated the street scene at German taxi stands. The classic Mercedes diesel was regarded as the epitome of a taxi vehicle. But even then there were areas of operation where a station wagon would have offered advantages: airport transfers, courier trips, hotel shuttles, or the transportation of larger luggage quantities. In fact, wagons were later to play an important role precisely in these areas. When Mercedes-Benz presented the first in-house T-model in 1977, the body style quickly became a popular alternative for taxi operators. Especially in rural areas, for hospital runs or in hotel transport, operators valued the combination of passenger-car comfort and increased loading volume.