In 1972, the German car-maker launched the W116 series which replaced the previous W108/109 models.
It was launched with 6 and 8 cylinders engines.

The Watergate scandal started, a gallon of gasoline was 55 cents and the average income per year in the U.S. was USD 11.800 and Bobby Fischer became World Chess Champion. In September that year, the first vehicle to receive the name “Mercedes-Benz S-Class” was launched and become a champion in its class. The horizontal headlights were brought in that class after the 1971 SL model.

The designer was Friedrich Geiger, the man responsible for the design of famous models such as the Mercedes-Benz 500K and 300 SL “Gullwing”. For the new S-Class, there were developed cowl panels at the A-pillars, serving as water-shield gutters. Further safety details were wide wraparound direction indicators, well visible also from the side. In addition, broad rear lamps with ribbed surface profile proved to be very insusceptible to dirt.

Inside, there was plenty of room for five passengers, and, for the long-wheelbase, there was even more for the rear passengers. The dashboard featured three round dials. In the middle, there was the speedometer and on the left, there were three gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. The right dial was an analog clock. On the center console there were the sliders for the climate control unit and, if installed, a radio-telephone.

The W116 featured independent suspension on both axles and it had important new safety features such as antilock system (ALS) developed with Bosch. For the engine, the top model was the 6.9-liter V8 unit with a mechanical injection that offered 286 hp and 549 Nm (405 lb-ft) of torque.