The 1980s were not times of SUVs or minivans. If you had three children, two grandparents, and a large dog, your only option was a van or booking an appointment at the Mercedes-Benz dealership. There, discreetly, they would offer you the E-Class Pullman, a stretched sedan with six doors and eight seats built with the help of coachbuilders Binz. It was not a car; it was a lounge on wheels that was also sold in Spain.
The engineering of stretching a chassis without losing composure 🛠️
The base was the W124, a robust model, but Binz stretched the body to exceed five and a half meters. The structure was reinforced at the central pillar to maintain torsional rigidity, and the rear suspension was recalibrated with firmer springs to support the extra weight of passengers and luggage. The trunk remained generous, even with the third row of seats in place. All this without giving up the diesel or gasoline mechanics of the era, with smooth power delivery and power steering that concealed the true dimensions. An exercise in pragmatism on wheels.
When the SUV did not exist, the Pullman was the king of the trip to the village 👑
Now anyone can buy a seven-seat SUV and park at a shopping mall. In the 80s, if you wanted to fit eight people in a car, the Pullman was the only legal way. Of course, when it came to parking, you needed a special permit or a good relationship with the corner guard. People complained about reversing, but no one complained about the legroom. That was a lounge, not a compact car. Today SUVs do the same, but without the elegance of opening six doors so grandma can get out on her side. Progress, they say.