Karl Benz had been developing the Motorwagen piece by piece since the 1870s, ultimately bringing it to market in the mid-1880s.

Nearly 100 years later, a handful of Velies have survived and there is an Official Velie Register that keeps track of all extant cars.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the 260 D – internally designated the W 138 – at the Berlin Motor Show in the spring of 1936. It was a pullman landaulet model that could comfortably seat six that was ...