Mercedes-Benz introduced its first car with four-wheel disc brakes in 1963, the Mercedes-Benz 600, also known as the W100 or “Grosser Mercedes.”
The 600 was unveiled at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show as Mercedes-Benz’s new ultra-luxury flagship. Its braking system used discs on both axles, with power assistance and separate hydraulic circuits. The front discs used twin-caliper arrangements, an advanced specification for a very heavy, high-performance limousine.
The brakes were part of a broader engineering package that included a 6.3-litre fuel-injected V8, air suspension, power steering, and a four-speed automatic transmission. The car’s technology was designed for effortless high-speed travel despite its substantial size and weight.
The wording can cause confusion because other manufacturers had used four-wheel disc brakes earlier on racing or limited-production cars. In this Mercedes-Benz question, 1963 refers to the introduction of the feature on the production Mercedes-Benz 600. Series production began in 1964, after the 1963 premiere.