The immediate post-war era was marked by rebuilding the trucking industry. In the mid-fifties, however, Germany's first federal transport minister Hans-Christoph Seebohm enacted a number of laws promoting the Bundesbahn at the expense of the trucking industry. Severe weight and dimension restrictions were particularly harmful to export-dependent Mercedes-Benz, as they had to develop duplicate truck lineups - one for export, and one for the restricted German market.[20] These restrictions were eased beginning in 1960, leaving Mercedes-Benz free to focus their efforts on a unified lineup once again.
The nomenclature: In 1954 the old four-digit model series designation (indicated the payload in kilograms), was replaced by a three-digit model series designation, which basically corresponded to Mercedes-Benz internal model designations (in-house design codes). This nomenclature have been used for almost 10 years, from 1954 till 1963.
A cab-over-engine versions of most of the trucks were also available from 1954. For example, LP4500[33] (1954) and LP315[34] (1955). However, there was only a single model which existed only as a cab-over-engine version, "the Millipede" (LP 333).
Cab-over-engine versions (LP) of most of the trucks were also available; the cabins were built by Wackenhut until the introduction of the "cubic" cab LP-series.
The nomenclature: In 1963 for simplification a new index system was introduced: a four-digit model series designation, where the first one or two first digits indicate the rounded GVW in tones, and the last two figures - the engine power to tens of horsepower. This index system is in use until now.
3rd generation (OM352 and OM 360 engines), 1967–1988
LP versions - see below.
Years
Internal designations (BM)
Sales designations
Engine
N cylinders-volume
Horsepower
GVW
Payload
1968–1988
353
L 911 B
OM 352
6-5675
110 HP
9 t
5 t
358
L 1113 B
OM 352
6-5675
130 HP
11 t
7 t
1967–1984
1969–1977
352
L 1313
L 1813 (6x4)
OM 352
6-5675
130 HP
13 t
18 t
8.5 t
?
1971–1976
360
L 1513
L 1517
L 1519
L 1817 (6x4)
L 1819 (6x4)
OM 352
OM 360
OM 360
OM 360
OM 360
6-5675
6-8720
6-8720
6-8720
6-8720
130 HP
170 HP
192 HP
170 HP
170 HP
14.8 t
14.8 t
14.8 t
18 t
18 t
9.5 t
9.5 t
9.5 t
?
?
Kurzhauber with longer hood (1959-1988)
The cab-over-engine versions (LP) of most of the trucks were also available.
See the main article: Mercedes-Benz NG (Neue Generation)
New Generation (1974–1988)
1st generation (NG74)
Years
Internal designations (BM)
Sales designations
Engine
Horsepower
GVW
1974–1984
380
1013, 1017, 1019
OM 352, OM 401
130-190 HP
10 t
381
1213, 1217, 1219
OM 352, OM 401
130-190 HP
12 t
383
1413, 1417, 1419, 1424
OM 352, OM 401, OM 402
130-240 HP
14 t
385
1613, 1617, 1619, 1624, 2219, 2224
OM 352, OM 401, OM 402
130-240 HP
16 t, 22 t
387
1626, 1632, 1719, 1732
OM 401, OM 402
260-320 HP
16 t, 17 t
389
1919, 1926, 1932
OM 401, OM 402
190-320 HP
19 t
391
2026 S, 2032 S
OM 402, OM 403
260-320 HP
20 t
393
2226, 2232
OM 402, OM 403
260-320 HP
22 t
395
2626, 2632
OM 402, OM 403
260-320 HP
26 t
2nd and 3rd generations (NG80, 1980–1985 and NG85, 1985–1988)
Years
Internal designations (BM)
Sales designations
Engine
Horsepower
GVW
1980–1988
615
1214, 1217, 1220, 1222, 1225
OM 362, OM 366, OM 421
OM 442
140-250 HP
12 t
616
1414, 1417, 1419, 1420, 1422, 1425
OM 362, OM 366 OM 421
OM 442
140-250 HP
14 t
617
1614, 1617, 1619, 1620, 1622, 1625
OM 362, OM 366, OM 421
OM 442
140-250 HP
16 t
619
2219, 2220, 2222, 2225
OM 362, OM 366, OM 421
OM 442
190-250 HP
22 t
620
1628, 1633, 1635, 1636, 1638, 1644
OM 421, OM 422, OM 423
OM 441, OM 442, OM 443
280-440 HP
16 t
621
1922, 1928, 1933, 1936, 1938
OM 421, OM 422, OM 423
OM 441, OM 442, OM 443
220-380 HP
19 t
622
2028 LS, 2033 LS, 2036 LS
OM 422
280-360 HP
20 t
623
2228, 2233, 2236, 2238, 2628, 2636
2638, 3028, 3033, 3036, 3038, 3333
OM 422
280-330 HP
22 t, 26 t, 30 t, 33 t
624
2628, 2633, 2636, 2638, 3328, 3333
3336
OM 422
280-360 HP
26 t, 33 t
625
3850
OM 423
500 HP
38 t
1990s
Mercedes-Benz SK (Schwere Klasse)
Mercedes-Benz MB700 (coe)
Mercedes-Benz MB800 (Built by Mercedes-Benz Türk since 1996, this five-ton cab-over truck uses an Indonesian cabin, a Brazilian engine, and a Spanish transmission)[39]
2000s
Mercedes-Benz Atego - light truck from 7 to 16 tonnes
Mercedes-Benz Axor - mid-sized truck from 18 to 26 tonnes in rigid and articulated
Mercedes-Benz Actros - heavy duty rigid and premium articulated — 18 to 25 tonnes
Mercedes-Benz Atron
Mercedes-Benz Econic - low floor version of the Axor for refuse and specialist applications
Mercedes-Benz Unimog - for special purpose applications and transport across extreme terrain
Mercedes-Benz Zetros - off-road truck for extreme operations
Mercedes-Benz internal model designations (in-house design codes) were always more or less just consecutively allocated design codes devoid of any deeper meaning. For the passenger cars they are so-called W-numbers, from German word Wagen (=car). For example, W202 is C-class, W220 is S-class etc. This system started in 1926 and the numbers are consecutive continued till now. From the 1970s letter W is used for saloons, while the other letters have been add for the different body types (f.e. W212 is E-class saloon, V212 is E-class limousine, S212 is E-class estate etc.). For the commercial vehicles for early decades letter L was used instead of letter W (German word Lastwagen means a truck). From the 1950s letter L was omitted, resulting in just 3 numbers code. Sometimes word Baumuster (model) or Baureihe (model line) was used, like Baumuster 352 (or in short BM352) or Baureihe 352 (in short BR.352). So, basically, with or without a letter(s) in front, there is unique 3-number code, which determine every Mercedes-Benz car. As for the trucks, 300-i.e. numbers were used till the 1980s to code Mercedes commercial vehicles, 600-i.e. numbers were used in the 1980s and 1990s, and 900-i.e. numbers have been used from the introduction of Sprinter (1995) and Actros (1996).
In 2011 the internal model designations system was a little bit reorganized:
Division.
9: Commercial vehicle
Generation
6: Actros/Antos/Arocs/Atego
56: Econic
Project
3: Actros/Antos On-road
4: Arocs Off-road
7: Atego
Kind of vehicle
0: Rigid
2: Dumper
3: Concrete mixer
Tractor
Axle configuration/tonnage/rear suspension
For example: 963403 means Commercial Actros/Antos concrete mixer On-road vehicle, 4x2 18t
↑Gräf, Holger (2017). "Willkommen im Wohlstand" [Welcome to Prosperity]. Historischer Kraftverkehr (in German). No. 3 (June/July). Cologne, Germany: Verlag Klaus Rabe. p. 10. ISSN1612-4170.