W116 1973 production line video

[Tyler S]

Not the Pagoda but only 2 years after its production ended. A lot of the processes were carried over and can be seen in this video.

https://youtu.be/K_NKoMF3k38

[WRe]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing!
...WRe

[Pawel66]

Cool!

I liked the most the "hammering" down in place by hand (dash, tail lamp, door trim, wheel hub cap) - I cannot imagine anything like it shown on manufacturing footage today...

[FGN59]

Concur with Pawel, a lot of ‘manual’ stuff done with obvious pride (although the video might have been staged a little).

I liked the control panel for the ‘automatic’ welding machine, that lights up like a Christmas tree, blinking on and off depending on the stage of production.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for sharing! Having taken a tour at the factory just outside Stuttgart and comparing this video is a great comparison as to how many tasks have now been automated by robots. Taking a factory tour when in Germany is a must. I was lucky to attend a tour with people that picked up there new Benz at the factory. One needed to make reservation, the lady was kind enough to squeeze me into the group since I came from Canada. It was quite an experience to see all those robots at work.

Dieter 

[Pawel66]

Here - same car, different times:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMClPo_0kqg

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks for sharing Pawel! Great video, next best thing to the actual factory tour.

Dieter

[FGN59]

Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t see the same pride as in the 70’s. Seriousness, concern, in some cases deep concentration, but not the same satisfaction and pride?

[Pawel66]

What about this nice tender touch of a bonnet after fitting the star?

Yes, I know - that was most likely prompted by the PR guys.