This film “Safety First” showcases Mercedes’ culture of safety, and safety innovations in the 1960’s. It was filmed in West Germany, primarily at the Unterturkheim test grounds. The film features the car company once known as Daimler-Benz, now rebranded under Mercedes-Benz. This prominent automotive manufacturing company was formed in 1926 after the merger between Benz & Cie and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. Later it was renamed DaimlerChrysler and then renamed Daimler AG again. Its headquarters is Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg. This film appears to date to the mid-to-late 1960s as it features the Mercedes-Benz W110, an entry level line of midsize cars first introduced in 1961 (note: probably the film dates to after 1968, as Mercedes’ first use of crash test dummies dates to that year). The film also shows some of the early auto crash tests which began in 1959 in southern Germany with Mercedes-Benz vehicles. During this time period the rate of deaths in accidents were considerably seeing as the number of automobiles on the road was much less than that of today.

A traffic officer at work (:31). Title: car trials at Daimler-Benz with footage of heavy traffic on highways or the autobahn (:34). A chart shows the increase in vehicles and accidents over the decades (1:12), statistics originally published by Cornell University (1:50). Frontal collision percentage rates are considerably high (1:55). A car flips into the air, landing on the roof (2:18). The vehicle shown to be used for a crash test appears to be the 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190 C or the 190 D (2:40). A special rocket is employed to give the test car a speed of 65 mph (3:03). The rocket is driven hydraulically (3:03). The camera zooms in on the crash test dummy (3:15). Instruments are set into the head and chest of the dummy testing the force of how the dummy is flung. A Honeywell Visicorder is installed in the vehicle (3:25). Speedometer attached to the rear wheels (3:50). The test car is connected to the control car by a cable (3:59). Countdown (4:16) and the rocket is set off (4:31). Slow motion footage shows how the front of the car buckles against the bus (4:43). The center of the vehicle; where the passengers are to sit, must be rigid. The door frames retain their shape (5:09). The locks are undamaged (5:23). The special safety lock noted here (5:30) had been patented by Daimler-Benz. How the locking pin operates (5:53). A car collides with a steel barrier at 60 mph (6:30). Buckling at the front of the car is noted (6:50). Another example tests the roof supports (7:18). The Coupe (8:15); made without center supports, is tested. The Saloon is put to the same test (8:15). The gas tank is pictured spinning behind it, spilling gas (8:37). A mechanic checks the interior and the crash test dummies (9:24). A third turn-over test is conducted (9:41). A rear end collision (10:47). In this demonstration the driver dummies are wearing safety belts (11:39). A diagram notes the frame and the sub-frame construction (12:23). The 1951 patent for Daimler-Benz’s (12:34) idea to have a rigid interior which diminishes towards the front and rear of the vehicle is shown. The crumpled rear (12:47). Another test shows the impact on the driver’s seat (12:59). The first test with a safety belt (13:10) and the second without (13:26). The third test involves a passenger with safety belt (13:55). The passenger without a belt collides with the dashboard (14:15). Another test is conducted with a dummy (14:38). A cross section of the dashboard (14:56). Strike test to check the properties of the dashboard (15:15). The interior is crafted without any sharp parts or edges (15:40) to reduce accident injury. The test grounds in Unterturkheim (16:22). Brake tests are conducted with the Mercedes-Benz W112 (16:39). Chassis tests (17:09). The Mercedes front axle with independent suspension (17:34). The rear axle (17:49). A snaking test (20:59) at 80 mph. The Mercedes-Benz 190 at the dealer lot in Sindelfingen (22:09).

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