120 years ago, an 11 year old girl gave the name Mercedes which became the first of the world’s luxury car brands. Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft decided to call it’s cars Mercedes as long ago as the 2nd April 1900.

Mercédès was the daughter of Nice based Austrian businessman Emil Jellinek who traded in Daimler vehicles and registered them for racing events. The Merceded 35 PS was the first vehicle with this name which is of Spanish origin.

The Mercedes 35 hp is regarded as the prototype of the modern automobile. In March 1901 at the Nice race week it won several races because of its highly advanced technology. But it was the elegant design which helped to create the stir. Paul Meyan, then Secretary General of the Automobile Club of France, said after the race week: “We have entered the Mercedes era.”

Daimler registered the Mercedes name as a trademark on June 23, 1902 and legally protected on September 26, 1902. After the merger of he Daimler and Benz companies in June 1926 the name was changed to Mercedes-Benz.

The girl in the photograph is Mercedes herself, and pictured again in 1906 in a Mercedes racing car.  Further pictures are of the 1903 simplex 40 model, among the oldest surviving Mercedes cars.

Mercedes Jellinek who lived from 1889 to 1929 left a legacy that has long outlived her.