The 350 designation first appeared on Mercedes-Benz production cars in the early 1970s, when it was used on the new generation of large, eight-cylinder grand tourers and sedans. In 1971, Mercedes-Benz introduced the R107 SL roadster as the 350 SL, and the related C107 coupe followed soon after as the 350 SLC. Around the same period, Mercedes-Benz also applied the 350 badge to its upper-class sedan range, including 350 SE and 350 SEL variants, establishing the name as part of the company’s move toward displacement-based model naming for higher-end cars.
Unlike a single, uninterrupted model line, 350 became a recurring Mercedes-Benz designation that appeared across different body styles and eras. The badge was used on the original 1970s SL and SLC cars, then reappeared on later Mercedes-Benz models in other families, including diesel and gasoline versions in the S-Class and, much later, in modern model ranges such as the SL and S-Class. Because the same numerical nameplate has been revived in separate production periods rather than continuing as one straight run, it should be understood as a repeating Mercedes-Benz model designation rather than a single uninterrupted car line.
In enthusiast circles, the 1970s 350-badged Mercedes-Benzes are especially significant because they marked an important transition for the brand’s luxury and sporting cars: elegant styling, safety-focused engineering, and V8 power became closely associated with the name. The 350 SL and 350 SLC in particular helped define the long-lived R107/C107 era, while later 350 applications carried the number into new generations and new market segments.