page_title: Mercedes-Benz W114/W115
section_title: North America
hierarchical_section_title: Mercedes-Benz W114/W115 / North America
caption_attribution_description: English: 1975 Mercedes-Benz 280 in US-spec - quite rare, as most of these cars got diesels in the US.
context_page_description: The Mercedes-Benz W114 and W115 were the internal designation Mercedes-Benz used for a generation of front-engine, rear-drive, five-passenger sedans and coupés introduced in 1968, with three-box styling by Paul Bracq — succeeding the W110 Fintail models introduced in 1961; and manufactured until model year 1976, when the W123 was released.
  W114/W115s were distinguished in the marketplace by nameplates relating to their engine size. W114 models featured six-cylinder engines and were marketed as the 230, 250, and 280. W115 models featured four-cylinder engines and were marketed as the 200, 220, 230, and 240, with diesel models carrying a D designation, as distinct from gasoline/petrol models.
  At the time Mercedes introduced the W114/115 in 1968, they marketed sedans in two size classes and marketed the W114/115 range as New Generation Models, ultimately the only model of the new generation. Mercedes used a '/8' on the W114/115 ID plates, indicating their 1968 launch year, giving rise to their '/8' or 'slash eight' nicknames — and the German nickname Strich Acht, loosely translated into English as stroke eight.
context_section_description: In 1968, Diesel-engined options were added to the W114/W115 line,  introduced in North America as the 220D, 240D and 300D.  These models from the start had unique headlights, utilizing a sealed-beam lamp instead of the H4 type used in the European models.  Bumpers changed frequently and there were at least three different bumpers used over the production run for the North American market. The 1974 model year brought significantly larger bumpers due to new DOT requirements.
  North American 220Ds and 240Ds were offered with a 4-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, whereas all 5-cylinder 300D models were equipped with the 4-speed automatic without a manual option.
caption: 1975 Mercedes-Benz W114 280, with US-spec bumpers and sealed-beam headlights
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