THEN AND NOW: How Mercedes-Benz turned a cargo van into the popular Sprinter van

Frank OlitoOct 17, 2020, 00:52 IST

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van.Shutterstock

Mercedes-Benz's Sprinter van dates back to the company's first motorized van created by Carl Benz in 1896.
Throughout the 1900s, the growing company created several van models, including L 319, L 406 D, TN, and T2.
The first official Sprinter van was created in 1995, and it revolutionized the industry. It now comes in a variety of models.
Today, people love to convert Sprinters into luxury campers to travel the world.

Right now, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van is one of the most popular vehicles on the market, but that hasn't always been the case.

Before the creation of the Sprinter van in the '90s, German-based Mercedes-Benz made its first vans in the 1800s. While the Sprinter van is relatively new, the model has been a long time coming.

Dating back to its origin in 1869, here's how the Mercedes-Benz van came to be and how it evolved over time.

In the 1800s, Mercedes-Benz invented one of the first motorized vans.

The first motorized van. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

In 1929, the Mercedes-Benz L 1000 Express van was created.

The L 1000 Express. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz's L 319 was introduced in 1956, bringing a new layout to the van model.

The L 319. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

In 1967, the L 319 vans were eventually replaced by the L 406 D model, which became known for its large payload.

The L 406 D. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

The newest model in 1977 went by many names: T1, TN, Bremer Transporter, or Bremer model. Despite its lack of branding, the model became the most popular to date.

TN. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

In 1986, the T2 was introduced as a larger alternative to the TN.

T2. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

After several decades, the first Sprinter van was created in 1995, and it revolutionized the industry.

The first Sprinter van. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

In 2006, the second generation of the Sprinter van was introduced, allowing for customization of the model.

The second generation. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

In 2018, the third generation of the Sprinter van — the first with front-wheel drive — was introduced.

A newer Sprinter model. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Today, there are four Sprinter van models: cargo, crew, passenger, and cab chassis.

Sprinter van in 2019. Shutterstock

Today, the Sprinter van has become a popular vehicle to convert into luxury campers.

A converted Sprinter van. Freedom Vans

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