What is a 451?

[Da and Linda]

I have a question I have been reading the threads and I keep seeing “451” I just picked up my Mercedes Smart car two days ago from our Mercedes dealership who has a "Smart Center" I understand that some are referring to it as a "Damler Smart" I understand why we all choose to call ours little Smarts as we see them, but where is this 451 coming from?

[BeSmart]

The original smart was a model 450, the newer model is 451. The last 450 was made in 2006, I think. The 2007 and later models are 451's. Not sure where the 450/451 numbers come from.

Welcome to the forum. You're lucky to have had an extra ten years of smarts. We are joyous over having them here now.

[Old smart]

Two other numbers in the scheme of things: 452 = roadster; 454 = forfour.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by Da and Linda

I have a question I have been reading the threads and I keep seeing “451” I just picked up my Mercedes Smart car two days ago from our Mercedes dealership who has a "Smart Center" I understand that some are referring to it as a "Damler Smart" I understand why we all choose to call ours little Smarts as we see them, but where is this 451 coming from?

so does YOUR smart have Mercedes emblems on it? that would be interesting if it does, since Mercedes does not make the smart, Daimler does.

smart is to Mercedes as a Chevy is to a Cadillac. smart and Mercedes are both made owned by the parent company, Daimler. Chevrolet and Cadillac are both own by THEIR parent company, General Motors.

in other words, if you own a Chevy you wouldn't say you have a "Cadillac Chevy".......

[tverb]

Jeepster55,
You're right of course, but when people ask, "What is it?", I can't resist saying, "It's a Mercedes!". Fielded that question maybe a hundred times yesterday while participating in the Doo Dah Parade in Ocean City NJ.
And to "How many miles per gallon does it get?"
Jane's new answer: "Depends on who's driving!".

[StevenM1TX]

Hey Jeepster, please read the following on the smart USA website under the heading of "company"

- smart remains a vital member of Mercedes-Benz Cars, a Daimler AG Company.

I doubt you would find the Chevy site referring to them being a vital member of Cadillac. I'll refrain from the sarcastic smiley.

[Springlering]

Da and Linda,
Amsterdam is my favorite city in the world. We have holidayed on a canal boat several times, and that's where we saw our first Smart. I would LOVE to drive a Smart around such a beautiful city. So many fun, tiny places to park.......enjoy your car!

[SnakeFarm]

Wasen't there some advertising copy that tried to imply that the "m" in smart stood for Mercedes"

I'm going to start telling people it's a Swatch.

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by SnakeFarm

I'm going to start telling people it's a Swatch.

I like that. But Nicolas Hayek may not.

[Dave Van]

Problem with answering the 'who makes it question' with 'Daimler' is then you get 'never heard of them' from the non-car folks. And that leads to 'is this the first car Daimler has made'....so when I get the 'who makes' question I just say 'made by the same company that builds M-B' and then they get it.

Plus next to my car in the ready area on the day I picked up my Smart was a SLR.....that may be as close as my Smart is to a M-B but they are family!