Så kom der et svar fra "hestens mund" der udelukker videre diskussion
The "/8" suffix - originally only used internally - was necessary to differentiate the new models 200, 230 and 200 D launched in 1968 from their predecessors of the "tailfin" W 110 series. At that time, the three-digit model series designations were not used as frequently as they are today, at least not in the public.
Thus, for example, the 200/8 presented in 1968 was the successor of the 200 built from 1965-1968. The suffix represented 1968, the year the new series was launched.
The suffix was used for the complete model range, i.e. also for the models like 220, 250 and 220 D which had no predecessor with the same designation.
Of course, the "/8" series also was assigned a three-digit model series designation: W 115 for the four-cylinder models and W 114 for the six-cylinder models.
The "/8" designation became very popular and is until today more frequently used than the model series designation W 114/115.
When the successors of the "/8" series were launched in 1976, the three-digit model series designations had become more popular even in the public - thus the W 123 designation was consistently used for this model generation.
Gerhard Heidbrink
Manager Archives & Collection
Mercedes-Benz Cars
Brand Communications Daimler AG
70546 Stuttgart/Germany