Stop what you're doing and look at these classic Merc cabs and roadsters

At the upcoming Techno Classica show in Essen this week, Mercedes-Benz will show off some very important cars from its back catalogue, which don't have a fixed roof, and are quite lovely as a result.

They are of course, Merc's roster of classic convertibles and roadsters, collected together for the show, which runs between 6-10 April this week. It's the 28th annual Classica event, and should see some 190,000 show-goers poring over stuff from 1,250 exhibitors.

Why convertibles, you might ask? Well, why not? "In 1886, when Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler invented the automobile independently of each other," Mercedes explains, "an open-top vehicle was still the only form of motoring. Starting in the 1920s, when car manufacturing began to be dominated by saloons and large-scale production, open-top vehicles evolved into the most exclusive variants of the model line-up, being especially popular among lovers of sportily elegant mobility."

Before the show kicks off then, here are the convertibles Mercedes-Benz's Classic department will showcase. Have a click through the gallery, and let us know your favourite...

Just 29 versions of the 'Special Roadster' were built, and this one's successor - the 540K - is an exceptionally rare, and expensive, gem.

Cylinders: 8/in-line
Displacement: 5018 cc
Output: 99bhp without supercharger, 158bhp with supercharger
Top speed: 99mph

Merc tells us that using "slightly more pressure on the accelerator resulted in a 60 percent boost in output, because this caused the compressor clutch to kick in with the Roots blower forcing air at 0.3 bar into the twin carburettor, thereby unleashing an extra 60 hp". Yup, a 1930s Benz with boost.

Cylinders: 8/in-line
Displacement: 5018 cc
Output: 99bhp without supercharger, 158bhp with supercharger
Top speed: 99mph

The car that returned Mercedes to the motorsport world after WW2. It's a hugely significant thing, and hugely gorgeous, too. Not bad at racing, either: double victory at Le Mans, a 1-2-3-4 at the Nürburgring Great Jubilee Prize, plus a 1-2 at the 3,100km Carrera Panamericana.

Cylinders: 6/in-line
Displacement: 2996 cc
Output: 168bhp
Top speed: 143mph

The 300 S arrived as the new flagship of the Benz range. And a new flagship needs a roadster version. Just 53 cars were made, making this 300 S Roadster "one of the rarest passenger cars from the post-war years".

Cylinders: 6/in-line
Displacement: 2996 cc
Output: 173bhp
Top speed: 112mph

The successor to one of the prettiest - if not the prettiest - Mercedes-Benz ever built, the 300 SL Roadster shared much with the Gullwing. Though not the doors. Still gorgeous, mind.

Cylinders: 6/in-line
Displacement: 2996 cc
Output: 212bhp
Top speed: up to 250 km/h

It cost DM34,000 when new, and Merc rolled out just 1,232 cars over two years. Exclusive, then.

Cylinders: V8
Displacement: 3499 cc
Output: 197bhp
Top speed: 127mph

Yup, a convertible version of the original 'Baby Benz'. Though, this 190 E soft-top never actually made it into full production, but was just a test car to see if it could be done.

Cylinders: 6/in-line
Displacement: 2597 cc
Output: 164bhp

Ah yes, now we come to Merc's current range of convertibles, starting with the new C-Class Cab. The one you want isn't the diesel in the picture, but the C63 AMG version, unveiled at this year's New York Motor Show.

Cylinders: 4/in-line to V6
Displacement: 1595 to 3982 cc
Output: 154bhp to 503bhp
Top speed: 155mph

Unveiled last year, this is Merc's first big boy, luxury four-seater since 1971. A big, imposing cab. Again, you want the AMG version.

Cylinders: V8 (S 500) to V 12 (S 65)
Displacement: 4663 to 5980 cc
Output: 449bhp to 621bhp
Top speed: 155mph

And we end on the latest of the SLs. It's the R231, first revealed late last year, with a roof operable at speeds of up to 25mph. We have just one question though Merc - where's the SLS Roadster?

Cylinders: V6 (SL 400) to V12 (SL 65)
Displacement: 2996 to 5980 cc
Output: 362bhp to 621bhp
Top speed: 155mph