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Soon after the merger of Mercedes and Benz, the two started developing the world’s fastest sports cars. They were based on the heavy and powerful M06 engine designed by Ferdinand Porsche and became known as the White Elephants for their brute force. The 680 Type-S was the first of this series which would mature into a legendary line of racecars that had little comparable competition until years later.

Alongside the earlier Mercedes cars like the 400 and 630, the new 680 S featured a lower chassis, which meant its heavy engine could be pushed back and down in the engine bay. This was the existing SOHC 6.3-liter six-cylinder engine enlarged to 6.8 liters and fitted with a supercharger that only spooled up at high throttle. When engaged, the 120 bhp suddenly became 180 bhp (hence the old 26/120/180 nomenclature). In race tune the engine was up to 26/170/225.

These cars were initially campaigned by the factory and driven by famous drivers such as Rudolf Caracciola who won the 1927 Nurburgring race with one. However, since the chassis was relatively simple and robust, Mercedes-Benz made road-going bodies, and sometime shipped bare chassis to be re-bodied by a company of the customer's choice. The race cars are easily identified as they have simple cycle-fendered bodies almost always painted in white, while every road car was different.

The 680 evolved over the year, getting lighter and more powerful. The first major modification was made to the engine which was enlarged in 1928 to 7.0 liters for the 700 SS then 7.1 for the 710 SS, but the definitive version was the shortened 720 SSK which is a holy grail of car among car collecting. Only around five original SSKs remain and many 680 S-Types were converted replicate them.