crazyforcars:

35 years separate these Mercedes S-class door panels…

The iconic power seat switches, designed to mimic the actual seat shape, was invented by Mercedes and introduced on the W126 in the fall of 1979 (previous switches on other cars were just buttons, or toggles).  

Now this is widely copied, although sometimes on the side of the seat itself.

Although highly stylized with expanded functionality, the concept remains.  35 years later.