Mercedes-Benz W 180
Mercedes -Benz 220 S ( 1956) before the plant in Sindelfingen
The Mercedes -Benz W 180, known as the Mercedes -Benz 220, or Mercedes -Benz 220 S, was with his six-cylinder engine in the 1954 to 1959 model of the upper class of Daimler -Benz. The "Big " Ponton Mercedes, successor to the " Mercedes 220 " ( W 187 ), were parallel to the upper middle class ( "Little Ponton " ) built W 120 / W 121 with four-cylinder engines).
Together with the four cylinders in the year before, Daimler -Benz from March 1954 even with the 220- six- cylinders, the principle of a self-supporting body, a move away from the ladder-frame constructions of the pre-war period. The built until 1962 Mercedes 300 d was the last Mercedes cars with separate chassis.
Mercedes -Benz 220 Saloon ( W 180 I)
While the four-cylinder models of the pontoon generation had been on the market since 1953, the six-cylinder buyers had with the previous model 220 ( W 187 ) to make do, who with detached wings nor the appearance of the pre-war models until early 1954. At the Geneva Motor Show, finally, the Model 220 a was introduced in March 1954, that the floor assembly of the four-cylinder exhibited as part of the modular system, but with a longer for the longer engine by 10 cm front of the car and a lengthened by 7 cm rear space. The trunk corresponded to the small pontoon models with four-cylinder engine.
The engine with the internal designation M 180 II was from the previous type only slightly more advanced inline six- cylinder with 2.2 liter displacement, four- bearing crankshaft and carburetor. It delivers 62.5 kW ( 85 hp) at 4800/min.und accelerates the 1300 kg heavy sedan from 0 to 100 km / h in 19 seconds. The top speed is 150 km / h The on-board electrical system has been converted to 12 volts and as with the four-cylinder introduced in 1953 pontoon models, the rear axle was a single-joint swing axle.
From June 1954 to April 1956, Daimler - Benz presented 25 937 vehicles here. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA ) were registered in Germany on 31 December 2012 was only 165 vehicles, it does not include vehicles in private collections.
Mercedes -Benz 220 S Saloon ( W 180 II)
The model 220 S was the successor to the 220 a "standard " six-cylinder of the pontoon series. It was built as sedan from 1956 to 1959. To distinguish one later described the new pontoon versions in sale ads unofficially appended lowercase as " 220 Sa " and the successor to the " tailfin " era will show as " 220 Sb ".
The uprated with two carburettors engine M 180 III had the first version of 74 kW (100 hp) at 4800 rpm. , Later 78 kW (106 hp) at 5200 rpm. and accelerates the 1350 kg heavy sedan from 0 to 100 km / h in 17 seconds. The top speed is 160 km / h The price of 12,500 DM was the predecessor of the 220 a identical.
From March 1956 to August 1959 55 279 vehicles were produced. In July 1994, still 493 vehicles were registered in Germany, the Federal Motor Vehicle Office, disregarded this car were in collections.
Mercedes 220 S 1957
Mercedes -Benz 220 S Coupé and Cabriolet ( W 180 II)
The 220 S convertible was offered from July 1956. The 220 S Coupé came three months later in October 1956 on the market. It corresponded to the fixed roof of the open version. For both vehicles, which were based on the 220 sedan S ( W 180 II), the same price was calculated from 21,500 DM.
In particular, the production of the pontoon cabriolets may be considered successful development work was still with this guy for the first time at Daimler -Benz a self-supporting body without a roof struts in use that requires an extremely rigid and thus heavier soil group to avoid body twisting. The convertible was therefore 100 kg heavier than the four-door sedans, despite the shorter wheelbase and the two doors.
The engine with 74 kW ( 100 hp ) was unchanged. With this unit the cars were motorized appealing. The interior is furnished with fine wood dash and window surrounds, leather upholstery, heating and ventilation fan with stand and clearly arranged round fittings.
In August 1957, improved variants were presented by almost all types of passenger car program. Also, the 220 S Coupe and Cabriolet had undergone a facelift, emerged from the both types with subtle modifications and a 78 kW ( 106 hp ) increased engine performance. Externally visible was only the change of the front bumper with the license plate panel and the modified illumination of rear registration plate, which - had been transferred to the bumper horns - like the sedans.
In August 1959, three newly designed six-cylinder models were presented with tailfins body, the type W 111 Production of Ponton sedans, coupes and convertibles from 220 S ran out of the same month. The last carburetor -equipped variants left the factory in October 1959.
With a total of only 1251 built vehicles with a petrol engine the pontoon coupes are rare models of Mercedes -Benz postwar production.