1951 Mercedes-Benz 170D

The Mercedes-Benz 170 took its styling cues from the pre-World War II era. The cars were four door sedans with separate headlamps, one-piece windshield, and rear-hinged front doors. The 170 came in a variety of styles, including the 'S', 'V', 'Va', and 'D'. The 170S was added in 1949 and brought with it a larger engine. The base engine on the '170V' had been a 38 horsepower engine that could carry the car to a top speed of around 85 mph. The 170S had a 52 horsepower engine.

The prototype 170V had been shown in February of 1946; the production version was ready a few months later, in June. A diesel-engined version came available in 1949 and was followed shortly by a luxury version, the 170S.

Most of the 170 Series were discontinued by the close of 1953. The diesel version persisted until late in 1955.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007

---

History

The Mercedes-Benz 170 Series was produced from 1949 until February of 1955. It made its introduction at the 1949 IAA in Hannover and much of its design and mechanical components were sourced from pre-War models. The first 170 engine was produced in February 1946 with production of commercial vehicles starting later that year. In May of 1947, the 170V sedan entered into production and continued to be the only model made until 1949. A diesel engine was introduced for the 170 in 1949. This was the world's third diesel fueled passenger car and the first to be introduced after the war. The range of models in the 170S would grow to include 2 and 4 door sedans and 2 or 4 seat convertibles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2012

---