1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S

History

The Mercedes-Benz 220SE was introduced in 1958 and remained in production until 1959 with a total of 1974 examples being produced. 1112 of those were cabriolets. The 'SE' was considered an upgraded version of the 220 and offered in coupe, sedan and cabriolet body styles.

The 220SE were built with high attention to detail, almost mimicking the 330SC. They came equipped with polished wooden dashboards and door cappings, leather upholstery, and chrome trim. Under the hood was a 2.2-liter engine that produced nearly 135 horsepower and could carry the 220SE to speeds of 100 mph. The use of Bosch fuel-injection meant the increase in power while a reduction in fuel consumption.

A cabriolet, also known as a 'Ponton Series', cost just under $9,000 when new. These were among the first of the postwar, modern, Mercedes-Benz designs. Their styling retained the traditional Mercedes-Benz touches while adapting a modern style that appealed to a wider generation.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007