1939 Mercedes-Benz 170V

Roadster

In 1932, Mercedes hired Hermann Ahrens to lead the Sindelfingen custom body division. The Ahrens studio produced some of Europe's most beautiful and exotic roadsters including the Mercedes 380 K, 500 K and 540 K Roadsters. The 170 V roadsters carry unique sheet metal. The work is recognizable as an Ahrens because of features such as the extended hood, sweeping running board design and fully disappearing top. In addition, there are advanced engineering features such as a lightweight four cylinder engine producing 38 horsepower, a X-frame made from oval tubing and suspension using double transverse front leaf springs, swing axles and coil springs on the rear and hydraulic shock absorbers. There are only 13 170 V Roadsters known to exist.

This car has been in the current owner's family since 1974 and underwent a four year restoration.

Cabriolet Sedan
Chassis number: 443571
Engine number: 181TR25533

This particular example was delivered in August of 1939 through the Daimler-Benz Königsberg branch. It has an unusual cabriolet saloon body which is essentially a four-door with a fold-back fabric roof that offers open air to all passengers when opened. The side rails and windows, however, remain in place. It has a black exterior, recently re-plated brightwork, and tan leather upholstery.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster

This Mercedes-Benz 170V Special Roadster is one of only 38 made in 1939.

The Mercedes-Benz 170 (W15) was responsible for the bulk of the company's production during the difficult Depression years of the mid-1930s. The Hans Nibel-designed 170 featured all-independent suspension and six-cylinder power. It was competitively priced, compact, and economical yet engineered and constructed to Mercedes-Benz's traditionally high standards. Power was from a 1,692cc side-valve engine which sent power to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual gearbox, which was fitted with an overdrive economy gear.

Nibel's original design for the 170 changed little until it was replaced in 1936 by the four-cylinder 170V (W136). The 'V' signified vorn, German for front, distinguishing it from the rear-engine 170 H model, with the 'H' standing for heck, or rear. The 170V had a 1.7-liter engine, an oval-tube backbone-type chassis, swing-axle independent rear suspension, transverse-leaf independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes. Two- and four-door saloon models were offered along with no fewer than five different soft-tops. This model formed the mainstay of Mercedes-Benz production and would re-appear in the post-war era and continued in production until 1955.

by Dan Vaughan

The Mercedes-Benz 170V, internal code W136, was successor to the W15 six-cylinder 170 model. The 170V was more powerful and slightly larger than its predecessor, but it came with only four-cylinders. It was introduced in 1936 and wore more streamlined bodies than the 170 and had a lower price. The 'V' represented vorn, German for front, distinguishing it from the rear-engine 170 H model, with the 'H' standing for heck, or rear.

The 170 V also had a new backbone chassis which offered greater torsional rigidity. The new side-valve 4-cylinder engine displaced 1697cc and offered nearly 40 horsepower, thanks (in-part) to a compression ratio of 6.0:1. Top speed was achieved at around 70 miles per hour. The 170V had a fully independent suspension all around. Front suspension was by upper and lower parallel transverse leaf springs while the rear suspension utilized swing axles and coil springs. The 170 V was equipped with a synchronized four-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

Production of the 170 V began in 1935 and it made its formal debut at the Berlin Motor Show of February of 1936. Around 70,000 examples were produced from 1935 to 1942.

by Dan Vaughan