1958 Mercedes-Benz 180 Series

The Mercedes-Benz 180 (W120) was introduced in 1953 and produced through 1962, with 442,963 units built. When equipped with the company's existing 1.8-liter M 136 engine, they were sold as the 180, and with the diesel engine as the 180 D.

The pontoon body styling led to its nickname as the Ponton and its appearance from the windscreen rearward was similar to the six-cylinder Model 220s (220S and 220SE models). The 220 was distinguished by its longer wheelbase, longer hood (bonnet), and additional chrome trim.

The four-door sedan rested on a 104.3-inch wheelbase and stood 61.4-inches tall. The suspension was independent with double-wishbones while the rear used a double-joint swing axle through September of 1955 when it was replaced by a single-joint swing axle. Coil springs were placed at all four corners and the front axle used a torsion-type anti-sway bar. Steering was done by a recirculating ball system and hydraulic drum brakes provided the stopping power.

The W 120 could be equipped with any of Mercedes-Benz's four-cylinder engines including the M 136 and M 121 Otto engines, and the OM 636 and OM 621 Diesel engines. The majority of the W 120 (and W 121) cars were fitted with diesel engines. The M 136 Otto was a 1.8-liter unit and the M 121 was slightly larger at 1.9-liters. The two-diesel options were both 1.8-liters in size. All engines were backed by a four-speed constant-mesh gearbox with a dry single-disc clutch and steering column controls.

The total production of the W 120 sedan was 152,983 units. Of those 52,186 were equipped with the M136 engine, 11,822 with the OM 621, and 141,161 with the OM 636 diesel engine. 66,048 examples were powered by the M 121 in various configurations.

The Model 180 helped Mercedes-Benz with the transition into the modern age, with its integral body construction, and an all-enveloping body embracing a modern and contemporary appearance. The interior continued to reflect the intuitive functionality, ergonomic sensibilities and harmonious driver experience typical of all Mercedes-Benz automobiles.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021