1951 Mercedes-Benz 220 Series

Those having never experienced the tragedy of war can tend to live in a dream world, where the 'sky's the limit'. War, however, changes things. There is an appreciation. Getting by, and making due, often become of greater importance. Then, once things have settled, the unknown can become tested again. Mercedes was in exactly that position after the end of World War II.

During the mid-1930s Mercedes-Benz introduced its W136 line of four-cylinder automobiles, including the 170. Though widely popular before the war, it would be of utmost importance after the cessation of hostilities.

During the war, Mercedes-Benz was targeted heavily by American and British bombing. The company's production sites were bombed and went through great destruction. However, the tooling for the 170 survived. The 170 would help revive Mercedes-Benz after the war.

The 170 featured a large rectangular-shaped chrome grille and two large round headlights to either side. To the side of the tall, narrow nose were heavily sculpted front wheel fenders that swept down into the narrow running boards on either side of the car.

The tall, narrow nose widened as it travelled aft toward the passenger compartment and often came with chrome trim along its rounded edges and side. The small, but comfortable passenger compartment featured a one-piece, flat windscreen, bench seating and small windshield wipers. The four-door sedan models worked upon a central hinge location, whereby the front doors opened backward and the rear doors opened forward.

The 170 would serve as the basis for such innovations as the economical 38 PS diesel engine. At the time, the diesel-powered 170 was only the world's third diesel-powered passenger car, but it was the first to be offered to the public since after the Second World War's end.

Because the tooling for the 170 was about the only complete set to have survived the war, all subsequent designs would share features with the 170, at least for a while. This was true when Mercedes-Benz introduced its model 220 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951.

The model 220 featured a similar front grille. The tall, rounded rectangular design featured chrome accents around the meshed grille. However, one obvious design change catches the eye when comparing the two model cars. In an effort to achieve more modern styling, Mercedes-Benz moved the large, round headlights. The designers moved the headlights from right beside the grille, as with the 170, to the leading edge of the sculpted front wheel fenders.

Sold in a sedan, cabriolet and coupe models, the 220 was practically the same car from the headlights back. Even the chrome trim-work along the side of the wedge-shaped nose and waist of the car was practically the same.

While aesthetically the cars looked very similar, the engine that powered the model 220 provided the greatest difference between the models. The model 170 used four-cylinder petrol-powered or diesel engines. The model 220, however, saw Mercedes-Benz offer a 2.2-liter straight-6 engine capable of producing 80 hp.

Very simple, and yet elegant, the 220 came with a leather interior and either a three-speed column shift automatic or a four-speed manual transmission. Braking for the full-size car was accomplished through servo-assisted drums

The sedan version of the model 220 only lasted from 1951 until 1953. In 1953, the sedan was replaced by the W105/W180. Although the sedan was replaced by a subsequent model, the coupe and cabriolet model production lasted for another year and a half. All production of model 220s ceased by August 1955. By its end in 1955, over 18,500 model 220s had been built and helped serve as a strong foundation for Mercedes-Benz becoming the car manufacturer it is today.

Mercedes-Benz worked with what it had to help build a strong foundation for the future. Out of its model 170 and 220, Mercedes-Benz would be able to fashion such forward-thinking designs as the 300SL and CL-Class designs of today.

Sources:
'1957 Mercedes-Benz 220S', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13421/Mercedes-Benz-220S.aspx). ConceptCarz: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13421/Mercedes-Benz-220S.aspx. Retrieved 7 February 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Mercedes-Benz W136', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 October 2010, 22:01 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercedes-Benz_W136&oldid=393685009 accessed 7 February 2011

By Jeremy McMullen