Mercedes-Benz Ponton
Encyclopedia
Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...
's first totally new Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
series of passenger vehicles produced after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In July 1953, the cars replaced the pre-war-designed Type 170
Mercedes-Benz W136
The Mercedes-Benz W136 was Mercedes-Benz's line of four-cylinder automobiles from the mid-1930s into the 1950s. It became the foundation on which the company rebuilt after World War II because the tooling had survived Allied bombing....
series and were the bulk of the automaker's production through 1959, though some models lasted through 1962.
The nickname comes from the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word for "pontoon" and refers to one definition of pontoon fenders
Pontoon fenders
Pontoon fenders are a type of automobile fender.Originally the term referred to a design prevalent in the United States in the 1930s where front fenders encased a wheel and terminated in a teardrop point, remaining distinct from the running boards or the body of the car...
— and a postwar styling trend, subsequently called ponton styling
Ponton (automobile)
Ponton or Pontoon styling refers to a 1930s-1960s design genre — ultimately the precursor of modern automotive styling. The trend emerged as distinct running boards and fully articulated fenders became less common and bodywork began to enclose the full width and uninterrupted length of a car...
.
The Ponton models were replaced by the "Heckflosse" or "Fintail"
Mercedes-Benz Heckflosse
Mercedes Benz Fintail is a nickname given to certain Mercedes Benz vehicles which show American influences in design including the presence of tailfins. Though never officially designated as such...
models
There were essentially four types of Ponton cars. Note the "D" designates a diesel engine, and the suffix "b" and/or "c" are body variants introduced after the middle of 1959.
- Four-cylinder sedans
- 1953–1962 W120Mercedes-Benz W120The Mercedes-Benz W120 and W121 "Ponton" cars were produced from 1953 through 1962. They were sold under the "'180" and "190" model names....
— 180, 180a, 180b, 180c, 180D, 180Db, 180Dc - 1956–1961 W121 — 190, 190b, 190d, 190Db
- 1953–1962 W120
- Four-cylinder roadsterRoadsterA roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
s / coupés- 1955–1962 W121 — 190SLMercedes-Benz 190SLThe Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a two door grand touring convertible with a removable hardtop that was produced by Mercedes-Benz between May 1955 and February 1963...
- 1955–1962 W121 — 190SL
- Six-cylinder sedans
- 1956–1959 W105Mercedes-Benz W105The Mercedes-Benz W105 is a part of The "Ponton" family. It was produced from 1956 to 1959 with a conventional, watercooled four stroke, reciprocating piston type with 6 cylinders engine.-History:...
— 219 - 1954–1959 W180Mercedes-Benz W180The Mercedes-Benz W180 is a 6-cylinder sedan, coupé, and convertible made from 1954 to 1959. The models associated with the W180 chassis code were the 220a and 220S...
— 220a, 220S - 1958–1960 W128Mercedes-Benz W128The Mercedes-Benz W128 was a 6-cylinder automobile that was available in sedan, coupé, or cabriolet body styles and produced from October, 1958 to August, 1959...
— 220SE
- 1956–1959 W105
- Six-cylinder coupés
- 1956–1959 W180Mercedes-Benz W180The Mercedes-Benz W180 is a 6-cylinder sedan, coupé, and convertible made from 1954 to 1959. The models associated with the W180 chassis code were the 220a and 220S...
— 220S - 1958–1960 W128Mercedes-Benz W128The Mercedes-Benz W128 was a 6-cylinder automobile that was available in sedan, coupé, or cabriolet body styles and produced from October, 1958 to August, 1959...
— 220SE
- 1956–1959 W180
- Six-cylinder cabriolets
- 1956–1959 W180Mercedes-Benz W180The Mercedes-Benz W180 is a 6-cylinder sedan, coupé, and convertible made from 1954 to 1959. The models associated with the W180 chassis code were the 220a and 220S...
— 220S - 1958–1960 W128Mercedes-Benz W128The Mercedes-Benz W128 was a 6-cylinder automobile that was available in sedan, coupé, or cabriolet body styles and produced from October, 1958 to August, 1959...
— 220SE
- 1956–1959 W180