The 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...

 W120 and W121 "Ponton

Mercedes-Benz Ponton

The Ponton was Daimler-Benz's first totally new Mercedes-Benz series of passenger vehicles produced after World War II. In July 1953, the cars replaced the pre-war-designed Type 170 series and were the bulk of the automaker's production through 1959, though some models lasted through 1962.The...

" cars were produced from 1953 through 1962. They were sold under the "'180" and "190" model names.

The Ponton models were replaced by the W110 "Fintail"

Mercedes-Benz W110

The W110 "Fintail" was Mercedes-Benz's line of midsize four-cylinder automobiles in the mid-1960s. The line was introduced with the 190c and 190Dc sedan in April, 1961, replacing the W120 180c/180Dc and W121 190b/190Db...

 models beginning in 1961. The 180 was the first 'small' Mercedes, it can be thought as the C-class of that era. Mercedes-Benz would return to this market segment in 1982 with the 190E. The W121 190 was the E-class of the time. All the 'Ponton' generation models looked very similar in appearance, one could not clearly identify even a 220SE from a 180, only after seeing its larger size and chrome touches was it possible to identify it as a different model. This was the only generation in which all models looked incredibly similar, though the 300 was exclusive.

The form and body of the car changed little during its production run. However, in 1957, a year after the introduction of the 190 sedan the Mercedes star at the front of the car was made detachable: reports at the time indicated that this was either to pander to the requirements of certain export markets, notably Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 or to reduce the risk of pedestrian injury in the event of an accident.

A roadster variant, the R121, better known as the 190SL

Mercedes-Benz 190SL

The 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...

, was produced from 1955 to 1963.

Mercedes also produced 6-cylinder Ponton models, the larger W128

Mercedes-Benz W128

The 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...

/W180

Mercedes-Benz W180

The 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.

Models

Type	Chassis code	Years	Model	Engine	Number built
W120 sedan	W120.010	1953–1957	180	1.8 L M121 Mercedes-Benz M121 engine The M121 was a straight four-cylinder engine made by Mercedes-Benz during the 1950s and 1960s and used in their mid-size sedans, such as the 190, and in the 190 SL convertible. The M121 engine was also used for trucks such as the Unimog and L319 models. The M121 engine made its debut in 1955... I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	52,186
		1957–1959	180a		27,353
		1959–1961	180b		29,415
		1961–1962	180c		9,280
	W120.110	1953–1959	180D	1.8 L OM636 Diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...  I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	116,485
		1959–1961	180Db		24,676
		1961–1962	180Dc	1.8 L OM621 Diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...  I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	11,822
W121 sedan	W121.010	1956–1959	190	1.9 L M121 I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	61,345
		1959–1961	190b	1.9 L M121 Mercedes-Benz M121 engine The M121 was a straight four-cylinder engine made by Mercedes-Benz during the 1950s and 1960s and used in their mid-size sedans, such as the 190, and in the 190 SL convertible. The M121 engine was also used for trucks such as the Unimog and L319 models. The M121 engine made its debut in 1955... I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	28,463
	W121.110	1958–1959	190D	1.9 L Diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...  I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	20,629
		1959–1961	190Db	1.9 L OM621 Diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...  I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	61,309
					Notes
R121 Roadster Mercedes-Benz 190SL The 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...	121.040 hardtop	1955–1961	190SL Mercedes-Benz 190SL The 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...	1.9 L M121 Mercedes-Benz M121 engine The M121 was a straight four-cylinder engine made by Mercedes-Benz during the 1950s and 1960s and used in their mid-size sedans, such as the 190, and in the 190 SL convertible. The M121 engine was also used for trucks such as the Unimog and L319 models. The M121 engine made its debut in 1955... I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....	921 engine
		1962–1963			928 engine
	121.042 soft top	1955–1961			921 engine
		1962–1963			928 engine

External links

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Ja1mRI8Iw Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA
  Mercedes-Benz Classic Center
  The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center is the official Mercedes-Benz department for Mercedes-Benz classic car owners and enthusiasts. It was first opened on May 18, 1993 in Fellbach, just outside of Stuttgart...
  
  presents the W120 Ponton