BETTER PARTSTime travel: on the Road in the Mercedes 220 1955
Hair, 20. December 2017
Everything remains different: that's how you could describe the 1950s in the Federal Republic of Germany. It was on the one hand, progress in faith, on the other hand, it was in everyday life are often enough old-fashioned-ossified. The "economic miracle" covered the memory of former times, who was wealthy, wore the reverent name of "Director" or "captain of Industry". Their ships, supplied by Mercedes. The sales figures of the past, the phrase "We are re-reading who" is excellent. From 1951 to 1954, Mercedes built the first 220 with a six-cylinder, a sedan in the style of the late 1930s. Only around 16,000 vehicles were from tape, it only went timidly up. That should change in 1954, in a variety of ways.
A great Vintage
In 1954, remains the German, for various reasons stick in the memory: The football team with their world Cup win for a new sense of self-worth, on the final day, the W-196 supply-silver arrows of Mercedes one-two victory in the French Reims. Who benefits between Flensburg and Füssen, from the later than miraculous-vaunted economic recovery, can terminals the same time, a piece of silver arrow under the. More specifically, The single-joint Swing axle, which made its debut in the brand-new Mercedes 220.
220 with nickname
The internal W 180 referred to the 220 of 1954, receives from the people a beautiful name: "pontoon". So, a year and a half previously presented middle-class models with four-cylinder alias 180 and 180 Diesel hot already. Visually, the waiver of a classic fender in the eye stands out particularly, overall, the shape is emphasized by the facts. Still, it doesn't bother the clientele that the 180 and 220 are similar at first glance, strongly, finally, the possession of a Mercedes, as such, is desirable.
More cover for more engine
What are the differences? The most important point is the 17 inches of extended wheelbase, which makes the Mercedes 220 grows on 4,71 meters. Today, the C-class is Format, at the time, the 220 was unofficially S-class, because of the 300 (commonly called the "Adenauer" was called) was still playing a League higher. Seven inches of the extension to the benefit of the principal in the Fund, in which it is actually excellent stay, I find. The remaining ten inches to go on the account of the extended front of the car, the six-cylinder. Add to this the long-drawn-out turn signal housings chrome, and standard fog lights as evidence of this, the one here referred to 12,500 hard-earned D-Mark to Untertürkheim.
Welcome to grandpa's Sofa
Felt is still with me driven a Mercedes 220 from the year 1955 I feel like in a cosy living room at the time. The dashboard is really a Board of the finest wood. Switches and buttons are counted on the fingers of two hands, unfortunately, their function is mostly a mystery. The first owner of the today in the collection of Works contained 220 is decided to be time for the no-cost Option of a solid front bench seat. Welcome on the Sofa! Or, as formulated in the 220-prospectus of 1954: "Elegant in Form, the 220 represents a fine taste, meets the high demands of demanding motorists."
Highway king with 85 HP
My claim is, first, to get used to the pedals and the steering wheel circuit. Four courses have to be sorted with the feeling, fortunately, also low speed from a unit to make pay its 2.2-Liter, nothing. No wonder, then, finally, the six pots need to generate only 85 HP. But what do you mean? For most car drivers most of the time, the 24.5 HP of the VW beetle, such as Christmas and Easter were already together. And it went even more: 100 HP in the 220 S from 1956 (the S comes for the first time in the Mercedes a-class in the game) and thanks to fuel injection two years later, even the 115 HP.
Lord of the ring
But back to the simple 220, the professionals at the missing trim in the front area. Its six-cylinder is by today's standards is not necessarily smooth. Mechanics pure, a Feast for any vintage lover. Solid, the needle of the band speedometer moves to the right, as I have to turn. So brake in good time and at the Hupring in the large, thin steering Wheel to turn. Nice way the turn signals are exactly in my field of vision and remind me of that, occasionally, the Hupring turn back. Slowly the Mercedes 220 "Ponton", on paper, 150 km/h. But 80 sounds like the Double. In front of the sport friends of Helmut Retter and Wolfgang Larcher, one can only draw the usual hat: Both gentlemen were hunting in 1956, with your 220 in the context of the Mille Miglia through Italy.
A great success
The elasticity of the engine was noticed already in 1954, the trade press, as well as a "model smoothness" and a little side tilt. The latter, I'd almost 64 years later, more blind sign, after it attracts me in the first fast curve in the absence of straps to my passenger. Tip for new Lovers: pontoon buy! A whopping 111.000 lovers, the S-class of the 1950s took place in only five years. Including probably the strangest model name of the Mercedes history: The 219 is the Mix of four cylindrical body with a longer front of the car for the engine of the 220. That's how it was when Daimler discretion is a matter of honor.(rh)