Mercedes-Benz W180

Mercedes-Benz W180

Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Production	1954-1959 84,645 built[1] 220a: 25,937 220 S Saloon: 55,279 220 S Cabr./Coupé: 3,429
Predecessor	Mercedes-Benz W187
Successor	Mercedes-Benz W111
Class	luxury car
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe 2-door convertible
Engine	straight-6

See Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a complete overview of all S-Class models.

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. The latter has often been identified as the first E-Class, though Mercedes-Benz did not officially adopt the E-Class nameplate for its midsize line until 1984.

The W180 was one in a series of Mercedes-Benz models to informally receive the "Ponton" nickname. This was in reference to the unibody-type, pontoon-shaped exterior styling which was also featured on the later W128 line.

220a (W180 I)

Introduced in March 1954, the 220a was a more luxurious and up-scale version of the W120 model 180 with a wheelbase stretched by 170 mm (6.7 in) to accommodate the longer straight-6 engine taken from the W187 model 220, that in this application delivered 85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp) fed by a single carburettor. 220a production ended in April, 1956 with 25,937 units produced.

220S (W180 II)

The 220a was succeeded in March 1956 by the 220S, which was externally almost identical, but had an upgraded version of the 2.2L inline-six (100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp), later 106 PS (78 kW; 105 hp)), due to the use of twin-carburettors.

Visually, the 220S featured a new one piece front bumper, instead of the 3-piece bumper used on the 220a. Also, the twin chrome and rubber strips running under the doors of the 220a were replaced with solid chrome strips. The most obvious difference is the addition of a chrome strip running along the front fenders and doors of the 220S.

The 220S was available with a 4-speed column shift manual transmission, with an optional Hydrak automatic clutch. This made use of small microswitches on the gear selector that automatically disengaged the clutch when the driver changed gears. Many cars have subsequently been converted to use a standard clutch, due to the high maintenece costs of continuing to use the Hydrak clutch.

Also introduced with the 220S was the W105 219, which from the a-pillar forward was essentially a single-carburettor 220a, but rearward from the a-pillar it used the shorter body of the W120/W121 180/190 models.

In July 1956 a Cabriolet (two doors, four seats) joined the line-up, and in October 1956 a Coupé version followed suit. Some Cabriolets were finished with folding rear seats to accommodate additional luggage.

Until October 1959, 55,279 220S saloons and 3,429 Cabriolets and Coupés were built.

The fuel-injected 220SE versions that officially bore the model code W128 were introduced in October 1958 and carried on until November 1960.^[2]

Technical data Mercedes-Benz W180 ^[1] (Manufacturer's figures except where stated)

Mercedes-Benz	220a (W180 I)	220 S (W180 II)	220 S Cabriolet/Coupé (W180 II)
Produced:	1954–1956	1956–1959	1956–1959
Engine:	6-cylinder-inline engine (four-stroke), front-mounted
Bore x Stroke:	80 mm x 72.8 mm
Displacement:	2195 cc
Max. Power @ rpm:	85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp) @ 4800	100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) @ 4800 from August 1957: 106 PS (78 kW; 105 hp) @ 5200
Max. Torque @ rpm:	157 N·m (116 lb·ft) @ 2400	162 N·m (119 lb·ft) @ 3500 from August 1957: 171.5 N·m (126.5 lb·ft) @ 3500
Compression Ratio:	7.6: 1	7.6: 1 from August 1957: 8.6: 1
Fuel feed:	Single 2-bbl Solex 32 PAJTA	Dual 2-bbl Solex 32 PAJTA
Fuel tank capacity:	64 L (16.9 US gal; 14.1 imp gal)
Valvetrain:	SOHC, duplex chain
Cooling:	Water
Gearbox:	4-speed manual w/ column shifter rear wheel drive, standard axle ratio 4.11:1 (later 4.10:1)
Electrical system:	12 volt
Front suspension:	Double wishbones, coil springs, stabilising bar
Rear suspension::	Swing axle, radius arms, coil springs
Brakes:	Drum brakes (Ø 230 mm), power assisted
Steering:	Recirculating ball steering
Body structure:	Sheet steel, monocoque (unibody) construction
Dry weight:	1,300 kg (2,900 lb)	1,350 kg (3,000 lb)	Cabriolet A/C: 1,450 kg (3,200 lb) Coupé: 1,410 kg (3,100 lb)
Loaded weight:	1,730 kg (3,800 lb)	1,790 kg (3,900 lb)	1,815 kg (4,000 lb)
Track front/ rear:	1,430 mm (56 in) / 1,470 mm (58 in)
Wheelbase:	2,820 mm (111 in)		2,700 mm (110 in)
Length:	4,715 mm (185.6 in)	4,750 mm (187 in)	4,760 mm (187 in)
Width:	1,740 mm (69 in)	1,740 mm (69 in)	1,765 mm (69.5 in)
Height:	1,560 mm (61 in)	1,560 mm (61 in)	1,530 mm (60 in)
Tyre/Tire sizes:	6.70 x 13
Top speed:	150 km/h (93 mph)	160 km/h (99 mph)	160 km/h (99 mph)
Fuel Consumption (estimate):	13.5 litres per 100 kilometres (20.9 mpg-imp; 17.4 mpg-US)	13.5 litres per 100 kilometres (20.9 mpg-imp; 17.4 mpg-US)	13.5 litres per 100 kilometres (20.9 mpg-imp; 17.4 mpg-US)
Price Germany USA:	DM 12,500 $ 4,175 [3]	DM 12,500 $ 4,494	DM 21,500 $ 7,138

References/Sources

1. ^ ^{a b} Oswald, Werner (2001). Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, Band 4. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-613-02131-5. 
2. ^ http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/other/overview.htm
3. ^ US prices: Mike Covello: Standard Catalog of Imported Cars 1946-2002, Krause Publication, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87341-605-8, p. 528-529

• Werner Oswald: Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, vol. 4. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02131-5, p. 31-38.

External links