Mercedes-Benz 220 W187
At the first Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in April 1951, Daimler-Benz unveiled the 220 model alongside its 300 model, a vehicle posed as a prestigious alternative. They shared a novel six-cylinder engine with overhead camshaft, producing 80 hp (59 kW) from its 2.2-liter output. Apart from that, most of its intrinsic parts were identical to its predecessor, the 170 S, including its brakes which had a duet design due to the greater power.
Chief engineer Fritz Nallinger described the engine offerings in a 1951 document as having “perfect balance” that operated without noise and vibration, attributing to a “joyful experience” when driving the economically efficient car.
The 220 went into mass production in July 1951, and was available in three body variants - saloon, convertible A and convertible B. Costlier than the 170 S versions, both the convertibles were posed as high-end touring cars. Additionally, in the period between August 1952 and May 1953, around 41 open-top touring cars were custom-made exclusively for police use.
November 1953 marked a shift with the convertible A which featured a slightly curved windshield for extra sportiness. Moreover, on the “repeated insistence from certain prominent public figures”, a coupe of the 220 was released from December 1953. It became the most expensive variant of the 200 models, based on the convertible A with its upgraded 85 hp (63 kW) engine from April 1954 used in the following 220 a model from June 1954.
The saloon style of the 220 came to an end in May 1954, and the convertible B in November 1953. Its sunroof option was seen to be more economical for customers in comparison to the convertible B. The convertible A and coupe variations remained in production until July and August 1955 respectively. After this, customers had to wait for the 220's successor with its ponton-type bodies to be released.
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