The Mercedes-Benz numbering logic for car names is known for confusing people. The 220 series of cars were built on the W180 chassis and have been informally dubbed “pontons” because of their unibody-type, pontoon-shaped styling of the 1950s. There were available in three body styles, saloon (aka sedan), coupe, and convertible, and equipped with inline-6 engines. This 1958 220SD has the letter “D” added because it’s diesel-powered and has been in storage for the past 53 years. Recently serviced, it looks no worse for the downtime and can be found in Saugerties, New York. The German car is available here on craigslist for $6,500. Thanks, Roman Vilner, for your tip on this one!
Mercedes’ W180 chassis was in play between 1954-59 and used across two generations, the 220A and 220S. The latter replaced the former in 1956 and an upgrade to the motor was the biggest change. It was a 2.2-liter inline-six that produced up to 106 with two carburetors. We don’t know what the output was when the engine was set up to run on diesel fuel. The 220S was available with a 4-speed column shift manual transmission, like in the seller’s car. The 220S was built through the Fall of 1959 and saw more than 55,000 saloons built with an unknown number being the diesel versions.
Though the seller’s car has at least 100,000 miles, it went into storage in 1968 for reasons not stated. Just rescued, we’re told it has just been serviced and runs and drives well. It will need new wheel cylinders, but that’s all the seller indicates is still amiss. Should you want to pull the engine, the seller is including a complete rebuilt motor with the deal. The body and paint look quite nice for the age, with no signs of rust. The finish looks good enough to be a more recent repaint. The interior looks just as good with no immediate notable flaws. If you’re into these German autos, this might be a nice runner with a minimum amount of work.
One of those Mercedes´s entirely too frumpy looking for me. Why anyone would be attracted to this is a mystery for the ages. For the dough the seller wants, one can get any number of decent enough cars which don´t look like an over the hill frumpy Hausfrau.
I don’t believe there was a 6 cyl. diesel. As far as I know, in 1958 diesels were all 1.8 liter, 4 cyls. engines.
Yes, I had 61D and a 240D there 4 cyclinders
——- and slow as molasses. They would have lost a race against a handicapped guy in a wheelchair, they made a Kleinschnittger look like a rocket.
Yes they are and with an automatic even slower yet
I think you are right and those 1.8 liter engines went into 180d’s which came with the much smaller W120 body. The W180 was their top of the line car and the W120 was very modest by comparison. The 1.8 liter diesel was horribly underpowered and not much fun to drive. The 2.2 liter was powerful by 1958 standards.
Swap in a big block, frumpy becomes sleeper.
Or maybe a complete set of AMG running gear…
I own a 1959 190Db that is a 180Db 4 cyl the 220 was a different animal
The diesels (ponton or pontoon sometimes) have the chrome vents in the front next to the grill the 220 didnt . Ive had mine since 1979 there were no 6 cyl diesels in this era. Also 1960/61 there was an overlap of this body and the finned 190 , both were sold side by side until the older model sold out.
My old home town used these as taxis; 200Ds’ I guess and numbering at least 400 on the road. So I’m predicting the majority of these Pontons were diesels. A neighbour had one. He was tight. He’d have us push it thirty yards from his parking space to an incline so he didn’t waste the starter motor or ‘extra’ fuel.
Kinda says it all about the types that drove these cars.
Don’t you guys fact check anything?? I’m no expert but t do know this is either a 180 or 190 diesel, there was no such model as a 220SD ever!
I don’t think this is a W180 220S. The W180 cars had divided windows in the rear doors. This is a W120/W121 180 or 190.
The car pictured appears to be a 190. There was also a model 219, with 190 platform but six-cylinder engine, and no front air inlets.
Great bones, needs a color change and some TLC, and when the world comes to an end, and is dark and cold with no life, Keith Richards can use it.