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Following World War II and the near complete destruction of the Mercedes-Benz production capacity, the company nursed itself back to life with the pre-War 170 model. Production of that model would pave the rebuilding of the Sindelfingen plant that would launch the company’s resurgence to the top of the market. The new ‘Ponton’ model would be introduced to the public in the fall of 1953 and would remain the bulk of production for the remainder of the decade. It would be available in an amazing sixteen different model configurations, ranging from 4-cylinder sedans to 6-cylinder cabriolets. The Ponton represented a technical leap forward from the company who had invented the automobile, with independent suspension and an available automatic clutch dubbed “Hydrak” being the big headlines. Mercedes-Benz also steadily improved the performance over the model run, and when it came to the 2.2 inline-6 in the 220S, dual Solex downdraft carburetors helped to develop over 100 horsepower. But it was style, not performance, that helped to set the Ponton models apart and especially in Coupe and Cabriolet form, they were special cars indeed:
After the destruction of World War II, Mercedes-Benz found themselves, like most German automotive manufacturers at a crossroads. Would the company survive post war, after so much destruction, or would it close its doors for good? It would be about a decade before a clear picture began to emerge and most manufacturers started to churn out new models and so it was with Mercedes-Benz, their new sedan, dubbed the “Ponton,†arriving on the scene in 1953. Taking over where the 170 left off, the model would be available in sedan, coupe and convertible variants, with the sedan offering a choice of both diesel and petrol engines. This 220S for sale in California carries a unique story with it, being owned at one time by the service manager of the former dealership, German Motors in San Francisco.
Taking over from the pre-war 170, the Ponton was Mercedes-Benz’s all-new design, which would help the company emerge from the ashes of war and help mold it into the recognized luxury vehicle manufacturer it is today. This platform spawned a number of variants, one of which was a rather reserved, elegant four-place cabriolet like the example we see here for sale in Arizona. With a modest 105 horsepower inline-6 hooked up to a 4-speed manual, it’s just enough for the relaxed cruising a classic Benz like this inspires.
