Chassis 180030 7507728
Motor 180924 7507270
Aufbau A180030 7500426

In the Wiesenthal collection since 1986
Single Swiss ownership before
Matching Numbers

A new era began at Mercedes-Benz in 1953. It was time to say goodbye to curved fenders, footboards and the huge grille that faced the wind. The streamlined, unfussy Ponton shape marked the future, and even more so, chassis and body were built as one for the first time, fully integrated and self-supporting.

The cars that pioneered were the 4-cylinder entry-level models. At the start, any search for new technology under the hood would have been in vain. They initially relied on tried-and-trusted technology, but gradually, new engines were introdues, and, in 1954, the 6-cylinder arrived. This engine needed more space, and as a result, the body was lengthened in the front. Passengers in the back could also enjoy a couple of centimetres of extra legroom.

The big saloons were given a tangible boost in 1956 with the new 220 S. With two carburettors, this car now offered 100 horsepower, which was enough to reach 160 km/h. An open-topped model had not been offered for more than a year, but, ultimately, a Ponton-shaped cabriolet arrived in that summer. This was a hard nut for the engineers to crack: the integrated chassis was too soft. A much-strengthened floor assembly provided the necessary stiffness, but it also added 100 kilos of weight. To fix this, the horsepower was ramped up by 6 hp in 1957 – which did the trick.

The interior was used to show off what could be done. High-class woods were paired with heavy leather in the style of the 300, that had demonstrated that competitors were lagging far behind in matters of opulence. The price, naturally, made it an item that was only accessible to the elite. A price tag of DM 21,500 limited the cabriolets to 2,178 cars before production ceased in October 1959. The injection engine of its future successor had been introduced more than a year prior, with Ponton cabriolets being built with this until 1961.

Nowadays, the Mercedes Ponton is a symbol for the years of „Wirtschaftswunder“. As taxis, these diesel cars crowded many cities‘ streets, as cabriolets, they made jaws drop.

This 220 S cabriolet was delivered to the Mercedes trading company in Zurich in July 1957. The original customs card from Basel has been preserved, written in the name of Alfred Wick, its first owner, and showing that its first trips to Germany took place as soon as he had take delivery. Wick had ordered himself a cabriolet in the timeless special-request colour (!) of white with red leather upholstery and a black soft-top. He also plumped for fixed rear seats, an extra fan, a windscreen washing system and a foldable Mercedes star.

The 220 S came to the Wiesenthal collection from Alfred Wick’s wife Hedy (herself born in 1907) in July 1986. It had certainly been repainted, but the elegant Mercedes had otherwise not undergone any restoration work. After an initial thorough check-through, minor problems were rectified and the car was registered on 14 July. A notebook shows detailed records of the cabriolet’s state, while two driver’s logs are testament to its infrequent use. As a result, this 220 S remains unrestored to the present day. It bears traces of its 60-odd years of life, which gives it this gloriously authentic charm, that restored examply so desperately lack. A restoration can be bought – but authenticity cannot. The seams on seat cushions can split, and with this car, we know when this happened, to the very day. Nowadays, art lies in preserving these artefacts. We can nothing but hope that the car’s new owner leaves it exactly like this!