1959 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Saloon

Description

A replacement for the 170 Series, the ‘Ponton’ (German for pontoon, a reference to the styling, which did away with separate wings) saloons were introduced in 1953 and remained the mainstay of Mercedes-Benz production for the remainder of the decade.  Sold in either four-cylinder (W120/W121) or six-cylinder (W105/W128/W180) configurations, the latter benefited from having a longer wheelbase, larger rear glass and additional brightwork.  The SOHC 2195cc six-cylinder unit featured a new light-alloy cylinder head, new pistons and a higher compression ratio.  The 220 became the 220S in 1956 with twin Solex carburettors and an output of 100 horsepower, giving genuine 100 mph performance.  Mercedes-Benz added a new top-of-the-range Ponton model in October 1958 in the form of the fuel injected 220SE, the first production car to use this technology.  In this guise power rose to 134 bhp at 5000 rpm along with a hefty increase in torque.  An innovative and surprisingly popular option was the Hydrak automatic clutch, giving two pedal control whilst retaining the four-speed manual gearbox, being operated by pressure on the gearstick and a vacuum servo and torque converter controlling a normal clutch.  Of note to local enthusiasts, the ‘Ponton’ was the first Mercedes-Benz car assembled in Australia and Victorian Premier Henry Bolte was pictured at the opening of the assembly line at Port Melbourne in March 1959 alongside the first example to roll off the line.  In addition to the bespoke coupe and cabriolet variants, Mercedes-Benz produced just 1,974 220 SE sedans over a two-year period making it easily the rarest four-door Ponton model and these beautifully made cars are truly a classic that can be enjoyed by the whole family on a daily basis.