Mercedes-Benz W120/121
From Mercedes Wiki
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| Automotive industry | Daimler-Benz |
|---|---|
| Production | 1953–1962 442,963 built + 25,881 190SL |
| Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz W136/Mercedes-Benz W191 |
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz W110 |
| Car classification | Midsize car |
| Car body style | 4-door Sedan (car) 2-door Roadster |
| Wheelbase | 104.3 in (2649 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2690 lb (1220 kg) |
The Mercedes-Benz W120 and W121 "Ponton" cars were produced from 1953 through 1962. They were sold under the "180" and "190" model names. The Ponton models were replaced by the W110 "Fintail" models beginning in 1961. The 180 was the first 'small' Mercedes, it can be thought as the C-class of that era. Mercedes-Benz would return to this market segment in 1982 with the 190E. The W121 190 was the E-class of the time. All the 'Ponton' generation models looked very similar in appearance, one could not clearly identify even a 220SE from a 180, only after seeing its larger size and chrome touches was it possible to identify it as a different model. This was the only generation in which all models looked incredibaly similar, though the 300 was exclusive.
A roadster variant, the R121, better known as the Mercedes-Benz 190SL, was produced from 1955 to 1963.
Mercedes also produced 6-cylinder Ponton models, the larger W128/W180 220s.
Models
| Type | Chassis code | Years | Model | Engine | Number built[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W120 sedan | W120.010 | 1953–1957 | 180 | 1.8 L Mercedes-Benz M121 engine Straight-4 | 52,186 |
| 1957–1959 | 180a | 27,353 | |||
| 1959–1961 | 180b | 29,415 | |||
| 1961–1962 | 180c | 9,280 | |||
| W120.110 | 1953–1959 | 180D | 1.8 L Mercedes-Benz OM636 engine Diesel Straight-4 | 116,485 | |
| 1959–1961 | 180Db | 24,676 | |||
| 1961–1962 | 180Dc | 1.8 L Mercedes-Benz OM621 engine Diesel Straight-4 | 11,822 | ||
| W121 sedan | W121.010 | 1956–1959 | 190 | 1.9 L Mercedes-Benz M121 Straight-4 | 61,345 |
| 1959–1961 | 190b | 1.9 L Mercedes-Benz M121 engine Straight-4 | 28,463 | ||
| W121.110 | 1958–1959 | 190D | 1.9 L Diesel Straight-4 | 20,629 | |
| 1959–1961 | 190Db | 1.9 L Mercedes-Benz OM621 engine Diesel Straight-4 | 61,309 | ||
| Notes | |||||
| Mercedes-Benz 190SL | 121.040 hardtop | 1955–1961 | Mercedes-Benz 190SL | 1.9 L Mercedes-Benz M121 engine Straight-4 | 921 engine |
| 1962–1963 | 928 engine | ||||
| 121.042 soft top | 1955–1961 | 921 engine | |||
| 1962–1963 | 928 engine |
References
- ↑ according to: Werner Oswald: Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, vol.5. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02131-5, p. 32.
- "Mercedes 180-D". Road & Track (1959 Road Test Annual): 81–83.
External links
| Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1946–1970s — next »
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| Class | Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Straight-4 | Sedan (car) | W136 / Mercedes-Benz W191 | W120 / W121 | W110 | Mercedes-Benz W115 | W123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roadster | Mercedes-Benz 190SL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Straight-6 | Sedan (car) | W187 | Mercedes-Benz W105 / W180 / W128 | W111 | W114 | W123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | W187 | W180 / W128 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | Sedan (car) | W186 / W189 | W111 | W108 / Mercedes-Benz W109 | W116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luxury vehicle | W188 | W112 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limousine | W186 / W189 | W112 | W100 (600) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | Roadster | W198 | W113 | R107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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