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29-532: The W120 was nicknamed the Ponton (along with other Mercedes models ) after its introduction, because it employed ponton , or pontoon styling, a prominent styling trend that unified a car's previously articulated hood, body, fenders and running boards into a singular envelope. Together with the longer wheelbase and more luxurious 2.2-liter inline-six cylinder W128 model 220, they constituted 80 percent of Mercedes-Benz' car production between 1953 and 1959. The W120

58-472: A base 180 model, but the longer bonnet (and wheelbase), and chrome touches identified it as an upscale, six-cylinder model. The 1951 to 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 W186 Adenauer company flagship used a much larger frame and body, and was an entirely different car. The 180 and 190 four-cylinders were widely used as German taxis. Only these shorter Pontons featured low-wattage parking clearance lights at front bumper top rear. A simple left-right toggle above and to

87-453: A coupe and cabriolet version on a shortened six-cylinder body. Note the "D" designates a diesel engine , and the suffix "b" and/or "c" are body variants introduced after the middle of 1959. The design of the 190 SL roadster differed completely from the Ponton sedans, copying much of the bodywork of the 300SL sportscar, and using the same suspension, but it was constructed on a shortened version of

116-518: A prominent styling trend that unified the previously articulated hood, body, fenders and runnings boards into a singular, often slab-sided envelope. At the time, Mercedes itself did not refer to any of its cars using the nickname. Mercedes stretched the 'Ponton' saloons into a range that became the automaker's dominant production models until 1959. The 1953 Mercedes-Benz W120, marketed as 180 , four-cylinder sedans were Mercedes' second totally new series of passenger cars since World War II , following

145-445: Is similar in design to a ball screw ; the threads are filled with steel balls that recirculate through the gear and rack as it turns. The balls serve to reduce friction and wear in the gear, and reduce slop. Slop, when the gears come out of contact with each other, would be felt when changing the direction of the steering wheel, causing the wheel to feel loose. Power steering in a recirculating-ball system works similarly to that in

174-516: The Mercedes-Benz 170 Sb , was replaced with a downtuned version of the 190's M 121. The same year, the Mercedes star atop the faux external radiator cap was made spring-loaded to give when bumped: reports at the time indicated that this was either to pander to the requirements of certain export markets, notably Switzerland , or to reduce the risk of pedestrian injury in the event of an accident. By 1959,

203-501: The crumple zone concept in 1937 before he worked for Mercedes-Benz, and in a more developed form in 1952. Barény questioned the prevailing opinion until then, that a safe car had to be rigid. He divided the car body into three sections: the central, rigid, non-deforming passenger compartment, and the crumple zones in the front and the rear. They are designed to absorb the energy of an impact (kinetic energy) by deformation during collision . The 1953 W120 "Ponton" partially implemented

232-408: The 180, by introducing more engines and stretching the body. Six-cylinder models received a longer nose, and 'S'-models also had a longer passenger compartment, offering more legroom. A six-cylinder coupe and convertible were further derived, and a shortened floorpan of the four-cylinder sedan was also modified to serve as the structure for the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL roadster. The 'Ponton' saloons were

261-532: The 190 (or W121 internally), and in 1957, the old 1.8 litre in the 180 was replaced by a detuned version of the 1.9 litre. In 1958, the base range was further completed by also offering a 1.9 litre diesel. In 1958, the 220S models were upgraded with fuel injection, and became the Mercedes-Benz W128 , or 220SE series. The models 180(D) and 190(D) received further updates in 1959 and 1961. Austrian-Hungarian engineer Béla Barényi originally invented and patented

290-439: The 1951 introduction of the top of the range W186 Type 300 “Adenauer”, and replaced the pre-war-designed Type 170 and Type 170 S . Contrasting very visibly with the traditional distinct fenders on that body-on-frame model and the ones before it, the 'Pontons' were Mercedes' first monocoque , unitary body production models. Mercedes expanded the base Ponton model into a diversified line, developing multiple series based on

319-597: The Diesel engines. The torque is sent from the engine to the rear wheels through a dry single-disc clutch and a synchronised, four-speed constant-mesh gearbox. The shift lever is a rather small lever mounted on the steering column. Mercedes-Benz Ponton The Mercedes-Benz "Ponton" series is a range of sedans / saloon car models from Daimler-Benz , introduced starting in 1953, and subsequently nicknamed 'Ponton' (the German word for "pontoon"), referring to its ponton styling ,

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348-707: The Pontons were replaced by the W110 "Fintail" models during 1961. At the time, Studebaker-Packard had an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to distribute their cars in the US market. A prototype was built based on the W120 with Packard-styled headlights similar to those fitted on the Packard Patrician . This prototype was called the W122 but it never reached the production state; This was likely because

377-447: The W120 platform that the prototype was based on was reaching the end of its life cycle, while the compact luxury sector was not that developed in the US market yet. The Mercedes-Benz W120 and W121 are four-door saloons with a longitudinal front engine, and rear-wheel drive . Rolling chassis with either two or four doors were also available from the factory. The cars have a self-supporting body,

406-473: The W120's body by 170 mm (6.7 in), complemented by a new rear suspension. 100 mm (3.9 in) was needed to fit the longer straight six engine block, and 70 mm (2.8 in) longer rear doors benefited legroom in the passenger cabin. In 1956, the six-cylinder model was expanded into an entire range. The 220a was upgraded to become the 220S. A third saloon series, the Mercedes-Benz W105

435-533: The W121 Ponton floorpan. A 1957 brochure provides a cross section of Ponton models then available: Recirculating ball Recirculating ball , also known as recirculating ball and nut or worm and sector , is a steering mechanism commonly found in older automobiles, off-road vehicles , and some trucks . Most newer cars use the more economical rack and pinion steering instead, but some upmarket manufacturers (such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz ) held on to

464-500: The automaker's main production models until 1959, adding up to 80% of Mercedes-Benz car production between 1953 and 1959, with some models lasting until 1962. The range was succeeded by the range of "Heckflosse" or "Fintail" models. Daimler-Benz emerged from World War II as a carmaker best known in the early 1950s for its expensive Mercedes-Benz 300 Adenauers and exclusive Mercedes-Benz 300 S sports tourers . Both were largely handbuilt body on frame vehicles. Its low end

493-519: The concepts of crumple zones and the non-deformable passenger cell into its " three-box design " by having a strong deep platform to form a partial safety cell (patented in 1941). The Mercedes-Benz crumple zones patent (number 854157) granted in 1952, describes the decisive feature of passive safety. The first Mercedes-Benz car developed, fully using this patent was the 1959 successor, the Mercedes W111 “Tail Fin” Saloon. The 'Ponton's design concept

522-614: The design until well into the 1990s for the durability and strength inherent in the design. A few, including Chrysler , General Motors , Lada and Ineos , still use this technology in certain models including the Jeep Wrangler , the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster and the Lada Niva . The recirculating ball steering mechanism contains a worm gear inside a block with a threaded hole in it; this block has gear teeth cut into

551-602: The front axle is fitted with a torsion-type anti-sway bar , and the rear wheels have additional hydraulic shock absorbers. Daimler-Benz installed a recirculating ball steering system and a hydraulic drum braking system in the 120- and 121-series. Mercedes-Benz built the W120 with all of their then-present four-cylinder engines: the M136 and M121 Otto (spark ignition) engines , and the OM636 and OM621 Diesel (compression ignition) engines , with most W120 and W121 cars powered by either of

580-539: The left of the driver's knee selected which side would illuminate, so as not to needlessly run down the battery in winter, no small concern when restarting diesels. Heater air intakes were on both sides of the radiator grille only on the W120/W121. The form and body of the car changed little during its production run. However, in 1957, a year after the introduction of the 190 saloon, the 180's 56 PS (41 kW; 55 hp) M136 engine, which had originally been designed for

609-459: The longitudinal members: these were straight in the centre of the vehicle and formed a rigid safety cage with the body panels, whereas the front and rear supports were curved, so they deformed in the event of an accident, absorbing part of the collision energy and preventing the full force of the impact from reaching the occupants. There were essentially five models of Ponton bodies on four different wheelbases: three wheelbase length saloons, plus

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638-511: The outside to engage the sector shaft (also called a sector gear) which moves the Pitman arm . The steering wheel connects to a shaft, which rotates the worm gear inside of the block. Instead of twisting further into the block, the worm gear is fixed so that when it rotates, it moves the block, which transmits the motion through the gear to the Pitman arm, causing the roadwheels to turn. The worm gear

667-450: The so-called "Ponton" body . The wheelbase measures 2650 mm, which is slightly less than the larger "Ponton" saloons' 2750 mm. In front, the W ;120 and W 121 have independent double-wishbone suspension , in rear, they have either a double-joint swing axle (until September 1955), or a single-joint swing axle (from September 1955). Both front and rear wheels are coil-sprung;

696-448: The star was spring-retained on a ball base. A related roadster variant, the R121 , better known as the 190SL , was produced from 1955 to 1963. At the 1959 Frankfurt Motor Show , in time for the 1960 US model year, a slightly wider grille and slimmer taillights were introduced. The same wider grille was carried forward to the car's (in other respects) more flamboyantly styled successors, when

725-484: Was Béla Barényi , who conceived the passive safety (crash protection) engineering of the body. The first of the 'Ponton' models to go into production was the 1953 Mercedes-Benz W120 , 1.8 L (110 cu in) four-cylinder, four-door sedan, available as the 180 petrol and the 180D diesel. In 1954 the Mercedes-Benz W180 six-cylinder executive / luxury model 220a was added, developed mostly by stretching

754-404: Was anchored by the dated pre-war designed Type 170 . Seeking to expand its production, Mercedes turned toward the unibody concept to design a line of mass-produced cars. Work began in earnest on the pontons bodied cars in 1951, with a design focused on passenger comfort and safety. Head of the design team was Dr. Fritz Nallinger . Styling was headed by Karl Wilfert . Also in the design team

783-426: Was created by grafting the six-cylinder nose onto the shorter center and rear body of the four-cylinder. Fitted with a detuned version of the straight-six, it was sold as the model 219. Additionally, new two-door coupe and convertible bodies were offered for the 220S, on a shortened wheelbase. In 1956, the four-cylinder model also received an all new, short-stroke 1.9 L (120 cu in) petrol engine option,

812-505: Was proven by ADAC crash test facility in June, 2010 when a Mercedes Ponton was crash tested in their Technical Centre in Landsberg am Lech , confirming the existence of the design incorporated into the vehicle. This made for a milestone in car design with front and rear crumple zones for absorbing kinetic energy on impact. The safety cell and crumple zones were achieved primarily by the design of

841-497: Was the first predecessor to the medium size Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan line. The base, four-cylinder 180/190 and the W105 six-cylinder 219 Ponton models looked very similar in appearance, from the rear doors forward, to the more luxury W128 and W180 stretched wheelbase six-cylinder 220a and 220 S(E) models. From behind, one could not easily differentiate even the top-of-the-line 220SE (E for 'Einspritzung', or fuel injection) from

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