1954 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A For Sale by Auction

Dorotheum - Sammlung Wiesenthal / Dorotheum - The Wiesenthal Collection
Ohne Limit / Without Reserve
Samstag, 1. Dezember 2018 / Saturday, 1st December 2018
Camineum der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek / 1015 Wien, Josefsplatz 1

1954 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (ohne Limit)

Chassis the details below33
Motor the details below03
Aufbau the details below8

Seit 1987 in der Sammlung Wiesenthal
Wunderschön restauriert
Matching Numbers

Im April 1951 fand die IAA mit ihrer 34. Ausgabe erstmals in Frankfurt statt. Diese Bühne nützte Mercedes um sich in der Oberklasse zurück zu melden. Lange genug musste der 170, vor dem Krieg als Einstieg gerade gut genug, den Stern hoch halten. Nun standen vor versammeltem Publikum die ersten Nachkriegs-Sechszylinder, synonym für den Neubeginn der Marke und den Aufbruch in eine neue Zeit.

Der 300 war die Speerspitze, die so lange vermisst wurde und an den Glanz von früher erinnerte. Die Lücke zum Unerreichbaren schloss der 220. Dessen Motor leistete nun 80 PS, gut für 140 km/ h, und war ein großer Wurf, dessen Grundkonzept bis in die 1980er erhalten blieb. Das Äußere bot überschaubar Neues und konnte seine Herkunft nicht verleugnen. Noch immer wirkten die Vorkriegsmodelle nach.

Was den Limousinen an Moderne fehlte, machten die Cabriolets mit Eleganz wett. Vor allem das zweifenstrige, dreisitzige Cabriolet A war von hinreißender Schönheit. Ganz nach Vorkriegsnomenklatur gab es dazu ein Vierfenster-Cabriolet B und ab Ende 1953 ein sportliches Coupé.

Schon die Limousine war mit knapp DM 12. 000 nur für wenige erreichbar, das Cabriolet A kostete noch einmal um die Hälfte mehr, das Coupé mit Schiebedach fast das Doppelte und damit soviel wie der 300. Für die Massen blieben sie alle nur ein Traum. Entsprechend waren die Stückzahlen, gut 16. 000 Limousinen standen je etwa 1. 000 Cabriolets gegenüber. Ihr Preis reduzierte die Coupés dramatisch auf 85.

1954 kam schließlich auch das Blechkleid in der Gegenwart an, in Ponton-Form. Während die neue Limousine die Vorkriegszeit nun ganz hinter sich ließ, blieben Cabriolet A und Coupé vorerst im Programm. Für ein Jahr noch gab es fünf Pferdestärken mehr, im Mai 1955 war letztlich Schluss, obwohl noch kein Nachfolger in Sicht war. Der Platz ganz oben gehört dem 220 nicht nur in der Ahnengalerie, auch an Schönheit und Glamour stehen die Cabriolets und Coupés dem Überauto 300 S um rein gar nichts nach.

Dieses 220 Cabriolet A trat am 30. April 1954 seine erste Reise nach Übersee an, genauer gesagt nach Chicago, zur Firma Geib, einem renommierten Hersteller von Instrumentenkoffern. Der schwarze Wagen war ausgestattet mit rotem Leder und schwarzem Verdeck, einem Telefunken-Radio, erhöhten Stoßstangenhörnern und Weißwandreifen. Mit aufs Schiff nahm er ein Ersatzteilsortiment und ein Kilo Lack.

1987 kehrte das bildhübsche Cabriolet in die Alte Welt zurück, nach Wien in die Sammlung Wiesenthal. Am 18. Juli zugelassen, zeugt ein altes Notizbuch von ausgiebigen Probefahrten in den Folgetagen. Kleine Probleme mit Warmstart und zweitem Gang wurden noch im Herbst des Jahres beseitigt. Ansonsten bescheinigt sein Erprober dem 220 wiederholt guten Zustand und vor allem das Aufsehen, dass er bei staunenden Passanten erregt. Auch in den Folgejahren wurde minutiös Buch geführt über jeden Kilometer und jedes Wehwehchen.

1990 wurde das Cabriolet gründlich bei der Firma Bergstaller überarbeitet, 1993 der Motor überholt und 1995 noch einmal die Vergaser. 2003/ 2004 wurde schließlich die Karosserie fachmännisch restauriert und das Interieur erneuert, selbstredend so, wie er 50 Jahre zuvor das Werk verließ. Ein originales Kofferset gab es zu diesem Anlass obendrein dazu.

Die seitdem vergangenen Jahre haben kaum Spuren hinterlassen, noch immer ist das 220 Cabriolet A eine beeindruckende Erscheinung, sportlich, luxuriös und elegant wie am ersten Tag. Und genauso sorgt es weiter für Staunen.

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In the Wiesenthal Collection since 1987
Beautifully restored condition
Matching Numbers

The 34th IAA took place in April 1951 in Frankfurt for the first time. Mercedes used this stage to reassert its place at the top end of the market. For enough time the 170, a mere entry level before the war, had to hold up the star. Now the attendees in Frankfurt were stunned with the first post-war six-cylinder models, which represented a fresh start for the brand and the beginning of a new era.

The 300 was the spearhead that had been missing for so long and which evoked the splendour of the past. The 220 bridged the gap to the unattainable. Its 80 hp motor reaching 140 km/ h, was a great success and its basic layout lived on until all the way into the 1980s. The exterior appearance was barely altered, thus could not deny where it was coming from. The pre-war models continued to exert their influence.

While the saloons may have been lacking a modern touch, the cabriolets made up for this with style and elegance. The two-window, three-seater Cabriolet A was of particularly captivating beauty. True to the pre-war naming system, there was also a four-window Cabriolet B and a sporty Coupé from the end of 1953 onwards.

Even the saloon was attainable for just a select few at 12, 000 Mark. The Cabriolet A cost

0 percent more, while the coupé with a sun roof was almost double in price, making it as expensive as the high-class 300. The masses could only dream of owning one of these cars. his corresponded with the quantities. 16, 000 saloons were produced, compared with around 1, 000 of each cabriolet. Their price dramatically reduced the coupés number to a mere 85.

In 1954, the metal exterior was finally brought up to date with the “Ponton” design. While the new saloon marked a complete departure from the pre-war era, the Cabriolet A and Coupé continued for the time being. For one year, they were produced with a further five horses before finally being discontinued in May 1955, although there was no successor on the horizon. Together with the out-of-this-world 300 S the 220 Cabriolets and Coupés remain unsurpassed in terms of their beauty, glamour and classic style.

This 220 Cabriolet A started its journey overseas when it left the factory on 30 April 1954. More precisely, it travelled to a Chicago-based company called Geib that were renowned producers of instrument cases. The black car was fitted with red leather and a black soft-top, a Telefunken radio, elongated bumper guards and white wall tyres. It was joined on the boat by an assortment of replacement parts and a kilo of paint.

The picture-perfect cabriolet returned to the Old World in 1987, when it joined the Wiesenthal collection. It was registered on 18 July, and an old notebook reveals that a good deal of test drives took place over the days that followed. There were minor issues with warm starts and the second gear, but those were resolved by autumn of the same year. Otherwise, its driver again attested the 220’s good condition and, above all, the amazement on the faces of astonished passers-by. A highly detailed record was kept of every kilometre driven and every tiny issue that arose over the next few years.

In 1990, the cabriolet was overhauled at Bergstaller, the engine rebuilt in 1993, and the carburettors in 1995. Eventually, the body was expertly restored in 2003/ 2004 and the interior renewed. It goes without saying that this was done to match the exact look it had left the factory 50 years prior. An original luggage set was also thrown in for good measure to mark this occasion.

The years have passed since then leaving barely a trace: the 220 cabriolet A remains as impressive, sporty, luxurious and elegant as it was on the day it was made. And it still makes jaws drop wherever it goes.

Online Katalog / online catalogue:
- details above

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