1961 Mercedes Benz 190D Pontoon Description

1961 Mercedes-Benz 190D Ponton Sedan

Preserved, dry stored original 190D West Germany production 68,221 miles on odometer and believed to be original by documentation Excellent foundation for full restoration Original factory correct 1.9L diesel engine (50 hp) Four-speed manual transmission Factory correct light gray (code DB-140) paint Four-wheel drum brakes Gray interior with many hard to find original parts Production of 190D models from 1958 to 1959 totaled 20,629 units

MotoeXotica is happy to offer a car that appeals to those who are ready for their next classic Mercedes restoration on a very straight original car that retains almost all the hard-to-find trim pieces and the body remains overall straight and dry.

Almost all of the original exterior trim bits are present, save for the driver’s side windshield wiper and a couple of trunk emblems but the trunk is dry. Most of the interior trim pieces are there and surprising in very good restorable condition.

Finished in its factory correct light gray (code DB-140) original paint with front and rear bumpers that do not appear to have been re-chromed, this car would make for an excellent base for a full restoration.

Inside, seat covers have preserved the bench seats, which are in good condition and affixed to the driver’s door jamb and floorboard are former stickers documenting mileage and maintenance. Car has radio delete option and some interior trim will need repainting but original VDO gauges and clock reside in the instrument panel, which also has a wooden section without cracks that merely needs to be refinished and the floorpan is in decent shape and the trunk pan is extremely nice.

The 190D sedan, followed the gasoline-powered model in 1958. The body style was nearly the same as that of the 180 sedan but there was a new 1.9L single overhead camshaft four-cylinder diesel engine that made 50 horsepower and 81 lbs-ft of torque. Mounted on four separate points on the U-frame, the engine operated more quietly than in previous iterations. Interior trimmings in the 190 were slightly better quality than those of the 180.

There were essentially four types of Ponton cars. Note the “D” designates a diesel engine, and the suffix “b” and/or “c” are body variants introduced after the middle of 1959. They were the mainstay of Mercedes’ lineup during their production runs. Together with the more luxurious and somewhat larger 2.2 liter inline six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz W128 220, they constituted 80 percent of Mercedes-Benz’s production between 1953 and 1959. Production figures for the 190D model totaled 15,160 units in 1959 and 20,629 copies from 1958 to 1959.

With a flair for the dramatic, Mercedes-Benz publicly introduced the diesel engine by entering a car equipped with one in the 8,727-mile, Algiers-to-Capetown African Rallye that year. It averaged 55.5 mph across the continent.

Many 180-190 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 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 120/121.

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 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, the star was spring-retained on a ball base.

Called the Ponton, the nickname comes from the German word for pontoon and refers to one definition of pontoon fenders — and a postwar styling trend, subsequently called ponton styling. The “Heckflosse” or Fintail models replaced the Pontons.

Current mileage on the odometer shows 68,221 miles. It is sold as is and on a clear and mileage exempt Florida title.

VIN: 12111010058848

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