Mercedes-Benz Luxury Sedan · 220

W187

Postwar elegance — the 220 on the W187 chassis.

Production
1951–1955
Built
18,514
Body
Sedan, coupé & cabriolet
Chassis
W187
Mercedes-Benz Luxury Sedan (W187)

The W187 220 was Mercedes-Benz's immediate post-war luxury offering below the Adenauer 300 — a six-cylinder saloon, cabriolet, and coupé range that brought formal coachwork to a broader audience in the early 1950s.

Using the 2.2-liter six in a conventional chassis with elegant Sindelfingen bodies, the 220 served buyers who wanted Mercedes-Benz quality and open or closed luxury without the expense and scale of the W186 Großer Mercedes. Cabriolet and coupé variants were particularly admired for their proportions.

Built from 1951 to 1955, the W187 program totalled 18,514 cars. It was the accessible luxury Mercedes-Benz — the car that kept the firm's coachbuilding tradition alive while the Ponton revolution prepared to arrive.

W187 interior
Cabin details of the W187, as preserved in period photography.

Every model.

7 model designations across 1951–1955 — engines, chassis codes and production figures for the W187.

MalliMallivuodetValmistettuAlustaMoottoriVaihteistoYhteensä
220 Cabriolet A1951–195508.1951–08.1955187.012180.9201,278
220 Cabriolet B1951–195307.1951–05.1953187.013180.920997
220 Sedan (sliding roof)1952–195407.1951–05.1954187.014180.920sisältyy yllä olevaan
220 Sedan1952–195407.1951–05.1954187.011180.92016,066
220 Chassis1952–195407.1951–05.1954187.011180.92047
220 Open Tourer195305.1952–04.1953187.018180.92041
220 Coupé1954–195512.1953–07.1955187.023180.92085

* Julkaistu tuotantoluku kattaa kyseisen mallin kaikki sarjat; lähde ei erittele sitä tarkemmin.

W187 side profile
Studio profile of the W187 — the proportions that defined this chassis.

Year by year.

The body, engine and production changes that distinguish the postwar Type 220.

  1. 1951
    • The Type 220 entered production as a saloon, Cabriolet A and Cabriolet B.
    • Duplex front brakes accompanied the new 80 hp overhead-camshaft six-cylinder engine.
  2. 1953
    • Cabriolet B production ended in May.
    • The Cabriolet A received a slightly curved windscreen in November.
    • The hand-built 220 Coupé entered production in December.
  3. 1954
    • The Coupé and Cabriolet A adopted the 85 hp engine developed for the succeeding 220 a.
    • Saloon production ended in May.
  4. 1955
    • Coupé and Cabriolet A production ended in July and August respectively.
W187 rear three-quarter view
Rear three-quarter view of the W187.