Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Marilyn Monroe and her Mercedes-Benz 170 S

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on September 10, 2025

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Mercedes-Benz AG

27

Bonhams

18

PD

4

Sam Shaw

1

Los Angeles Daily News

1

Daimler AG

1

Archiv

1

Mercedes-Benz AG

27

Bonhams

18

PD

4

Sam Shaw

1

Los Angeles Daily News

1

Daimler AG

1

Archiv

1

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - gehörte gemäss notariell bestätigten Zulassungsdokumenten im Jahr 1956 der Schauspielerin Marilyn Monroe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - knapp über 1200 kg schwer und fast 120 km/h schnell

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Radstand 284,5 cm, Länge 445 cm

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - ein grosses Lenkrad, um die 1,2-Tonnen-Fuhre unter Kontrolle zu halten

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - umfangreiche Instrumentierung

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - langer Schalthebel, aber auch für zierliche Damenhände gut fassbar

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - steil stehendes Lenkrad

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - "MM"-Monogramm im Cockpit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Benzinhahn und Pedalerie

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Blick in den Fussraum

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - 05659b19-9d36-4a13-956a-97507de7e159

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Anleitung im Handschuhfach

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - 52 PS leistete der längs eingebaute Vierzylinder beim 4000 Umdrehungen pro MInute

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - der seitengesteuerte Vierzylinder mit 1760 cm3 Hubraum

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - alles bereit im Kofferraum

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - passendes Kofferset und Reserverad im Kofferrraum

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - die Koffer mit den historischen Nummernschildern

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - Vorserienfahrezeug, Lackierung der Radkappen differiert von der Serie

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - Vorserienmodell mit später noch geänderter Radkappen-Lackierung

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - stattliche Limousine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - W 136, gebaut von 1949 bis 1952

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - Blick in den Kofferraum mit auf Wunsch erhältlichem passenden Koffersatz

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170S - Ausstellungschassis des 170S - zweistufige Hinterradfederung durch doppelte Schraubenfedern ist gut sichtbar - Genfer Autosalon 1951

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S V (1953) - Limousine der Baureihe 136

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S V (1953) - Nachfolgemodell zum 170 S

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Chassis, gezeigt auf dem 36. Pariser Autosalon

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - der Vergasermotor M 136 III für den 170 S

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - Vorderradaufhängung

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - Pendelachse hinten

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Produktion der Modelle 170 S und 170 V in Sindelfingen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Produktion Seite an Seite mit dem 170 V D

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - "Hochzeit" - Karossserie wird in Sindelfingen auf den Rahmen gesetzt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1952) - Produktionsjubiläum im Werk Sindelfingen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 D (1952) - Werbeanzeige für den wirtschaftlichen Wagen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S V (1953) - im Hintergrund, auf der 38. Internationalen Automobilausstellung in London im Oktober 1953

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - am 20. Int. Automobilsalon in Genf im März 1950

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1952) - auf dem 22. Genfer Autosalon, in der Mitte steht der Typ 220

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - Titelseite des Prospekts von 1949 mit Zeichnung von Walter Gotschke

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1949) - Werbeillustration zum W 136 IV

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S V (1953) - Titelseite des Prospekts zum W136

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Werbemotiv in einer Wirtschafszeitung, Zeichnung von Walter Gotschke

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - Karl Kling beim ADAC-6-Stunden-Tourenwagen-Rennen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - wintertauglich

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1950) - als Reiselimousine gezeigt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1952) - mit 52 PS gerüstet für die Fahrt im Winter

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 170 S (1951) - Crashtest, durchgeführt um 1960

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marilyn Monroe bei einem PR-Anlass für PanAm im Jahr 1950

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Portät von Marilyn Monroe, für Photoplay im Jahr 1953

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Heirat von Marilyn Monroe und Joe DiMaggio im Jahr 1954

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

berühmtes Photo von Marilyn Monroe als PR-Stunt in den Strassen New Yorks währen der Drehareiten zum Film "The Seven Year Itch" im Jahr 1954

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marilyn Monroe im Film "The Seven Year Itch" im Jahr 1955

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marilyn Monroe im Film "Some like it hot" im Jahr 1959

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes-Benz 230 Sedan (1938) - als Lot 172 angeboten an der Bonhams Amelia Island Versteigerung vom 5. März 2020

You have only

1 out of 53

images seen in high resolution

Summary

With the 170 S, Mercedes-Benz presented the first new design of the post-war period, even if, on closer inspection, it was more of a mixture and evolution of pre-war models. One of the more than 28,000 examples built between 1949 and 1952 was used by Marilyn Monroe in the mid-sixties. This car is presented in many pictures in this article.

This article contains the following chapters

Further development
A time-out in Greece?
Marylin in the 170 S
Completely restored

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Marilyn Monroe certainly had a soft spot for cars. There are many photos showing the actress in chic and elegant cars, such as Cadillac models or the Ford Thunderbird. But a Mercedes-Benz 170 S (Type W 136 IV) only really fits into the picture to a limited extent, as the post-war saloon was certainly not considered a style icon at the time. In May 1949, Mercedes-Benz presented the first post-war program at the Hanover Export Fair, and the 170 S was part of it. The Automobil Revue presented the new model in detail and also described the context: "The unspoken objective underlying the design of the new model can best be commented on by the neutral observer of the 170 S as follows: this vehicle was to combine the interior space, ride comfort and driving performance of the last 2.3 six-cylinder, the 153 W, i.e. a medium-sized car, with the economy of the small 170 V, and at the same time had to surpass both in terms of driving safety.To this end, the slightly enlarged engine in particular was brought up to more than a third higher maximum output without significantly increasing its displacement. The chassis was given a larger track width, particularly at the rear, with almost the same bodywork but improved suspension, while the bodywork was similar to that of the 153 W in terms of lines and interior, apart from a slight shortening and a few changes to details."

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Photos of this article

Source: