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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A - Art on a classic car or classic car as an art object?

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Created on January 19, 2014

Reading time 3min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Archiv Daimler AG

ted7 Photography - Courtesy RM Auctions

Archiv

Archiv Daimler AG

ted7 Photography - Courtesy RM Auctions

Archiv

Mercedes-Benz 220 A Cabriolet "Earthly Paradise" (1952) - angeboten als Lot 109 an der RM-Versteigerung vom 16./17. Januar 2014 in Arizona

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - Sonnenblumen und Kühlergrill - versteigert als Lot 109 an der RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - bunte Motive mit Blumen - versteigert als Lot 109 an der RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - leuchtende Farben auf dem Blech des Oldtimers - versteigert als Lot 109 an der RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - exotische Vögel und Blumen - versteigert als Lot 109 an der RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - auch die Raddeckel wurden bemalt - versteigert als Lot 109 an der RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Limousine (1951) - stattlicher Wagen

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Mercedes Benz 220 Limousine (1951) - mit klaren Vorkriegs-Design-Elementen

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

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Mercedes Benz 220 (1951) - Reihen-Sechszylinder-Motor des Typs M 180

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - Ausführung mit gerader Frontscheibe

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - Cabriolet der Baureihe 187

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - noch mit geschwungenen Kotflügeln

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1953) - Ausführung mit gerader Frontscheibe

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1954) - noch eleganter

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1954) - unterschied sich gegenüber den früheren Modellen durch eine gebogene Windschutzscheibe

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1955) - Ausführung der Baureihe W 187 mit gewölbter Frontscheibe

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - die längere Variante des offenen Wagens der Baureihe 187

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - für die ganze Familie

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - Interieur der Baureihe W 187

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - mit 80 PS Front und Kühlergrill

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - gerundeter Heckabschluss

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - mit 80 PS, Bauzeit 1951 bis 1955

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - viel Platz für die grosse Reihe

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Mercedes Benz 220 Coupé (1954) - mit Stahlschiebedach

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Mercedes 300 S (1953) - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1953 - Mercedes Stand

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Mercedes Benz 220 Limousine (1953) - Prospekt für Fahrzeuge 1951 bis 1954

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Summary

The Stuttgart-based manufacturer sold 1278 Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A models between 1951 and 1955, several dozen of which were used by Japanese artist Hiro Yamagata as the background for his "Earthly Paradise" series. This report portrays one of the valuable works of art and briefly summarizes the history and technology of the Mercedes 220 A Cabriolet.

This article contains the following chapters

On the backbone of the 170 S
Short hood with endurance
Only built for four years
Harmony of technology and nature
Exhibited worldwide
Work of art or vehicle?

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Hiro Yamagata is a Japanese artist who lives in California. For his series "Earthly Paradise", he chose neither canvas nor wood as the background, but vehicles from the Mercedes W 187 series. In April 1951, Mercedes presented a new model series with a 2.2-liter six-cylinder engine at the IAA in Frankfurt. From the start of production, the cars with the type designation"220" were available as a saloon and in two convertible variants. Technically, the new car was based on the proven Mercedes 170 S. An X-shaped oval tubular frame supported the body. The wheels were guided at the front by independent suspension with trapezoidal triangular wishbones, while a swing axle at the rear ensured ground contact.

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