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

Name: Mercedes Benz 220 1953
Brand: Mercedes Benz

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Created on January 19, 2014

Text:

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) - offered as lot 109 at the RM auction on January 16/17, 2014 in Arizona

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - sunflowers and radiator grille - auctioned as lot 109 at RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - colorful motifs with flowers - auctioned as lot 109 at RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - bright colors on the sheet metal of the classic car - auctioned as lot 109 at RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - exotic birds and flowers - auctioned as lot 109 at RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - the wheel covers were also painted - auctioned as lot 109 at RM Auction Arizona 2014

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Mercedes Benz 220 Limousine (1951) - stately car

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Mercedes Benz 220 Sedan (1951) - with clear pre-war design elements

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Mercedes-Benz 170S - Exhibition chassis of the 170S - two-stage rear suspension with double coil springs is clearly visible - Geneva Motor Show 1951

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Mercedes Benz 220 (1951) - M 180 in-line six-cylinder engine

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - version with straight windshield

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - Cabriolet of the 187 series

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - still with curved fenders

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1953) - Version with straight windshield

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1954) - even more elegant

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1954) - differed from the earlier models in that it had a curved windshield

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1955) - version of the W 187 series with curved windshield

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - the longer version of the open-top car from the 187 series

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - for the whole family

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - Interior of the W 187 model series

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1951) - with 80 hp front and radiator grille

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - rounded rear end

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - with 80 hp, built from 1951 to 1955

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet B (1952) - plenty of space for the large row

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Mercedes Benz 220 Coupé (1954) - with steel sliding roof

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Mercedes 300 S (1953) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1953 - Mercedes stand

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Mercedes Benz 220 Limousine (1953) - Brochure for vehicles 1951 to 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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