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On the road in the Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet - injection luxury and a feel-good atmosphere

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Created on June 12, 2015

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Balz Schreier

33

Bruno von Rotz

14

Daimler AG

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Archiv Daimler AG

3

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

1

Archiv

5

Balz Schreier

33

Bruno von Rotz

14

Daimler AG

14

Archiv Daimler AG

3

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

1

Archiv

5

Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - die Zweifarbenlackierung steht ihm gut

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - altes Auto vor alten Mauern

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - damals fast so teuer wie ein Einfamilienhaus

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - für sonnige Tage

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - als es noch kein Windschott gab

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - angenehmer Reisewagen

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - angenehm zu fahren

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - auch auf kleinen Landstrassen angenehm zu fahren

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - offen am schönsten

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - damals ein König der Landstrasse

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - mit sonorem Sechszylinder-Klang

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - Ponton-Linie

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - da gehört doch eigentlich noch eine freundliche Dame als Beifahrerin dazu

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - relativ grosser Überhang hinten

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - passt sich farblich der Umgebung an

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - nobler Tourer

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - aufrechter Kühlergrill und Pontonform

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - von hinten wenig Zierrat

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - bot damals viel Überholprestige

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - hoch bauend

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - auch mit geschlossenem Dach elegant

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - grosszügiger Kofferraum

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - vorne viel, hinten beschränkt Platz

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - edles Holz und viel Leder

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - man beachte das schön verarbeitete Holz

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - knautschig und edel

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - da fühlt sich der Fahrer gediegen untergebracht

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - links der Blinker, rechts der Schalthebel

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - Bandtacho, Wassertemperatur und Ölthermometer

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - Kombiinstrument

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - mit Philips-Plattenspieler

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - bei gewissen Funktionen muss man einfach wissen, hinter welchem Schalter sie sich verstecken

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - keine Mittelschaltung

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - mit Plattenspieler

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - Heizung/Lüftung

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - selbst der Handgriff ist im Holz eingearbeitet

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - mach das Maul auf

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - mit Einspritzung

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - Blick in den Motorraum

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - der eingespritzte Reihensechszylinder

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - gegenüber dem 300 SL vereinfachte Einspritzanlage (Zweistempel)

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - der berühmte Stern

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - Blinker auf dem vorderen Kotflügel

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - massive Türgriffe

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - herrliche Raddeckel

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - der Schriftzug auf dem Heck

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1959) - Heckleuchten

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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 A/C (1955) - Werbeanzeige Mercedes-Benz "Premiere in Frankfurt" - dieser Typ ging so nie in Serie

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Mercedes Benz 220 SE (1959) - die Limousine bot die Basis für Cabriolet und Coupé

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Mercedes Benz 220 SE (1959) - ein bisschen Cabriolet-Atmosphäre verströmt auch die Limousine mit dem Faltdach

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1956) - auf der Schwarzwaldhochstrasse

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Mercedes Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1958) - elegantes Cabriolet mit 106 PS starkem Vergaser-Motor

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1956) - mit Ponton-Karosserie

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1956) - Zeichnung aus dem Prospekt

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1956) - Werbeillustration

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Mercedes Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1957) - am Bergrennen Vaduz-Triesenberg am 18. Oktober 1958

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1958) - auf hintere Seitenfenster wurde verzichtet

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1958) - mit geschlossenem Verdeck

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1958) - mit Kennzeichenleuchte der zweiten Ausführung

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1958) - mit Einspritzmotor

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet (1958) - offen am elegantesten

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1956) - Armaturenbrett mit viel Holz

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Mercedes Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1956) - in leicht ausfahrbarem Fahrschemel ist der 100-PS-Motor (Typ M 180 III) montiert

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S (1956) - Vergaser-Reihen-Sechszylinder M 180 III für den Ponton-Mercedes

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1958) - Einspritz-Motor M 127 I für den 220 SE

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S (1956) - Vorderachs-Konstruktion für den Ponton-Mercedes von vorne und hinten gesehen

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Mercedes Benz 220 S Coupé (1959) - auch als Coupé erhältlich

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Mercedes Benz 220 S Cabriolet (1956) - auch das Coupé-Dach steht dem Ponton-Mercedes gut

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Mercedes Benz 220 S Coupé (1959) - das Coupé mit 106-PS-Motor

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Summary

From 1956 to 1960, Mercedes-Benz also built the 220 S and, from 1958, the 220 SE as a convertible and coupé. The two-door variants remained rare, as they were priced at the same level as a detached house, which was not conducive to their popularity. However, their exceptional status ensured a good survival rate. This driving report describes the history of the convertible and provides driving impressions, supplemented by many current and historical photographs.

This article contains the following chapters

Elegant
Robust and stable
False start
Powerful
Inventive technology
Worth the extra price
Remained rare
Beautiful living in the fifties
The ideal tourer
Further information

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When a wealthy gentleman had a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet delivered to Switzerland in 1959, he was certainly one of the top ten thousand. The partially hand-built convertible cost 30,800 francs without extras, which was not only 9,900 francs more than the Mercedes saloon with the same engine, but also almost the equivalent of a simple detached house. He could have bought almost six brand-new VW Beetles for the same money - was the Mercedes really that much better? In any case, the Mercedes was much more elegant. With its pontoon body, it looked really "smart" and modern. Opened and closed, it looked as if it had been cast from a single mold. The Mercedes designers had been able to borrow a lot from the saloon. The four-door also provided the frame floor system on which the cabriolet body sat. However, it had to be shortened, as the wheelbase of the Cabriolet (and the Coupé built in parallel) was 12 cm shorter. However, because the rear section was redesigned and made longer at the same time, the Cabriolet was only five centimetres shorter than the saloon.

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