Classic Car Catalogue
Mercedes Benz 1957
(W 120) 180, 180a, 180D
(W 121) 190
(W 105) 219
(W 180 II) 220S
(W 186) 300c - discontinued in July (1955-57 - 1483 ex.)
(W 189) 300d - September (Frankfurt)
(W 188 II) 300S
(W 121) 190SL
(W 198) 300SL - discontinued in May (1954-57 - 1.400 ex.)
(W 198 II) 300SL - Geneva
Germany
- March 14 - 24: Launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (W 198 II) at the Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the famous gull-wing coupe.
- April 11: An agreement between Daimler-Benz AG and Curtiss-Wright means that Studebaker-Packard is now responsible for distributing Mercedes-Benz cars and diesel engines in the USA.
- 19 - 29 September: An improved product range is presented to the public at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. The key new additions include the 300 model with updated body and fuel-injection engine (internal designation 300d, W 189). For the first time manifold injection is used instead of direct petrol injection found in the 300 SL. The 180 model debuts in an improved version (internal designation 180a, W 120) powered by a 65 hp 1.9-litre engine. The 219 and 220 S models are presented with uprated engines and the optionally available Hydrak hydraulic-automatic clutch.
- Type 300c (W 186 IV) with four-speed transmission or optional Automatic (Borg-Warner) was available from September 1955 to July 1957. The Cabriolet D was only built to June 1956.
- Production of the new Type 300d (W 189) began in August with updated body in hardtop design, and fuel injection engine. Normally fitted with automatic, four-speed manual transmission is only available on special request.
- The type 180a (production from July) was given moderately detuned overhead valve engine of the type 190. From April 1958 opening windows on the front doors. Production of the first series ended in June.
180, 180D, 190
W 120
180 (R4 cyl, 1767 ccm, 52 PS) - discontinued in June (1953-57 - 52.186 ex.)
180a (R4 cyl, 1897 ccm, 65 PS) - August (prod. from July)
180D (R4 cyl, diesel, 1767 ccm, 43 PS)
Limousine (wb: 2650 mm)
W 121
190 (R4 cyl, 1897 ccm, 75 PS)
Limousine (wb: 2650 mm)
219
W 105
219 (R6 cyl, 2195 ccm, 85/90 PS)
Limousine (wb: 2750 mm)
220S
W 180 II
220S (R6 cyl, 2195 ccm, 100/106 PS)
Limousine (wb: 2820 mm)
Cabriolet (wb: 2700 mm)
Coupe (wb: 2700 mm)
300
W 186 - discontinued in July (1955-57 - 1483 ex.)
300c (R6 cyl, 2996 ccm, 125 PS)
Limousine (wb: 3050 mm)
300
W 189 - August
300d (R6 cyl, inj, 2996 ccm, 160 PS)
Limousine (wb: 3150 mm)
300S
W 188 II
300Sc (R6 cyl, inj, 2996 ccm, 175 PS)
Coupe (wb: 2900 mm)
Cabriolet (wb: 2900 mm)
Roadster (wb: 2900 mm)
190SL
W 121
190SL (R4 cyl, 1897 ccm, 105 PS)
Roadster (wb: 2400 mm)
300SL
W 198 - discontinued in May (1954-57 - 1.400 ex.)
300SL (R6 cyl, inj, 2996 ccm, 215 PS)
Coupe (wb: 2400 mm)
W 198 II - prod. from February
300SL (R6 cyl, inj, 2996 ccm, 215 PS)
Roadster (wb: 2400 mm)
- 2 June: In Fort Worth, Texas/USA, Paul O'Shea, two-time American Sports Car champion in class D, wins his first race in the 300 SLS, a weight-optimised racing sports car based on the 300 SL Roadster.
- 13 December: Paul O'Shea wins the American Sports Car Championship for the third time in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.
300 SLS (W 198)
Victories:
F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship entries:
1000 km Buenos Aires 20.01.1957 (round 1) |
Results: |
# |
|
|
|
Entrant: |
gen. |
class |
|
50 |
300 SL |
|
Danvila / Terra |
O.Terra |
10th |
S3.0 |
3rd |
|
|
|
12 Hours Sebring 23.03.1957 (round 2) |
Results: |
# |
|
chassis # |
|
Entrant: |
gen. |
class |
|
17 |
300 SL |
9806500227 |
Flynn / Hugus |
C. Flynn |
33rd |
GT3.5 |
3rd |
|
|
18 |
300 SL |
0404500143 |
Windridge / Reed / Gilbert |
C. Kreisler |
25th |
GT3.5 |
1st |
|
|