Mercedes-Benz W120/W121
| Mercedes-Benz W120/W121 | |
|---|---|
 Mercedes-Benz 180b (W120) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Daimler-Benz |
| Production | 1953–1962 442,963 built |
| Assembly |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car (E) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Mercedes-Benz W105 — 219 Mercedes-Benz W180 — 220a/S Mercedes-Benz W128 — 220SE |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,650 mm (104.3 in) |
| Length | 180: 4,460 mm (175.6 in) 180 a / 190: 4,485 mm (176.6 in) 180 b/c, 190 b: 4,500 mm (177.2 in) |
| Width | 1,740 mm (68.5 in) |
| Height | 1,560 mm (61.4 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,150 kg (2,540 lb)—1,220 kg (2,690 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz W136 Mercedes-Benz W191 |
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz W110 |
The Mercedes-Benz W120 and Mercedes-Benz W121 are technically similar inline-four cylinder sedans of slightly different engine displacements made as two model series by Mercedes-Benz, the 180 and 190:
- the W120 was introduced as the 180 in 1953, powered by the company's existing 1.8 liter M136 engine. From 1954, the W120 was also offered with a diesel engine as the Mercedes-Benz 180 D. Both versions were sold through 1962
- the W121 debuted as the 190` in 1956, powered by a 1.9 liter M121 engine,. From 1958, it was also offered with the OM621 diesel, sold as the 190 D. Both versions were sold through 1961.
Each model's diesel version received engine upgrades during its run.
Together with the longer wheelbase and more luxurious 2.2-liter inline-six cylinder W128 model 220, they constituted 80 percent of Mercedes-Benz' car production between 1953 and 1959.[2]
The W120 was the first predecessor to the medium size Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan line.[3]
History
[edit]The base, four-cylinder 180/190 and the W105 six-cylinder 219 Ponton models looked very similar in appearance, from the rear doors forward, to the more luxury W128 and W180 stretched wheelbase six-cylinder 220a and 220 S(E) models. From behind, one could not easily differentiate even the top-of-the-line 220SE (E for 'Einspritzung', or fuel injection) from a base 180 model, but the longer bonnet (and wheelbase), and chrome touches identified it as an upscale, six-cylinder model.
The 1951 to 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 W186 Adenauer company flagship was a much larger car, with its own frame, body, interior, and engine. It was followed through 1962 by an updated limousine length Mercedes-Benz 300d W189.
The W120/W121 shared their Ponton nickname with other Mercedes models, drawn from their ponton styling, a prominent design and styling trend regarded as resembling a pontoon that unified a car's previously articulated hood, body, fenders and running boards into a singular envelope.
The 180 and 190 four-cylinders were widely used as German taxis. Only these shorter Pontons featured low-wattage parking clearance lights at front bumper top rear. As in other Mercedes models, a simple toggle switch above the driver's left knee selected which side would illuminate, so as not to needlessly run down the battery, no small concern when restarting diesels in winter. Heater air intakes were on both sides of the radiator grille only on the W120/W121.
The form and body of the car changed little during its production run. However, in 1957, a year after the introduction of the 190 saloon, the 180's 56 PS (41 kW; 55 hp) M136 engine, which had originally been designed for the Mercedes-Benz 170 Sb, was replaced with a downtuned version of the 190's M 121. The same year, the Mercedes star atop the faux external radiator cap was made spring-loaded to give when bumped: reports at the time indicated that this was either to pander to the requirements of certain export markets, notably Switzerland, or to reduce the risk of pedestrian injury in the event of an accident.[4] By 1959, the star was spring-retained on a ball base.
A related two-door luxury roadster variant, the R121 190SL, was produced from 1955 to 1963.
At the 1959 Frankfurt Motor Show, in time for the 1960 US model year, a slightly wider grille and slimmer taillights were introduced.[5] The same wider grille was carried forward to the car's more flamboyantly styled W110 "Fintail" successors, during 1961.
At the time, Studebaker-Packard had an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to distribute their cars in the US market. A prototype was built based on the W120 with Packard-styled headlights similar to those fitted on the Packard Patrician. This prototype was called the W122 but it never reached the production state; This was likely because the W120 platform that the prototype was based on was reaching the end of its life cycle, while the compact luxury sector was not that developed in the US market yet.[6]
Technical description
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The Mercedes-Benz W120 and W121 are four-door saloons with a longitudinal front engine, and rear-wheel drive. Rolling chassis with either two or four doors were also available from the factory. The cars have a self-supporting body, the so-called "Ponton" body. The wheelbase measures 2650 mm, which is slightly less than the larger "Ponton" saloons' 2750 mm. In front, the W 120 and W 121 have independent double-wishbone suspension, in rear, they have either a double-joint swing axle (until September 1955), or a single-joint swing axle (from September 1955). Both front and rear wheels are coil-sprung; the front axle is fitted with a torsion-type anti-sway bar, and the rear wheels have additional hydraulic shock absorbers. Daimler-Benz installed a recirculating ball steering system and a hydraulic drum braking system in the 120- and 121-series.[7]
Mercedes-Benz built the W120 with all of their then-present four-cylinder engines: the M136 and M121 petrol engines, and the OM636 and OM621 diesels, with most W120 and W121 cars powered by either of the Diesel engines. The torque is sent from the engine to the rear wheels through a dry single-disc clutch and a synchronised, four-speed constant-mesh gearbox. The shift lever is a rather small lever mounted on the steering column.[7]
Models
[edit]| Model | Chassis code | Years | Type | Engine | Number built[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W120 sedan | W120.010 | 1953–1957 | 180 | 1.8 L M136 petrol I4 | 52,186 |
| 1957–1959 | 180a | 1.9 L M121 petrol I4 | 27,353 | ||
| 1959–1961 | 180b | 29,415 | |||
| 1961–1962 | 180c | 9,280 | |||
| W120.110 | 1953–1959 | 180D | 1.8 L OM636 diesel I4 | 116,485 | |
| 1959–1961 | 180Db | 24,676 | |||
| 1961–1962 | 180Dc | 1.8 L OM 621 diesel I4 | 11,822 | ||
| W121 sedan | W121.010 | 1956–1959 | 190 | 1.9 L M121 petrol I4 | 61,345 |
| 1959–1961 | 190b | 28,463 | |||
| W121.110 | 1958–1959 | 190D | 1.9 L OM621 diesel I4 | 20,629 | |
| 1959–1961 | 190Db | 1.9 L OM 621 diesel I4 | 61,309 |
References
[edit]- "Mercedes 180-D". Road & Track (1959 Road Test Annual): 81–83.
- ^ An Australian Mercedes-Benz? - www.mbspares.com.au Retrieved on 31 October 2012
- ^ Morelli-Bertier, Michèle (1998-12-17). "Raisonnable passion" [Rational passion]. Rétro Hebdo (in French) (89). Paris, France: 30.
- ^ https://mercedes-benz-publicarchive.com/marsClassic/en/instance/ko/Ponton-Mercedes-four-cylinder-models-W-120-W-121-1953---1959.xhtml?oid=5131 "Ponton Mercedes", four-cylinder models (W 120, W 121), 1953 - 1959
- ^ Simoneit, Ferdinand, ed. (1977). "Vor 20 Jahren: Auto Motor u. Sport in Heft 23 und 24 / 1957" [20 years ago: AMS in issues 23 and 24, 1957]. Auto Motor und Sport (in German) (23). Stuttgart: Vereinigte Motor-Verlag GmbH & Co KG: 6.
- ^ http://www.mbzponton.org//valueadded/other/radiator/shell.htm Mercedes-Benz Ponton Radiator Grille Shell Evolution
- ^ Alexeyev, Stanislav (31 May 2015). "Design History: Packard's Request, Almost Fulfilled By Mercedes-Benz". curbsideclassic.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ a b Daimler AG (ed.): 180 D / W 120 D I, 1954 - 1959, in Mercedes-Benz Public Archive, retrieved 8 January 2021
- ^ according to: Werner Oswald: Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, vol.5. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02131-5, p. 32.
External links
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