# Mercedes-Benz W187

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Motor vehicle

Mercedes-Benz W187 220 Mercedes-Benz 220 "Cabriolet B" W187 Overview Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Production 1951–1955 18,514 built[1] Saloon: 16,154 Cabr. A: 1,278 Cabr. B: 997 Coupé: 85 Body and chassis Class luxury car Body style 1951–54: 4 door saloon 1951–54: 2-door "cabriolet B" 1951–55: 2-door "cabriolet A" 1954–55: 2 door coupé Layout FR layout Powertrain Engine 2,195 cc (2.2 L) M180 I6 Transmission 4-speed manual Dimensions Wheelbase 2,845 mm (112.0 in) Length 4,507 mm (177.4 in) - 4,538 mm (178.7 in) Width 1,685 mm (66.3 in) Chronology Predecessor Mercedes-Benz W142 Successor Mercedes-Benz W105 Mercedes-Benz W180

The **Mercedes-Benz W187** is a [luxury car](/source/Luxury_car) produced by [Mercedes-Benz](/source/Mercedes-Benz) as a [saloon](/source/Sedan_(car)), [coupé](/source/Coup%C3%A9), and [cabriolet](/source/Cabriolet_(automobile)) from 1951 to 1955. Designated the **220**, it was powered by a [single overhead camshaft](/source/Single_overhead_camshaft) [inline six-cylinder](/source/Inline-six) [M180](/source/Mercedes-Benz_M180_engine) engine.[1] A

Initially a four-door sedan and two-door cabriolet were offered, with the sedan continuing through 1954 and the cabriolet through 1955. They were joined in 1954 by a two-door coupe, produced through 1955.

## History

The W187 was introduced at the [Frankfurt Motor Show](/source/Frankfurt_Motor_Show#1951) in April 1951.

Despite its pre-[World War II](/source/World_War_II) reputation as a manufacturer of [luxury cars](/source/Luxury_car), in the depressed immediate post-war years [Mercedes-Benz](/source/Mercedes-Benz) had produced only [four-cylinder-engined](/source/Four-cylinder-engine) passenger cars. The W187 Mercedes-Benz 220 and flagship W186 [Mercedes-Benz 300](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W186) *Adenauer* introduced together were the first Mercedes to once again feature [six-cylinder engines](/source/Six-cylinder_engine).

The body of the W187 [saloon](/source/Sedan_(car)) bore a strong resemblance to the 1938 [Mercedes-Benz W153](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W153), and despite the modern engine that powered it, already looked old fashioned to many observers on its introduction. Two years earlier, in 1949, the [Borgward Hansa](/source/Borgward_Hansa_1500) had served notice that car design had moved on since the 1930s, and the manufacturer's own 1953 [W120](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W120) "[Ponton](/source/Mercedes-Benz_Ponton)" confirmed that "modern" European cars were following the North American trend to lower wider bodied designs. This has been seen as an explanation for the W187's own unusually short production run of slightly above three years for the [saloon](/source/Sedan_(car)) and less than five years for the longest lived of the Cabriolet models.[1]

### Models

The 220 sedan was similar in styling to the contemporary W136 [Mercedes-Benz 170S](/source/Mercedes-Benz_170S), with the 170's freestanding headlights integrated into the fenders for a slightly more modern look. To handle the extra power in what was, by contemporary standards, a heavy car, the W187 was given [duplex drum brakes](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplexbremse).

Two different 2-door [cabriolet](/source/Cabriolet_(automobile)) models were built, similar to those offered in the W170 line, the "A" (an opulently styled roadster evoking the ultra-exclusive W188 [300S](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W188)) and "B" (a much plainer, dedicated 2+2 which closely resembled the 220 sedan). During 1953 the "Cabriolet A's" flat windscreen was replaced with a slightly curved screen. In December, a Coupé derived from it was announced for 1954. Fitted, as many were, with a steel sunroof, it was priced at 22,000 [Marks](/source/Deutsche_Mark), nearly twice the standard W187 sedan.

A total of 1,278 Cabriolet As, 997 Cabriolet Bs, and just 85 Coupés were sold.[2]

Between August 1952 and May 1953, 41 special soft top OTP (*Offener Tourenwagen Polizei*, "Open Police Touring Car") bodied W187 220s were produced for the [West German police](/source/Law_enforcement_in_Germany).

### Engines

All 220s used the newly developed [M180](/source/Mercedes-Benz_M180_engine) six cylinder 2.2 L; 133.9 cu in (2,195 cc) engine producing 79 hp; 59 kW (80 PS). In contrast with the rather old fashioned look of the car's body, the new engines attracted much attention in the motoring press[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*], being the first new engine presented by Mercedes-Benz in more than ten years. The valves were operated by short rocker arms from an [overhead camshaft](/source/Overhead_camshaft). The engine was unusual in Europe at this time in having [oversquare](/source/Oversquare) cylinder dimensions with a bore of 80.0mm and a stroke of only 72.8mm, which facilitated the design of an efficient [reverse-flow cylinder head](/source/Reverse-flow_cylinder_head).

The manufacturer claimed a top speed of 87 mph (140 km/h) for the saloon and 90 mph (140 km/h) for the cabriolet, which was faster than the 51 hp; 38 kW (52 PS) powered [170S Cabriolet](/source/Mercedes-Benz_170S) which the cabriolet version of the W187 replaced and from which its bodywork was derived. The new six-cylinder engine would form the basis for a long line of repeatedly enlarged and upgraded six-cylinder engines powering a wide range of Mercedes-Benz models, including the early [W116](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W116) S-Class models in the 1970s.

In April 1954 the "Cabriolet A" and its Coupé derivative were fitted with a new higher compression 84 hp; 63 kW (85 PS) engine that had been developed for the soon to be announced [Mercedes-Benz W180](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W180) "Ponton".

### Replacement

The [saloon](/source/Sedan_(car)) was replaced by the W105 [219](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W105)/W180 [220a](/source/Mercedes-Benz_W180) and went out of production in May, 1954; the Cabriolet A and Coupé models continued for another 15 months until August 1955.[3]

When the cabriolet was withdrawn in 1955 there was no immediate successor. However, just over a year later the all-new ponton styled Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet and Coupé appeared, in July and October 1956 respectively.

## Gallery

		- Mercedes-Benz 220 sedan (W187)

		- Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (W187)

		- Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet B (W187)

		- Mercedes-Benz 220 Coupé (W187)

		- Mercedes-Benz 220 sedan interior (W187)

### Specifications

Technical data Mercedes-Benz 220 (W187)[4] (Manufacturer's figures except where stated) Mercedes-Benz 220 220 Cabriolet/Coupé Produced: 1951–1954 1951–1955 Engine: 6-cylinder-inline engine (four-stroke), front-mounted Bore x Stroke: 80 mm x 72.8 mm Displacement: 2195 cc Max. Power @ rpm: 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp) @ 4850 Max. Torque @ rpm: 142 N⋅m (105 lb⋅ft) @ 2500 Compression Ratio: 6.5: 1 Fuel feed: Two-barrel downdraft carburetter Solex 30PAAJ Fuel tank capacity: 47 L (12.4 US gal; 10.3 imp gal), from late 1951 65 L (17.2 US gal; 14.3 imp gal) Valvetrain: SOHC, duplex chain Cooling: Water Gearbox: 4-speed manual rear wheel drive, axle ratio 4.44:1 Electrical system: 6 volt Front suspension: Double wishbones, coil springs, stabilising bar Rear suspension:: High-pivot swing axle, coil springs High-pivot swing axle, coil springs Brakes: Drum brakes (Ø 240 mm) Steering: Worm-and-sector steering Body structure: Sheet steel on ovoid steel tube X-frame Sheet steel with wood frame on ovoid steel tube X-frame Dry weight: 1,350 kg (2,980 lb) 1,440 kg (3,170 lb) Loaded weight: 1,690 kg (3,730 lb) Cabriolet A 1,680 kg (3,700 lb) Cabriolet B 1,785 kg (3,935 lb) Track front/ rear: 1,315 mm (51.8 in) 1,435 mm (56.5 in) Wheelbase: 2,845 mm (112.0 in) Length: 4,507 mm (177.4 in) Cabriolet B: 4,507 mm (177.4 in) Cabriolet A: 4,538 mm (178.7 in) Width: 1,685 mm (66.3 in) Height: 1,610 mm (63 in) Cabriolet B: 1,610 mm (63 in) Cabriolet A: 1,560 mm (61 in) Tyre/Tire sizes: 6.40-15 - 185R15 Top speed: 140 km/h (87 mph) 140 km/h (87 mph) Cabriolet A: 145 km/h (90 mph) Fuel Consumption (estimate): 14.0 litres per 100 kilometres (20.2 mpg‑imp; 16.8 mpg‑US) 14.5 litres per 100 kilometres (19.5 mpg‑imp; 16.2 mpg‑US) Price (Germany): Saalon Saloon w/fabric sunroof Cabriolet A Cabriolet B Coupé Coupé w/steel sunroof: DM 11,925 DM 12,525 DM 18,860 DM 15,160 DM 20,850 DM 22,000

### Timeline

Chassis Type 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 W187 saloon 220 coupe 220 cabriolet 220

## See also

- [Mercedes-Benz 170S](/source/Mercedes-Benz_170S)

## References

### Notes

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOswald2001c16_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOswald2001c16_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOswald2001c16_1-2) [Oswald 2001c](#CITEREFOswald2001c), p. 16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOswald2001c16–17_2-0)** [Oswald 2001c](#CITEREFOswald2001c), pp. 16–17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOswald2001c17_3-0)** [Oswald 2001c](#CITEREFOswald2001c), p. 17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOswald2001c_4-0)** [Oswald 2001c](#CITEREFOswald2001c).

### Bibliography

- Hartmann, Matthias (2017). *Das große Mercedes-Cabrio-Buch* [*The Big Mercedes Cabrio Book*] (in German) (reprint of the original 1992 ed.). Königswinter, Germany: Heel Verlag. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783958435810](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783958435810).

- [Oswald, Werner](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Oswald_(Automobilhistoriker)) [in German] (2001c). *Deutsche Autos* [*German Cars*] (in German). Vol. Band [Volume] 4: 1945–1990 Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche und andere [and others]. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-613-02131-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-613-02131-5).

- Staud, René (photographs); Lewandowski, Jürgen (text) (2016). *Mercedes-Benz: The Grand Cabrios & Coupes*. Kempen, Germany: teNeues. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783832732936](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783832732936).

## References

- ["Mercedes-Benz U.S Models"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051125151608/http://home.hiwaay.net/~gbf/mbmodels.html). *Hiwaay.net*. Archived from [the original](http://home.hiwaay.net/~gbf/mbmodels.html) on November 25, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2005.

- ["220 (W187)"](http://www.philseed.com/mb220-w187.html). *Phil Seed's Virtual Car Museum*. Retrieved December 1, 2005.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Mercedes-Benz W187](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mercedes-Benz_W187).

- [Mercedes Benz 170220 Club Website](http://www.170220.com/)

- [Mercedes Benz 170220 Club Forum](https://web.archive.org/web/20090105151128/http://www.170220.com/170smf/index.php)

v t e Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan lineage Official W116 (1972) W126 (1979) W140 (1991) W220 (1999) W221 (2006) W222 (2014) W223 (2021) Predecessors W187 (1951) W180 (1954) W128 (1958) W111 (1959) W108 (1965) W186 (1951) W189 (1957) W112 (1961) W109 (1966)

v t e Mercedes-Benz CL-Class/S-Class coupe lineage, 1950s–2021 W188 (1952) W128 (1958) W112 (1962) W111 (1968) C107 (1972) C126 (1981) C140 (1992) C215 (1999) C216 (2006) C217 (2014)

v t e « previous — Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1946–1970s — next » Class Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4-cylinder Sedan W136 170S (W136/W191) W120 W121 W110 W115 W123 6-cylinder Sedan, Coupé W105 W110 W114 W111 W108 W116 W126 S-class Sedan W187 W180 W111 W128 W111 W108 W116 W126 Coupé W187 W180 W128 W111 C107 Convertible W187 W180 W128 W111 300 Sedan W186 W189 W112 W108 LWB W112 W109 Coupé W188 W112 Convertible Ultra-luxury Limousine W100 Sports Roadster W121 B2 W113 R107 Coupé W198 Roadster W198 Commercial Van L319 T2

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mercedes-Benz W187](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W187) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W187?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.