1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Sunroof Coupe Ponton

1959 Mercedes-Benz 200-Series 220S Coupe Description

Built in Mercedes’ great tradition of irreproachable build quality and superlative engineering, the ponton series was a mainstay of Mercedes production during the 1950s. The sedans were produced in large numbers, but the coupe, sunroof coupes, and convertibles were much more expensive and sold in very limited numbers. They were more luxurious and had tremendous presence, thanks to their almost baroque styling and significant amounts of chrome trim. The interiors were trimmed with high quality leather and wood, while the cars were mechanically sophisticated with independent suspension and unitized construction on the later cars.
This particular car is one of those rare sunroof coupe models, sold new in 1959 to a Mr. Thompson in New York, and equipped for the US market. I purchased the car from the a guy in US, but details on the early history are not known at this time.
The car is best described as an exceedingly straight, solid, and dry excellent “driver” example with a wonderful body, fresh paint, and matching numbers. It is equipped with the desirable 4-speed manual transmission vs. Mercedes’ Hydrax unit which was plagued with mechanical problems.
In part due to the fresh paint, the car makes a strong presentation. The dark color highlights the car’s excellent body with wonderful panel match throughout. The chrome is generally very good, and for the most part looks to be original, with just minor weathering and ageing. The window glass and lenses are all in good order, as are the emblems. The car sits on factory steel wheels with nice hubcaps.
The interior has beautiful wood trim which has clearly been redone in the recent past. The headliner is very good, as is the leather seat and door panel upholstery, which appears to have also been redone at some point. The carpets are average, showing minor wear and discoloration. The engine bay and underside, while not overly detailed, are very complete with the battery hold down and VDO windshield washer bottle, and are in keeping with a good driver presentation.
The car runs and drives well with ample power and a smooth operating transmission and driveline. The brakes work well, the suspension is soft and compliant, and steering is accurate.
Included with the sale is a full book package including the supplement, service book, owner’s manual, and parts catalog, as well as the tool roll with tools, and the spare wheel with tire.
Hand-built Mercedes-Benz such as the 220S have become collectable cars in recent years, and beautiful, structurally superior examples such as this one are likely to be a strong investments into the future.