| Mercedes-Benz 170 S | |
|---|---|
 Mercedes-Benz 170 S | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Daimler-Benz |
| Also called | Mercedes-Benz 170 S (W 136) Mercedes-Benz 170 Sb/170 DS (W 191) Mercedes-Benz 170 S-V/170 S-D (W 136) |
| Production | 170S 1949–1952 31,197 units 170Sb / 170DS 1952–1953 21,079 units 170 S-V / 170 S-D 1953–1955 18,009 units |
| Assembly |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size luxury / Executive car (E) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 1949–1955 2-door, 2- and 4-seater cabriolets 1949–1951 |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,845 mm (112.0 in) |
| Length | 4,455 mm (175.4 in) (1949–1953) 4,450 mm (175 in) (1953–1955) |
| Width | 1,584 mm (62.4 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz W136 |
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz W120/W121 |
The Mercedes-Benz 170 S is a luxury car which was produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1949 until 1955 in various gasoline and diesel powered forms. It was initially offered with a 1.8 liter version of the 1.7 liter inline-four cylinder M136 engine used in the slightly smaller production type 170 V. It was the first Mercedes-Benz to carry in its name the suffix “S” (for Sonder modell (Special model) denoting a superior level of comfort and quality. As such, its intended market was successful business owners and company directors.[1]
The 170 S was released in May 1949, initially sharing the chassis number of the W136 170 V, and closely resembled it. However, in several respects it was more directly a development from the six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz 230 which the company had produced, albeit in small numbers, between 1938 and 1943.[1]
The first 170 S upgrade occurred in January 1952, being further distanced from the 170 V with its own chassis number W191.[2] Mercedes' introduction a year earlier of the 2.2-liter, six-cylinder M180 engined Mercedes-Benz W187 luxury 220 model, positioned between the 170 S and the company's flagship, 3.0-liter Mercedes-Benz W186 Adenauer tourers undermined the four cylinder 170 S's luxury niche.
With the arrival of the all-new 1.8 liter Mercedes-Benz W120 180 "Ponton" in 1953 the 170 S was discontinued and a 170 S-V employing the 170 S' larger engine but the 170 V's slightly smaller body was introduced. Reverting to the W136 chassis code, the S-V ceased production in 1955.[3]
- ^ a b Oswald 2001, p. 12
- ^ Oswald 2001, p. 14
- ^ Oswald 2001, p. 13