Mercedes-Benz W187 Type 220 Cabriolet A. Production: 1951-1955, cabriolet, engine: six cylinders, 2195 cc, 100 HP, 145 km/h
The Mercedes-Benz W187 is a luxury car produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1951 to 1955. Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in April 1951, the W187 was powered by a single overhead camshaft inline six-cylinder M180 engine and available as a saloon, coupé, and cabriolet, all designated with the 220 model name.
Despite its pre-World War II reputation as a manufacturer of luxury cars, in the immediate post-war years Mercedes-Benz produced only four-cylinder-engined passenger cars. The W187 Mercedes-Benz 220 and flagship W186 Mercedes-Benz 300 Adenauer introduced together in 1951 were the first Mercedes to once again feature six-cylinder engines.
All 220s used newly developed M180 six cylinder 2195cc engine producing 80 hp DIN (86 SAE) (59 kW). In contrast with the rather old fashioned look of the car’s body, the new engines attracted much attention in the motoring press, 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.
The engine was unusual in Europe at this time in having 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.
The manufacturer claimed a top speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) for the saloons and 145 km/h (90 mph) for the cabriolets which was faster than the 52 PS (38 kW) powered 170S Cabriolet which the cabriolet version of the W187 replaced and from which its bodywork was derived.
The new six-cylinder engine would form the basis, repeatedly enlarged and upgraded as the years went on, for a long line of six-cylinder engines powering mainstream Mercedes-Benz models including the six-cylinder version of the early S-Class models in the 1970s.
Because of the extra power in what was, by modern standards, a heavy car, the W187 was equipped with Duplex drum brakes.
With the sedan/saloon bodied cars about to be delisted by the manufacturer in May 1954, in April 1954 the “Cabriolet A” and its Coupé derivative were fitted with a new higher compression 85 PS (63 kW) engine that had been developed for the soon to be announced Ponton bodied Mercedes-Benz W180. These faster sporting versions of the W187 continued in production for a further year.
The 220 saloon was replaced by the W105/W180 line in 1953. The coupé and cabriolet continued until August 1955.
The Aguinaga Museum of Mercedes-Benz
