By J.A. Ackley
By Tim Suddard
First, driving a Mercedes-Benz from almost any early era is unlike most other drives. All of these cars are handmade, with little or no expense spared. They ooze class, competency, and understated opulence.
1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 S (W180 II)
This is a rare and beautiful car. Only about 1250 coupes were built between 1956 and 1959. Finding one with a four-speed transmission (shifted on the column) and a sunroof is even rarer.
Looking across the dashboard and out the long hood at that three-pointed star is a truly unique vantage point. Every tactile point of the car feels rich and well thought out. Outwardly, this might look like an American car of the ’40s or ’50s, but one minute, in the big, plush leather seats, tells you this car is special.
While you might think a column shift would be difficult to get used to, it is not. You pull back and over to engage reverse. The rest of the four-speed pattern starts up, then down and then forward and in for third and fourth gears. While not a drag racer, the shifter is smooth and effective.
Even starting this car feels rich. The inline six whirs to life quickly and smoothly as if it were a Rolex watch. Power is adequate, but certainly not alarming. The four-wheel drum brakes are smooth and confidence inspiring.
This car does not drive in any way like an American car of the period.
1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb (W111)
Starting in 1962, Mercedes-Benz took the W111 Fintail chassis and developed a stunning, four-passenger coupe. Widely regarded as the last hand-built Mercedes-Benz, these coupes are filled with touches of class that are only found on cars from Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Beautiful wood, leather (optional on seating surfaces) and chrome abound.
While mechanically more similar than different with its 2.2-liter, mechanically fuel-injected engine, the W111 chassis feels like it is light years ahead of the earlier Pontoon W180.
Disc brakes arrived at the front of the coupe that year. Even with the automatic transmission, the car feels more powerful. Instead of feeling like being in an old car, like the earlier version, you now feel like you are in a world-class touring car.
While not fast from zero to 60 mph, the W111 chassis cars will cruise effortlessly at 80 mph. While there is some body roll and the chassis is certainly not stiffly sprung, you can take relative twisty roads with confidence.
Neither of these cars are sports cars. They are nothing like a Porsche 356 or Triumph TR3. They were built for wealthy captains of industry to soak up high-speed miles at a time between board meetings. They were the best cars at the time to do these types of trips, and they hold up well today in similar use.
