Mercedes-Benz E-Class

[Matt]

The history of the E-Class

The first vehicle in this series, the 170 model, was produced in 1947 and marked the beginning of post-war production. It was followed by the 180 and 190 models, better known as the "Ponton Mercedes," starting in 1953.

This feature will begin with the Ponton Mercedes.

[Matt]

This body type was started in 1953. It replaced the 170 series (W136) which were just a post-war production of a pre-war car. After the 300 Adenauer (W186), this was another totally new car from Mercedes-Benz after the War. As little by little, Germany recovered from the disasters of the Second World War (see also 'A History of the Mercedes-Benz Fintail Series'), more and more people could afford a car. And of course, more and more people were also able to afford a Mercedes-Benz.
This car was available in different body and engine types: First, the basic four cylinder version, the 180, buit from July 1953 to August 1961, joined by the 190, March 1956 to August 1961 (by the way, the 190 was a combination of the 180 body with the engine of the 190SL). Both types were available with Diesel engines. The more valuable versions of the ponton were the six cylinder cars 220 (June 1954 to April 1956), the 219 (March 1956 to July 1959), 220S (March 1956 - August 1959), and 220SE (October 1958 to August 1959). Actually, the 220 was replaced by 219 and 220S. Even more luxury was available in Ponton shape: Both 220S and SE were available as Coupé or Cabriolet/Convertible.

[Matt]

Mercedes Ponton #3

[Matt]

Production of the "tail fin Mercedes," with the internal series designation W 110, began in August 1961. More than 628,000 of these vehicles were produced up to February 1968.

[Matt]

Tail Fin Mercedes #2

[Matt]

This successful model was superseded by the W 114/115 series, also known as the "Strich-Acht" (dash eight) Mercedes in reference to the year in which production began. Daimler-Benz turned out over 1,919,000 of these vehicles in eight years of production, more than three times as many as the predecessor model. The "Strich-Acht" also brought with it new body variants in the upper mid-range category: the year 1968 saw the model range expanded to include a sedan with a long wheelbase as well as a sportier coupe version.

[Matt]

W 114/115 series #2

[Matt]

The W 123 series followed in 1976, yielding yet another variant — the T-model station wagon (pictured right). The T-model was not only the first station wagon offered by Mercedes-Benz, it was also one of the first models in this segment. More than 2,697,000 vehicles of the W 123 series had been turned out by the time production ceased in 1985.

[Matt]

W 123 series #2

[Matt]

W 123 series #3

[Matt]

W 123 series #4

[Matt]

It was followed by the 124 series, which contributed yet a fifth body variant to the upper mid-range category — a convertible, which at its debut in September 1991 ended a 20-year stretch without a four-seater open-top vehicle. The 124 series was notable in other respects as well. Following a model update in 1993, it became the first series to be known as the "E-Class." Mercedes-Benz produced over 2,649,000 vehicles from this series between 1985 and 1995.

[Matt]

W 124 series #2

[Matt]

W 124 series #3

[Matt]

W 124 series #4