Vehicle Description
1952 Mercedes-Benz 220 Sedan
As one of the first post war Mercedes-Benz models, the 220 was
introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in April 1951. The 220
featured the return of the inline 6 cylinder engine, which
displaced 2.2 liters, (hence the 220 nomenclature), and provided an
ample 80 horsepower. Top speed was nearly 90 miles an hour and it
could reach 60 miles per hour in 20 seconds from a full stop. With
undeniable style and ample performance, the 220 marked
Mercedes-Benz's return to form after World War II by offering
luxury for the whole family while providing the level of
performance that resonates in the spirit of Mercedes-Benz
today.
For consignment, a 1952 Mercedes-Benz 220 sedan, sold new at
Autohaus Hornung in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bavaria, Germany and the
car wears a metal and enamel dealer tag on the car. The dealership,
at the base of the German Alps, is still in business and still
selling Mercedes-Benz.
Exterior
Dark brown fenders and roof sandwich a tan body. A tall and broad
grille with mesh is flanked by the extended front fenders housing
single headlights rather low and wide on the car while mismatched
fog lights ride on the bumper just inside of the conical turn
signals. Side strake trim pieces flow along the long engine cover
sides where the A-pillar flows into the seam of the reverse opening
front doors. The rear doors open traditionally and contour to the
rear fender while the height of the cabin is accentuated by the
brown roof which waterfalls to a C-pillar around a smaller rear
window. Like some American cars at the time, the taillights are
tiny in comparison to the sheer real estate of the rear of the car,
mostly consisting of a bulbous trunk lid. 15-inch steel wheels are
painted a different shade of brown, they may have been tan before,
and wear Mercedes embossed dog dish type hubcaps. The car is
unrestored and the paint and brightwork show their age.
Imperfections are many and include checking paint, large chips that
have been touched up, scratches, cracking and crackling, numerous
scratches, missing paint, some pitting on the metal, scratches or
missing paint on the wheel paint.
Interior
Tan cloth covers the doors, and in most cases, shows staining from
possible water intrusion. The seats are covered with a striped
texture cloth and look to be in decent shape as two low back
buckets fill the front and a luxurious bench seat rides in back
like a living room sofa. It's here we note some staining as well.
The horn ring and metal spokes of the steering wheel could benefit
from restoration and the dash shows patina as well. Meanwhile, the
gauges on the glossy brown panel show some cracking and
discoloration but are unique in their design and an AM radio is
housed in the middle with brown switches and robust metal knobs
with a slight art deco design influence. The glove box door is
slightly askew but wears a handsome handle that once restored, will
be a gleaming beam in the interior. Tan fitted carpet mats cover
the floor and the headliner above is drooping in some areas. The
tall, wide trunk is unfinished and contains a shelf under which the
spare tire is situated.
Drivetrain
The underside of the hood is dirty with soot and peeling paint, but
the engine itself is relatively clean. It's a 134.2ci SOHC inline 6
cylinder fueled by a 1-barrel Solex carburetor and rated at 80
horsepower. The car is set into action with a 4-speed manual
transmission that sends power to the rear wheels and 4.44 gears.
Drum brakes are found on each corner.
Undercarriage
The solid looking construction underneath shows its age with
surface rust and just general discoloration. We note some oil on
the intricate rear axle and some residual oil on the pan, but it
does not appear to be actively leaking. If Germans are known for
their over engineering, it can certainly be evidenced by the
intricate joints, linkage, and pivot points in the front steering
and suspension componentry. Although a bit dirty, it's easy to see
there's a lot going on under here. Meanwhile, coil springs are used
up front and a swing arm with coil springs are used in the back. A
single exhaust meets a stainless steel muffler before exiting out
the back with a straight tail pipe.
Drive-Ability
The seats are soft, more luxurious than sporty, which sums up the
car a bit. The ride is tall and there's a long stretch of hood
ahead and that warrants the use of the Mercedes star hood ornament
as a guide for steering around the test loop. Watch out for the
blind spot on the right side, there is no side mirror, and the
C-pillar is wider than the Berlin wall. The car runs well and
tracks straight, and gauges, lights, horn, signals, and radio all
work as intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
Here's a rare ride that has great bones, tolle knochen I think the
Germans might say. With some caring, restorative efforts, this
could be a show stopper! It's uniquely European and immediately
distinct. No major dents and no rust makes this car a worthy car
for consideration. Someone needs to turn this saure nierchen into
an apfelstrudel!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
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