This video shows the differences between several of the Mercedes Ponton models and what parts are the same on several models. The Ponton section of my store is at www.ebay.com/str/oldcavedog/M...
I drove a green 1958,180 model Mercedes to high school in the 1960's. My dad bought it and it was quite a hit. My friends jokingly called it a Benjamin Hoople. It had a 4 speed on the column and a metric speedometer. It also had some cool safety features that were ahead of it's time, including a break-away mirror rear view mirror, cone cylinder door latches, and a windshield that was designed to pop out if it was in an accident. (Or so I was told.) I wish I still had it.
I still have the '61 180b I drove in high school during the early '70s. The original owner was a US Navy captain stationed at the US embassy in Madrid, Spain. The car still has the Spanish aluminum roof-rack, custom fabricated by Zacarias SA of Madrid. It's screwed to roof inserts that look alot like those on your Ponton. I learned to drive a stick in that car. Best column-shift ever! The moss-green paint was dull, and it had dings and rusty bumpers. So my brother nicknamed it "The old lady's shoe"! But it was easy to work on, and I could still afford to drive it after the '73 oil-crunch. And it was slow. I think old VW Beetles could outdrag it from a stoplight! But once up to speed, it could cruise on the highway all day. Around 1980, I rescued the AM/FM Becker Europa radio from a friend's '58 190 parts car. The bakelite radio plate was broken at the speaker. So I had to epoxy it before installation. The knobs were the early type, but I didn't care. Surprisingly, it worked - for a few years. Then the power box quit. You didn't mention another special thing about tube car radios - the hum of the vibrator! Soon, I installed a Kuhlmeister salvage-yard under-dash Mercedes Fintail AC unit. The Fintail compressor kit wouldn't fit a Ponton. So I custom fabricated all the hardware to fit a compact Japanese Sankyo compressor and condenser from a '70s Mazda! In the mid '80s, my boss was driving a bad-ass shiny black '70 GTO, with no AC. He he was getting out of his car, drenched in sweat one steamy summer day, and gave ma a dirty look as I drove up in my "old lady's shoe" with my windows rolled up! Sadly, by 1992, it was very tired, rusty and unsafe to drive. It still sits forlornly, in my side yard. 😞
Superb … many thanks+++ grew up w 220S R Hand drive w floor change gear lever … B Mexico self seeking radio … from recollection it took time to ‘heat up’
Ojalá usted pudiera hacer un vídeo de la reconstrucción y el despiece de un motor 220 de 1962, nadie lo ha hecho no hay información, disfrute mucho de este vídeo tengo un w111 me encantan!!! Saludos desde México.
Are you able to help / advise about what 219 parts me be interchangeable with my '57 220s (w180)? Windscreen example. I inherited the 220 when the previous owner blew out something when he jumped w/reverse polarity. If you have advice I'm all ears!
I use to have a 190B in the1960s, East Africa. My car had 13 wheels. I have a 1960B, it keeps up, just, with modern traffic. 190 with 15 inch wheels the only difference was the steering knuckle to stop the wheels fouling inner wing/fender and the speedometer. Have only seen 190s with 15 inch wheels not the 219/220. Have seen odd 190C with 15 inch wheels. Excellent video
I once saw a parts book that showed different fenders going with the 15 inch Ponton wheels. Have not seen a Ponton with the 15 inch wheels, probably not many sold that way in the US. I might put 14 wheels on one, the extra ground clearance would be helpful here.
Great video! I have a 1954 180, flat head, 6 volt. It was in covered storage for many years and the drivers door hinge broke (rusted) through on the inside part of the door. Is this a replaceable part or do i need a whole new drivers door?
If the door is that rusty, is there anything to bolt the new hinge to? Is there enough metal to weld in a new piece? Would the door close properly if you weld in a new piece? The hinges look different on my 1958 190. Not sure if the bolt pattern is the same or not. You need a much better metal worker than me. Is the car floor still solid? Sorry I can not be more help.
looks like home out your way... question ❓.. I seem to remember working on a 180D... 54.. way back when.. I might have missed something.. I was an apprentice.. lots to learn... girlfriends to keep track of.. etc... your wisdom would be appreciated Peace ✌️
cool -- we had a gray Ponton with big canvas sunroof and cut-crystal bud vase on Solid Walnut dash, when I went to Kindergarten in a Quonset Hut Mainz, W. Germany; we lived in cool quarters built for the French Zone of Occupation Not a flathead -- I know what that sounds like -- note profile pic Later at Frankfurt , we had a 190SL, and a 280S, from after the fin era. Our quarters there were in the HQ building of a Wehrmacht Kaserne Then in Fulda, we had a 280SEL 3.5
carefully.. but I think you will find they are robust and.. made to be worked on.. when I lived in Germany in the early 60s when the person got a driver's license they had to know how the durn things work... imagine that ,~}>> money was tight.. so... drivers licenses were scarce.. and people could work on them themselves.. very clever.. Germans
I'm not familiar with those particular screw covers.. on soft surfaces or something you don't want to scratch.. put a shop rag to prevent damage where you pry out the pieces... most panel fittings had little spring thinggummies that may be brittle... but.. with a little love.. a little cussing.. they come out... have fun 😊 and wd40... a handyman's secret weapon for old stuff
Most Ponton rear view mirrors are held in by springs. Some very early ones are screwed in. Springs make passengers safer in a collision, the mirror can pop out when a head hits it.
