Mercedes-Benz Type 180Db Ponton sedan

Greetings!

This Mercedes-Benz Type 180Db Ponton sedan (with Webasto sunroof) was owned by my parents from 1963 until my mother's death in 1975 — when I was 15 years old. 

The car was painted several times by my father — a professional car painter at Spies Hecker of Cologne (now Hoesch) — before he sold it 1975 after my mother's death. The images are in chronological order.

The first house in full view on the left was my birth house — Josef Schregel-Strasse 45. The photo dates from about 1960. The VW was our family car.

Our dog was named "Bijou" (French word for jewel)

Prepared to handle the sunshine!

On a journey with my mother — circa 1963

1963 / Enjoying the Webasto sunroof and driving with no hands!

On the way to/from Switzerland on a car-train over the Brenner Pass (in the Alps - between Austria and Italy)
This photo dates from 1964

New paint / 1975

I remember an event while building our house in 1965 - 1966. It was on farm land with trees (see photo), and the Ponton was used as a cheap "bulldog" for clearing trees from the building area — but he was hurt by one. I said "hurt" and not "damaged", because the Mercedes-Benz was a family member!

This is another Mercedes-Benz photo (maybe my father was amazed to see another, similar car?), but I don't know where or when it was taken! We made several holidays in Switzerland and Italy during my childhood. Notice the white sign above the green P (Parking) sign: "Hier Gut Essen" - "Here Good Meals" — This looks very foreign to German visitors!

Best Regards,

Norbert Janssen
D-52349 Dueren, North Rhine-Westfalia — between Aachen and Cologne
Germany