Mercedes-Benz Ponton Photo Gallery

Type W120 (4 cylinder / sedan)

Including models: 180 / 180a / 180D / 180b / 180Db / 180c / 180Dc

c. 1954/1955 Type W120 180 sedan

Courtesy: Uwe Medla / May 26, 2003

Here is Uwe (the young man in the middle) in his father's Mercedes-Benz Type 180 sedan at home in Germany in the 1950s.

Incidentally, When Uwe was 20 years old in 1976, he bought a Ponton of his own.  It was a 1957 Type 190 sedan. At that time, he was in the German Army and drove it many places (including Italy) until he sold it in 1979.  Another 24 years would pass before he would discover, in May of 2003, that it was still alive and well in the USA. He located his name on a web page which listed him (in the official Kraftfahrzeugbrief) as one of the former owners.  The 1957 Type 190 was found to be owned by Jeff Miller, the editor of this Mercedes-Benz Ponton web site.

photos of Uwe's 1957 Type 190 when it was in Germany

Photo submitted: February 3, 2005

owner: Juan Gonzalo Cordoba Sosa / Argentina

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Photos submitted: November 25, 2005

Photo submitted: August, 2001 / Courtesy: Helu Hansen / Mercedes-Benz IG

Ponton taxi (W120 or W121) spotted in Vientienne, Laos

Dear Editor,

On a recent vacation trip to Laos, I spotted this Ponton taxi patiently waiting for its owner to finish lunch in Vientienne, the capital city.  It looks a bit worse for wear, but after a while, the owner emerged and off they went in search of customers.  It was still running well although it seems that the owner has done some backyard repair jobs.

Thanks for a wonderful website,
Herman Groenewald / South Africa / December 19, 2003

1955 Type W120 180D sedan

This is the Type 180D Ponton sedan (40 bhp), driven by Helmut Retter and navigated by Lacher (does anyone remember his first name?) that won the Diesel Class of the 1955 Mille Miglia (1,000 mile Italian open-road race). The car came in 201st overall at an average speed of 58.81 mph. The diesel sedan left the start point (Brescia) at 0:04 and thus had the number "04" on the doors. The light colored car (possibly "light gray") had round fog lights, no hubcaps and louvered blinds in the rear window. If any of the readers know the color of the car, or the first name of the navigator, please contact the editor. Photos courtesy: Larry Hansen / July 15, 2005

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1956 Type W120 180 sedan

owner: Kobus van der Westhuizen / kobus@vibewise.co.za

Photo submitted: August 2, 2002

"This vehicle belonged to my grandmother and then my father, and now I have it.  The front visor is for heavy rain, to increase wiper efficiency, and was fitted in Durban, South Africa."  Regards, Kobus van der Westhuizen

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Steffen's father bought the 180D in 1959, but the car was used. Note the mirror at the driver's door. The rear window appears to have a defroster.

Photo submitted: February 9, 2005 

This photo shows fellow Mercedes-Benz salesman Heinz Piotraschke in front of the Lehrke restaurant in a used Type 180 Ponton with temporary red tags.  Note the modifications to this car.  There are chrome accent strips on the front fenders and along the bottom of the windows as well as long turn signals (as found on the Type 219 and 220S/SE Pontons) on the top of each fender directly behind the headlamps.  These modifications could be carried out at the dealership by the customer's request after the car left the factory. The Webasto sliding roof can also be seen in this photo.

I bought this car in baskets two years ago here in Florida. I saved its soul.  I made a lot of good connections for parts and help from your ponton page.  I also have a 1957 cabriolet in Lexington, Kentucky, where I live in the summer.  That car is for sale.

Photo submitted: May 18, 2003

This 1958 Type 180D belonged to Dirk's grandfather.

Photo submitted: January 3, 2002

1958 Type W120 180 sedan

owner: Alan Dubroff / more photos

A Type W120 180D taxi in Athens

 Note the Mercedes buses

1958 Type W120 180D sedan

Owner: Manfred von Harten / meavh@aol.com
Allentown, Pennsylvania

DB 335 Mercedes Blue / 115,000 miles.
Restored by Hatch & Sons in 1999.

My first experience with the 180D was when my father picked one up at the Mercedes-Benz dealer in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1958.  I was 6 years old and fell in love with the car. My father used stove oil, diesel fuel, and kerosene in the vehicle and racked up 460,000 miles without any major incidents or maintenance and it was still running like new when he traded it in 1965 for a fintail Type W110 190D.  I bought back this 180D from Jim Bryant, which I owned before and the body and paint were restored by Hatch & Sons in 1999.  The vehicle is absolutely rust-free including the undercarriage and engine compartment.  Original interior is still like new with the exception of a new headliner.  I know a lot about the 180D Pontons, so if anyone has any question regarding maintenance, parts, manuals, service instructions, etc., please contact me and I will be glad to help.  I still have not located my dad's original maroon 1958 180D.  I would be very interested if anyone has it.  The chassis number I am trying to locate is: 120.110-8523027.  My present 180D chassis number is: 120.110-8520399.  If anyone has any Mercedes-Benz 180D built between 1954 and 1959 I would be interested in getting your chassis number because I am recording all the 180D Pontons still existing in the world.  Please assist me with this project.  It is always interesting to see which vehicles of all those produced are still around. Thanks!

- Mardy von Harten / May 16, 2004

1958 Type W120 180 sedan

owner: Prithvi Tagore / West Bengal, India / more photos

1958 Type W120 180a sedan / 1960 Type W120 180b sedan 

The two Pontons in this photo are a 1958 180a (blue car) and a 1960 180b (white car).  My father bought the blue Mercedes in 1958 and since then, it was passed on to me.  The car is totally original (body and engine) and is still in daily use but will be due, in a year or two, for minor restoration.

1958 Type W120 180a at the moment of sunset.

I bought the white 1960 Ponton one year ago with the idea to break it into parts to supply my original 1958 Type 180a sedan.  After carefully looking the car over, I realized that it is still in relatively good condition and I decided that a restoration job would be the way to go.

Herman Groenewald / hbgroen2000@yahoo.com / South Africa / December 19, 2003

1959 Type W120 180a sedan

owner: Rúnar Sigurjónsson / Iceland / more photos

1959 Type W120 180a sedan

owners: Jeff and Kim Marie Speech
Wisconsin, USA

1959 Type W120 180a sedan

owner: Martin Peisl / San Jose, California / more photos

1960 Type W120 180Db sedan

former owner: Simon Pontin / Rochester, New York
Photo of Type 180Db and Simon Pontin, Jr. (circa 1965) submitted July 31, 2004

owner: Ramzi Saba / Beirut, Lebanon / more photos

1961 Type W120 180b sedan

owner: Lucana (Ana Lucia Perez Tobon)
Columbia and Patagonia, South America

Hello. My name is Ana Lucia Perez Tobon. Lucana is my artist name. I have owned my 1961 Mercedes-Benz Type 180b Ponton sedan for 18 years, and I bought another one (a 1960 Type 180b) for my son in April, 2006. I have worked most of this year (2006) on a project in Patagonia, South America from Colombia with My Mercedes-Benz. She is in very good shape because I DO love her! The mbzponton web site, with all of its technical information, has been very helpful to me. That is why I write to you - to thank you. If you have any other advice for my car, please let me know.

- Lucana
lucana@une.net.co
www.lucanaart.com
October 1, 2006

Photo of 180b submitted October 1, 2006.
Self portrait with 180b submitted December 10, 2006.
Article with 180b submitted December 24, 2007.

A Type W120 180Db taxi in Kuwait

Note the two-tone paint and roof rack

1961 Type W120 180Db sedan

owner: Lorenzo Pacho / Manilla, Philippines

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1961 Type W120 180Db sedan

owner: Ratko Radanov / Austria

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1961 Type W120 180b sedan

owner: Raffoul Traboulsy / Beirut, Lebanon

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Photo Submitted: March 30, 2008

Type W120 180b sedan

Warsaw, Poland

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I am a British citizen living and working in Iran. After living in the UK for 29 years, I returned to Iran for business purposes and, upon arrival, found this 1962 Mercedes-Benz Type 180Dc Ponton sedan and immediately bought it. One of the photos I am sending includes my daughter. The car is lovely to drive and I have managed to find many spare parts for it. I found your web site and enjoy reading it very much.

Thanks and Regards,
Ami Fardaraghi