Mercedes-Benz Ponton Necropolis

Boneyard, Graveyard, Final Resting Place, City of Dead Pontons

1959 Type 180D sedan with shrubbery / autumn, 2003
Photo: Max Stemple / Colville, Washington

Mercedes-Benz Ponton coupé somewhere in England

Type 190Db sedan / Courtesy: Hal Cannon / November 29, 2004

Four cylinder Ponton model ("b" suffix, note bumper) somewhere in California. October, 2005

October, 2005: Another four cylinder Mercedes-Benz Ponton model on a California hillside with only rudimentary protection from the elements

Type 180b sedan — driver fell asleep at the wheel

Tough break for the Ponton, but the owner lived to tell about it

There is an infamous black & white photo (originally published in the May 12, 1947 issue of Life magazine) of a young, well dressed woman who fell from the Empire State Building (New York City) and landed on top of a dark sedan. She looked as if she was only sleeping, but the incredible damage to the roof told the real story. The roof of this Ponton reminds me of that photo.

Type W121 190 Ponton sedan, originally from Florida

Courtesy: Bruce Bristow / October 10, 2004

1959 Type 180D / Chula Vista, California

1959 180D / Courtesy: Bob Gunthorp

Type 180b Ponton sedan with window rain deflectors and roof rack in Lebanon

Photo Courtesy: Ramzi Saba / October 18, 2004

Ramzi writes, "This car has been sitting next to my home in Lebanon for like five or six years. I tried to contact the owner to see if he would sell it, so I could use it for parts, but I could not contact him. No one knew anything about the car. It is sitting on an empty piece of land, next to a building. The land is owned by the Maronite Church so practically nothing will be constructed on it. The car has a lot of rust, but is fairly complete, especially the interior. The stop lights are missing (broken and rusted) and the star is gone too."

Painting of a Type 180 sedan
Courtesy: Farouk El-Khalil / Beirut, Lebanon

Farouk writes, "During the summer of 2005, whilst passing through a historical sea-side castle in Lebanon, I saw some paintings displayed by one of its walls. Something attracted my attention, and I looked through my rear view mirror to see paintings of a Ponton. Last Sunday (January 15, 2006), I was able to locate the artist who directed me to where the car was, and I drove there to take photos of it (somewhere in the middle mountain belt area)."

Type 180 Ponton sedan somewhere in Lebanon
Courtesy: Farouk El-Khalil / January 26, 2006

Euro lamps, Webasto roof, and big toothless grin

Interior all there, including the horsehair (not really) seats

Needs a little work to be like new again (somewhere in Germany)

These parts receive plenty of fresh air and sunshine

Not too far gone, tires hold air / 1959 Type 190 sedan

South-western U.S.A. style rust on top, from heat and sun / 1957 Type 190D sedan

Skeleton for the Webasto roof all there

This Type 180b/c or 190b "chop-top" (the roof was removed by the owner) was spotted in Izmir, Turkey on October 26, 2003 by Craig Semple. It appears to have only two doors. This may indicate that it is a Binz body variant (a "Bakkie" or pick-up) originally destined for the South African market. How did it find its way to Turkey? It would have had to travel north over the length of the African continent and then across the Mediterranean Sea to get to the port city of Izmir. Or, perhaps it made its way through eastern Europe and then ended up here. There were approximately 400 units of this Binz variant style (2 door pick-up) built.

Nice roof rack / Binz body variant / somewhere in Greece / September 2003

The window glass still looks good / Type 180 or 190

Be the first on your block to own a Mercedes-Benz

Don't forget the extra bits — they make nice ornaments

Sad, but true

Four cylinder, "b" revision Ponton, somewhere

The grass grows fast and high in June / Type 219 Ponton sedan

Type 220S sedan somewhere in Utah / Courtesy: Hal Cannon / November, 2004

Not "used", but rather, "pre-enjoyed" / note Webasto roof on this Type 220S

Parked and forsaken until August, 2002

Somewhere in the northeast U.S.A. / Type 220S Ponton sedan

Hubcap conveniently located on front seat

The mice are going to miss this car

Add 15% for the Webasto sliding sunroof

Deduct 15% for not having a rear window

Plentiful, top quality straw

Shock absorber / It appears the Type 180/190 Mercedes-Benz Ponton absorbed the shock and reduced the damage to the Peugeot Type 203 / July 8, 1958 / Lebanon