Overall, the Mercedes-Benz Ponton sedans, coupés and cabriolets used three different styles of radiator grille shells from 1953-1962. The design used on the 4 cylinder models changed three times during the period while the 6 cylinder models used the same grille shell design (shared with the second 4 cylinder design) throughout the period.
The first style grille shell was used only on the early Type 180/180D sedans.
The second style shell was used on the Type 180a/190/190D sedans and also on the Type 220a/219/220S/220SE sedans, coupés and cabriolets.
The third and final style Ponton radiator grille shell was used on the "b" and "c" versions of the 4 cylinder Ponton sedans (Type 180b/180Db/180c/180Dc/190b/190Db) as well as the W110 Heckflosse series of the 1963-1968 period including Type 190c/190Dc/200/200D/230 sedans. It was also used on the W111 Heckflosse Type 220b/220Sb/220SEb sedans.
Examples of Ponton radiator shell / Style 1:
Left to Right: c. 1954/1955 Type W120 180 Ponton sedan, 1954 Type W120 180 Ponton sedan, Type W120 180 Ponton sedan.
Original part number: 10 120 888 01 15
Types W120 180/180D
Appearance of the first version radiator shell is more narrow than the second version. Only the early Type 180/180D sedans used this design.
To convert the original part number to a current number, take the prefix (10) and move it to the other end so that it becomes a suffix. That is the current "Mercedes-Benz Classic Center" formula for part numbers.
Examples of Ponton radiator shell / Style 2 (4 cylinder models):
Left to Right: 1958 Type W120 180a Ponton sedan, 1959 Type W120 180a Ponton sedan, 1957 Type W121 190 Ponton sedan.
Examples of Ponton radiator shell / Style 2 (6 cylinder models):
Left to Right: 1957 Type W105 219 Ponton sedan, Type W180 220S (year unknown) Ponton sedan, and 1959 Type W180 220S Ponton cabriolet.
Original part number: 10 180 880 03 83
References:
Spare Parts List: Type 190, May, 1956 edition. A
Spare Parts List: Type 190, July, 1959 edition C
Spare Parts List: Type 220S, January, 1960 edition DType W120 180a
Types W121 190/190D
Type W105 219
Type W180 220a/220S/220SE
Appearance of the second version radiator shell is wider than early version. Both 4 and 6 cylinder models shared this design for a while.
Examples of Ponton radiator shell / Style 3:
Left to Right: 1960 Type W121 190Db Ponton sedan, 1962 Type W121 190b Ponton sedan, 1961 Type W121 190b Ponton sedan.
Left: 1967 Type W110 220 Heckflosse sedan. Right: 1962 Type W111 220Sb Heckflosse sedan. Both Fintail bodies shared the same radiator shell as the "b" version of the 4 cylinder Ponton sedans.
The third version of the 4 cylinder Ponton grille shell is the same as the W110 "Heckflosse" (Fintail) series sedans of the 1961-1968 period and also the W111 Heckflosse sedans that were introduced in 1959.
Original part number: 110 888 00 15
References:
Spare Parts List: 190Db (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 180Db (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 180b (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 190b (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 220b (edition A, 7/59)Types W120 180b/180c/180Db/180Dc
Types W121 190b/190Db
Types W110 190c/190Dc/200/200D/230 (Heckflosse)
Types W111 220b/220Sb/220SEb (Heckflosse)
Appearance of the third version of the Ponton radiator shell is wider and not as high as the two previous styles used on the 4 cylinder Ponton models.