Tag Archives: 220SE

Noble Character And Distinction – Mercedes Benz W128 220SE Cabriolet

Looking through my picture library for cars to write about this month I came across Geoffrey Horton’s photograph’s of one more Mercedes Benz 220SE seen here at Palo Alto Concour’s d’Elegance a couple of years ago.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

The strap line on the US sales literature for the 220SE Cabriolet and Coupé noted that these were “Two Personal Cars of Nobel Character and Distinction”.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

The literature drew attention to the unitised frame floor with a subframe for the engine, the recirculating ball type steering, which has since been almost universally replaced by rack and pinion steering, and the rear swing axle suspension.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

UK sales literature concluded “… these modern cars with their perfect matching of beauty, power and roominess are rightly considered favourites in their class.”

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Noble Character And Distinction edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another Delage. Don’t forget to come back now !

Creating Agile Brands – Mercedes Benz W128 220SE

Unlike last weeks featured 220SE today’s example, seen at Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance by Geoffrey Horton, is one of the more numerous LHD examples.

Mercedes Benz 220SE, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

When new it’s Bosch fuel injected engine would have produced 134hp at 5000rpm, sufficient to give the 220SE a top speed of 100 mph.

Mercedes Benz 220SE, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

San Franciscan Walter Landor took delivery of this 220SE while in Italy and toured Europe in it commencing July 1960.

Mercedes Benz 220SE, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Walter Landor born in Germany became the youngest fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts at 23 after completing his studies at Goldsmiths College in London.

Mercedes Benz 220SE, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

He settled in San Francisco after traveling to the US as part of the design team for the British Pavillion at the New York Worlds Fair.

Mercedes Benz 220SE, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Walter launched Landor Associates with his wife from his living room table, the company with the strap line “Creating Agile Brands” now has offices in 33 cities around the world.

The current and only second owner of this 220SE Colour Consultant Bob Buckter bought it in 1980 15 years before Walters death, after a “mishap” in 1999 Bob had the car fully restored to it’s current Concours Class winning condition.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Creating Agile Brands” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Fuel Injected RHD Cabriolet – Mercedes Benz W128 220SE

From July 1958 through to November 1960 Mercedes Benz introduced a fuel injected version of the W180 220S model known at the 220SE such as the 1960 cabriolet seen here.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Brooklands Double Twelve,

E standing for Einspritz or fuel injection which is one of the three way’s one can tell a 220S from an SE the second being the chassis number starting ‘128’ and the third is the 220SE badge on the back.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Brooklands Double Twelve,

Costing the same as a contemporary Cadillac Biarritz, but without the Power Steering, Electric Windows, Air Conditioning or regular automatic transmission that were available on the Cadillac only 1,112 220SE Cabriolet’s were produced.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Brooklands Double Twelve,

Today’s featured 220SE, seen at a Brooklands Double Twelve Meeting is one of only 17 Right Hand Drive (RHD) examples delivered in 1960 and is said to have been imported to the UK by a Nigerian Diplomat from Nigeria.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Brooklands Double Twelve,

According to the DVLA website this car was first registered in the UK on the 1st of December 1983 and if the chassis number is correct, shown incorrectly to have been built in 1955.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fuel Injected LHD Cabriolet” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Citroën DS Concept. Don’t forget to come back now !