Tag Archives: W180

Fuel Injected RHD Cabriolet – Mercedes Benz W128 220SE

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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 !

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Around The World In Five Years – Mercedes Benz W180 220S

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From 1954 to 1959 it’s second generation 220 models known as the 220a and 220S on the W180 chassis all powered by 2.2 litre / 134 cui six cylinder motors upgraded from the first generation W187 to produce 84hp and 99hp respectively.

The more powerful 220S was introduced in March 1956, a twin carb 105hp engine was introduced the following year, with 4 speed column shift and an optional highly expensive to maintain Hydrak clutch which used micro switches to disengage the clutch, other differences included simplified chrome work with a single piece front bumper.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

Today’s featured 220S photographed by Geoffrey Horton at the The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA a couple of years ago was built in 1957 and registered in New Zealand on the 8th of November the same year.

Current owners Fred and Elisabeth Smits from the Netherlands now based in Wellington, New Zealand bought the car in 2003 and drove it over 24,000 miles before embarking on a thorough restoration in 2011.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

The body off restoration included replacing every bearing, bush and rubber component, rebuilding the engine which included replacing the complete cylinder head and all of it’s ancillaries along with the cam shaft, pistons, crankshaft, oil and water pumps.

The purpose of the restoration was to prepare the car for a 90,000 mile 5 year drive around the world crossing five continents, all except Antarctica.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

After much research the Smits chose to tow a light weight Zambezi Cross-Road tent trailer manufactured by Aart Kok of Heemstede, the Netherlands, to make themselves comfortable on route.

The 220S and the trailer were shipped to the USA in 2014 and at the time of writing they should be driving through South America before sailing to Europe having driven a loop around North America in 2015.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

The Smits have set up a website about there travels linked here www.classicstrider.com

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

Thanks for joining me on this “Around The World In Five Years” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a captivating concept car from Renault. Don’t forget to come back now !

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