Mercedes-Benz W111
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Mercedes-Benz Fintail | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Mercedes-Benz |
| Class: | full-size sedan |
| Production: | 1959 — 1968 |
| Predecessor: | Mercedes-Benz Ponton |
The "Fintail" (German: Heckflosse) was a series of luxury cars produced by Mercedes-Benz from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s. Though never officially designated as such, the cars gained the nickname because of the distinctive rear-end which incorporates small tailfins, thought to be an understated attempt to appeal to the United States market at the time (with their outrageously finned cars, such as the Cadillacs and Buicks of the times).
The Heckflosse was the first car incorporating crumple zones [1].
Contents |
[edit] Models
The fintail models consisted of three basic platforms:
- W111 - Standard 6-cylinder luxury cars, introduced in 1959
- W112 - Ultra-luxurious variants with air suspension, introduced in 1961
- W110 - Cheaper, 4-cylinder models with a shortened hood, introduced in 1962; "Kleinflosse" in German
As is standard practice for most automobile manufacturers, several different engine combinations and interiour trim options were applied to the basic platforms, to create many different models.
[edit] First Series (1959-1965)
- 1959–1965 220b Sedan - model W111
- 1959–1965 220Sb Sedan - model W111
- 1959–1965 220SEb Sedan - model W111 (with fuel injection)
- 1961–1965 220SEb Coupé - model W111 (with fuel injection)
- 1961–1965 220SEb Convertible - model W111 (with fuel injection)
- 1961–1965 300SE Sedan - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
- 1962–1965 300SE Coupé - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
- 1962–1965 300SE Convertible - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
- 1963–1965 300SEL Sedan - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
- 1961–1965 190c Sedan - model W110 (cheaper, 4-cylinder variant)
- 1961–1965 190Dc Sedan - model W110 (cheaper, 4-cylinder Diesel)
[edit] Second Series (1966-1968)
The second series was introduced into production in August of 1965. The large W112 models were no longer needed since the W100 limousines were well-established by then, though the coupe and convertible continued in production for a few more years. The 300SE sedan model was now to be found in the brand new S-klasse series, W108/W109.
All engines were refreshed at this time, with the W110 190 giving way to the 200, 200D and 230 and the W111 220b/Sb/SEb making way for the 230S sedan and 250SE/280SE coupe and convertible.
- 1965–1968 230S Sedan - model W111
- 1965–1967 250SE Coupé - model W111
- 1965–1967 250SE Convertible - model W111
- 1968–1971 280SE Coupé - model W111
- 1968–1971 280SE Convertible - model W111
- 1968–1971 280SE 3.5 Coupé - model W111
- 1968–1971 280SE 3.5 Convertible - model W111
- 1965–1967 300SE Coupé - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
- 1965–1967 300SE Convertible - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
- 1965–1968 200 Sedan - model W110 (cheaper, 4-cylinder variant)
- 1965–1968 230 Sedan - model W110
- 1965–1968 200D Sedan - model W110 (diesel version)
[edit] Timeline
| Chassis | Type | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | |
| W111 | sedan | 220b/Sb/SEb | 230S | ||||||||||||
| coupe | 220SEb | 250SE | 280SE | ||||||||||||
| 280SE 3.5 | |||||||||||||||
| convertible | 220SEb | 250SE | 280SE | ||||||||||||
| 280SE 3.5 | |||||||||||||||
| W112 | sedan | 300SE | |||||||||||||
| 300SEL | |||||||||||||||
| coupe | 300SE | ||||||||||||||
| convertible | 300SE | ||||||||||||||
| W110 | sedan | 190c | 230 | ||||||||||||
| 200 | |||||||||||||||
| 190Dc | 200D | ||||||||||||||
[edit] References
- Mercedes-Benz U.S Models. Hiwaay.net. Retrieved on December 1, 2005.
- Deutsche Autos 1945 - 1975, W. Oswald, ISBN 3-87943-391-7
[edit] External links
- http://www.heckflosse.nl/
- The Heckflosse Project - Our Mercedes-Benz 220Sb restoration project, at Classic & Dream Cars
| Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1946—1970s | later--> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class | Type | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||
| 4-cylinder | sedan | W136/W191 | W120/W121 | W110 | W115 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| roadster | W121 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6-cylinder | sedan | W187 | W105/W180/W128 | W111 | W114 | W123 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| coupe | W187 | W180/W128 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| large | sedan | W186/W189 | W111 | W108/W109 | W116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| luxury | W188 | W112 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| limousine | W186/W189 | W112 | W100 (600) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sports | roadster | W198 | W113 | R107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
