Mercedes-Benz W111

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Mercedes-Benz W111
1963 Model 220
Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz
Also called Mercedes-Benz Fintail
Production 1959 — 1968
W111 only: 370,807
Predecessor Mercedes-Benz Ponton
Class Full-size Luxury car
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
2-door coupe
2-door convertible
Engine(s) 2.0L 4-cylinder
2.2L straight-6
3.0L straight-6
3.5L V8 (Coupé and convertible)
See Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a complete overview of all S-Class models.

The "Fintail" (German: Heckflosse) was a series of luxury cars produced by Mercedes-Benz from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s under the W111 chassis code. Though never officially designated as such (they were designated Peilstege, marking the end of the car in rear view mirror), 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 Fintail is considered part of the lineage of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship model, particularly the initial 6-cylinder W111 and more luxurious W112 models. A 4-cylinder version, the W110, was introduced in 1962. In the S-Class lineage, the Fintail models were succeeded by the larger W108/W109 lines.

The Fintail models were pioneers of the automotive safety feature of crumple zones, which absorb the energies of a collision. The idea for crumple zones came from Bela Barenyi who worked as an engineer for Mercedes-Benz.[1]

Contents

[edit] Models

W111 230S Fintail sedan
W111 230S Fintail sedan

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 interior trim options were applied to the basic platforms, to create many different models

Sharp fin on a W110 190D
Sharp fin on a W110 190D

[edit] First Series (1959-1965)

Chassis code Years Model Engine Number built)[2]
W111.010 1959–1965 220b Sedan M180 2.2 L I6 69,691
W111.012 1959–1965 220Sb Sedan M180 2.2 L I6 161,119
W111.014 1959–1965 220SEb Sedan M127 2.2 L I6 66,086
W111.021 1961–1965 220SEb Coupé M127 2.2 LI6 16,902 (incl. Cabriolet)
W111.023 1961–1965 220SEb Convertible M127 2.2 L I6 16,902 (incl. Coupé)
W112.014 1961–1965 300SE Sedan M189 3.0 L I6 5,202
W112.021 1962–1964 300SE Coupé M189 3.0 L I6 3,127 (incl. Cabriolet)
W112.023 1962–1964 300SE Convertible M189 3.0 L I6 3,127 (incl. Coupé)
W112.015 1963–1965 300SEL Sedan M189 3.0 L I6 1,546

[edit] Second Series (1966-1968)

W1111966 280 SE
W1111966 280 SE
Soft fin on a W111 280SE Coupe
Soft fin on a W111 280SE Coupe

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 230 S Sedan - model W111 (41,107 built)[2])
  • 1965–1967 250 SE Coupé - model W111 (6,213 built, incl. Cabriolet)
  • 1965–1967 250 SE Convertible - model W111 (6,213 built, incl. Coupé)
  • 1968–1971 280 SE Coupé - model W111 (5,187 built, incl Cabriolet)
  • 1968–1971 280 SE Convertible - model W111 (5,187 built, incl. Coupé)
  • 1968–1971 280 SE 3.5 Coupé - model W111 (4,502 built, incl. Cabriolet)
  • 1968–1971 280 SE 3.5 Convertible - model W111 (4,502 built, incl. Coupé)
  • 1965–1967 300 SE Coupé - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension) (included in Series I)
  • 1965–1967 300 SE Convertible - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension) (included in Series I)
  • 1965–1968 200 Sedan - model W110 (cheaper, 4-cylinder variant) (70,207 built)
  • 1965–1968 230 Sedan - model W110 (40,258 built)
  • 1965–1968 200D Sedan - model W110 (diesel version) (161,618 built)

[edit] Model timeline

Chassis Type 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971
W111 saloon 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

  1. ^ Independent article - crumple zone development
  2. ^ a b Oswald, Werner (1. Auflage 2001). Deutsche Autos 1945-1990, Band 4. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-613-02131-5. 
v • d • e
Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1946–1970s — next »
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 W123
Roadster R121
6-cylinder Sedan W187 W105 / W180 / W128 W111 W114 W123
Coupé W187 W180 / W128
Large
car		 Sedan W186 / W189 W111 W108 / W109 W116
Luxury W188 W112
Limousine W186 / W189 W112 W100 (600)
Sports Roadster W198 W113 R107
v • d • e
Mercedes-Benz S-Class lineage, 1950s–present

W180 (1955) · W128 (1958) · W111 (1959) · W112 (1961) · W108 (1965) · W116 (1972) · W126 (1979) · W140 (1991) · W220 (1999) · W221 (2006)