Mercedes-Benz Ponton

1955 Mercedes-Benz W121 190SL "Ponton" roadster

Mercedes-Benz W120 180b "Ponton" sedan

1957 Mercedes-Benz W180 220S "Ponton" Cabriolet

The Ponton was Daimler-Benz's first totally-new Mercedes-Benz series of passenger vehicles produced after World War II. In July 1953, the cars replaced the pre-war-designed Type 170 series and were the bulk of the automaker's production through 1959, though some models lasted through 1962.

The nickname comes from the German word for "pontoon" and refers to one definition of pontoon fenders.

The Ponton models were replaced by the "Heckflosse" or "Fintail" models

There were essentially four types of Ponton cars. Note the "D" designates a diesel engine, and the suffix "b" and/or "c" are body variants introduced after the middle of 1959.

• Four-cylinder sedans
  • 1953–1962 W120 — 180, 180a, 180b, 180c, 180D, 180Db, 180Dc
  • 1956–1961 W121 — 190, 190b, 190d, 190Db
• Four-cylinder roadsters / coupés
  • 1955–1962 W121 — 190SL
• Six-cylinder sedans
  • 1956–1959 W105 — 219
  • 1954–1959 W180 — 220a, 220S
  • 1958–1960 W128 — 220SE
• Six-cylinder coupés
  • 1956–1959 W180 — 220S
  • 1958–1960 W128 — 220SE
• Six-cylinder cabriolets
  • 1956–1959 W180 — 220S
  • 1958–1960 W128 — 220SE