Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 220 › 220 Cabriolet B (W 187) · Rare specification · 1951–1955 Very Rare

Mercedes-Benz
220 Cabriolet B (W 187)

Four-seat cabriolet B body on the 220.

Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet B (W 187) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet B (W 187) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Charles01 · CC BY-SA 4.0
997BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
997 Built
Years
1951–1955
Engine
Front, longitudinal; vertical; 6-cylinder in-line · 2,195 cc / 2.2 LFactory: 2,195 cc
Power
59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted
Top speed
140 km/hFactory: 140 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 220 Cabriolet B was the four-seat convertible of the W 187 series and, with 997 cars, the less common of the two open bodies after the two-seat Cabriolet A (1,278). It was built only until May 1953, earlier than the Cabriolet A, and the factory notes that many customers preferred the cheaper saloon with sunroof.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityVery Rare 997 · Built1,2
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productioncabriolets B 9971,2 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The archive lists the Cabriolet B (type 187.013) from a pre-production series in April 1951, with standard production from July 1951 to May 1953. The list price was DM 14,600 in March 1951 without tyres and DM 15,150 with tyres from February 1952, against DM 18,300 and DM 18,850 for the Cabriolet A.

RM Sotheby's describes the 220 engine, the first new Mercedes-Benz design in over ten years, as an 80 hp overhead-camshaft six, with duplex brakes added to cope with the extra performance. Bonhams puts the combined Cabriolet A and B output at 2,360 cars, a figure that does not match the archive's 1,278 plus 997.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 220 Cabriolet B (W 187).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 180 I / 180.9201
LayoutFront, longitudinal; vertical; 6-cylinder in-line1
Cylinders61
Displacement 2,195 cc / 2.2 LFactory: 2,195 cc1Archive adds: tax classification 2171 cc.
Bore 80 mmFactory: 80 mm1
Stroke 72.8 mmFactory: 72.8 mm1
Compression ratio6.5:11
Valvetrain1 intake, 1 exhaust valve per cylinder, overhead; 1 overhead camshaft driven by double roller chain1
Fuel system1 Solex 30 PAAJ dual downdraught carburettor1
Power 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted1Rating: manufacturer
Power at 4,600 rpm1
Torque 142 Nm / 14.5 kgmFactory: 14.5 kgm1Archive prints the unit as mkg (metre-kilograms, kgm).
Torque at 2,500 rpm1

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxManual change-speed gear; dry single-disc clutch; steering-column shift lever1
Gears41
Gear ratiosI. 3.68; II. 2.25; III. 1.42; IV. 1.0; R. 3.081
Final drive4.441
Driven wheelsRear wheels1

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisCruciform oval-tube frame / steel unit body1
Front suspensionDouble wishbone; coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser; telescopic shock absorbers1
Rear suspensionSwing axle; double coil springs; telescopic shock absorbers1
BrakesHydraulic, acting on front and rear wheels; four-wheel drum brakes; mechanical parking brake on rear wheels1
SteeringZF-Ross worm-and-lever steering, later recirculating-ball steering1
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,845 mmFactory: 2,845 mm1
Length 4,510 mmFactory: 4,510 mm1
Width 1,685 mmFactory: 1,685 mm1
Height 1,610 mmFactory: 1,610 mm1
Front track 1,315 mmFactory: 1,315 mm1
Rear track 1,435 mmFactory: 1,435 mm1
Kerb weight 1,420 kgFactory: 1,420 kg1Per DIN 70020: ready to drive, including fuel, spare wheel and tool kit.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 140 km/hFactory: 140 km/h1
0–100 km/h 21 s1
Fuel tank 48 LFactory: 48 L1Tank is in the rear; from February 1952 the archive gives 65 l.
Fuel consumption 10.9 L/100kmFactory: 10.9 L/100km1Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 10.9 l (per 100 km, DIN 70030 basis)

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The archive type is 187.013 with the M 180 I / 180.920 engine. Auction chassis numbers read 187.013-06203/52 and 187.013-05-897/52 with engine numbers 180.920-06295/52 and 180.920-06-100/52, so the type prefix and the build-year suffix are both visible. Recorded dimensions are a 2,845 mm wheelbase, 4,510 mm length and 1,610 mm height. RM Sotheby's ties the letter B to the rear seat and rear quarter windows; Bonhams notes that the four-door Cabriolet B reached about 140 km/h against 145 km/h for the A.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    220 Cabriolet B / W 187, 1951 - 1953 (model page) Level A Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • Units produced : 997
    • Engine type : M 180 I / 180.920 (Engine)
    • Configuration : front, longitudinal; vertical (Engine)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 6 / in-line (Engine)
    • Total displacement : 2195 cc (Engine)
    • Bore x Stroke : 80 x 72.8 mm (Engine)
    • Compression ratio : 6.5 (Engine)
    • Number of valves / arrangement : 1 intake, 1 exhaust / overhead (Engine)
    • Fuel system : 1 Solex 30 PAAJ dual downdraught carburettor (Engine)
    • Rated output : 80 hp at 4600 rpm (Engine)
    • Rated torque : 14.5 mkg at 2500 rpm (Engine)
    • Transmission type : change-speed gear (Transmission and Performance)
    • Gearing : 4-speed manual transmission (Transmission and Performance)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.68; II. 2.25; III. 1.42; IV. 1.0; R. 3.08 (Transmission and Performance)
    • Final drive ratio : 4.44 (Transmission and Performance)
    • Driven wheels : Rear wheels (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Frame design : Cruciform oval-tube frame / steel unit body (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : swing axle (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic, acting on front- and rear wheels; four-wheel drum brakes (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Steering : ZF-Ross worm-and-lever steering, later recirculating-ball steering (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Wheelbase : 2845 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Length : 4510 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Width : 1685 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Height : 1610 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Front / rear track : 1315 / 1435 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Kerb weight : 1420 kg (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Maximum speed : 140 km/h (Transmission and Performance)
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 21 s (Transmission and Performance)
    • Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 48 l; from 02.1952: 65 l (Engine)
    • Fuel consumption : 10.9 l (Transmission and Performance)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 220 Cabriolet B Level A
    • 997 cabriolets B
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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