Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 220 › 220 Coupé (W 187) · Rare specification · 1953–1955 Extremely Rare

Mercedes-Benz
220 Coupé (W 187)

Fixed-head coupé derived from the 220 Cabriolet A.

Mercedes-Benz 220 Coupé (W 187) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Mercedes-Benz 220 Coupé (W 187) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden · CC BY-SA 3.0
85BuiltFactory 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
85 Built
Years
1953–1955
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
150 km/hFactory: 150 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 Coupé was the last body style added to the W 187 series and its most exclusive version: only 85 were built between December 1953 and July 1955. The factory archive says it was added after repeated requests from some important people, and that its high price and small scale made it the rarest 220.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityExtremely Rare 85 · 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.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productioncoupés 851,2 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

Production began in December 1953 at a list price of DM 20,850, or DM 22,000 with a steel sliding roof, and ran to July 1955. Technically and stylistically the coupé was based on the Cabriolet A, and from April 1954 both were fitted with the higher-compression 85 hp engine developed for the 220 a.

RM Sotheby's notes that the steel sliding roof was a first for Mercedes-Benz and that only 12 of the 85 coupés had it.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 220 Coupé (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 ratio6.5:1; from 04.1954: 7.6:11
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: manufacturerFrom April 1954 the archive gives 85 hp at 4800 rpm.
Power at 4,600 rpm1From April 1954: 4800 rpm.
Torque 142 Nm / 14.5 kgmFactory: 14.5 kgm1Archive prints the unit as mkg (metre-kilograms, kgm). From April 1954: 16 kgm at 2400 rpm.
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
SteeringRecirculating-ball steering1
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,845 mmFactory: 2,845 mm1
Length 4,540 mmFactory: 4,540 mm1
Width 1,685 mmFactory: 1,685 mm1
Height 1,550 mmFactory: 1,550 mm1
Front track 1,315 mmFactory: 1,315 mm1
Rear track 1,435 mmFactory: 1,435 mm1
Kerb weight 1,460 kgFactory: 1,460 kg1Per DIN 70020: ready to drive, including fuel, spare wheel and tool kit.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 150 km/hFactory: 150 km/h1
0–100 km/h 21 s1
Fuel tank 65 LFactory: 65 L1Tank is in the rear.
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 187.023 with the M 180 I / 180.920 engine. RM Sotheby's catalogue entries, however, quote chassis numbers of the form 187.012.4500254 and 4500304, so the coupés appear to have carried the 187.012 prefix with a 450xxxx serial; this is a discrepancy to check against the data card. Recorded dimensions are a 2,845 mm wheelbase, 4,540 mm length and 1,550 mm height, with a 65 litre tank and recirculating-ball steering. The steel sliding roof is the rare option, on only 12 cars according to RM Sotheby's.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    220 Coupé / W 187, 1953 - 1955 (model page) Level A Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • Units produced : 85
    • 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; from 04.1954: 7.6 (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; from 04.1954: 85 hp at 4800 rpm (Engine)
    • Rated torque : 14.5 mkg at 2500 rpm; from 04.1954: 16 mkg at 2400 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 : Recirculating-ball steering (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Wheelbase : 2845 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Length : 4540 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Width : 1685 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Height : 1550 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Front / rear track : 1315 / 1435 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Kerb weight : 1460 kg (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Maximum speed : 150 km/h (Transmission and Performance)
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 21 s (Transmission and Performance)
    • Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 65 l (Engine)
    • Fuel consumption : 10.9 l (Transmission and Performance)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 220 Coupé Level A
    • 85 coupés
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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