Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 220 › 220 open tourer (W 187) · Rare specification · 1952–1953 Ultra Rare

Mercedes-Benz
220 open tourer (W 187)

Open four-door tourer on the 220, largely for official/police use.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MERCEDES-BENZ 220 OPEN TOURER (W 187) 1952–1953
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
41BuiltFactory 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
41 Built
Years
1952–1953
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 open tourer was a special four-door open version of the W 187 built in a run of 41 cars for police forces, between 1952 and 1953. It sits apart from the series' public body styles because it was not sold on a list price, and it has the folding top of a traditional touring car instead of the coach-jointed top of the Cabriolet B.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityUltra Rare 41 · 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 productionopen tourers 411,2 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 series overview places production between August 1952 and May 1953, while the model page gives May 1952 to April 1953. The model page records the type as 187.018 with no list price.

At first glance the open tourer resembles the Cabriolet B, but it is a four-door car. It sat alongside other special uses of the 220 chassis, such as ambulances by Lueg (eight cars in October 1952) and police radio cars by Binz (more than 30 between October 1952 and July 1954).

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 220 open tourer (W 187).

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 180 I / 180.9203
LayoutFront, longitudinal; vertical; 6-cylinder in-line3
Cylinders63
Displacement 2,195 cc / 2.2 LFactory: 2,195 cc3Archive adds: tax classification 2171 cc.
Bore 80 mmFactory: 80 mm3
Stroke 72.8 mmFactory: 72.8 mm3
Compression ratio6.5:13
Valvetrain1 intake, 1 exhaust valve per cylinder, overhead; 1 overhead camshaft driven by double roller chain3
Fuel system1 Solex 30 PAAJ dual downdraught carburettor3
Power 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted3Rating: manufacturer
Power at 4,600 rpm3
Torque 142 Nm / 14.5 kgmFactory: 14.5 kgm3Archive prints the unit as mkg (metre-kilograms, kgm).
Torque at 2,500 rpm3

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxManual change-speed gear; dry single-disc clutch; steering-column shift lever3
Gears43
Gear ratiosI. 3.68; II. 2.25; III. 1.42; IV. 1.0; R. 3.083
Final drive4.443
Driven wheelsRear wheels3

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisCruciform oval-tube frame / steel unit body3
Front suspensionDouble wishbone; coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser; telescopic shock absorbers3
Rear suspensionSwing axle; double coil springs; telescopic shock absorbers3
BrakesHydraulic, acting on front and rear wheels; four-wheel drum brakes; mechanical parking brake on rear wheels3
SteeringZF-Ross worm-and-lever steering, later recirculating-ball steering3
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,845 mmFactory: 2,845 mm3
Length 4,580 mmFactory: 4,580 mm3
Width 1,685 mmFactory: 1,685 mm3
Height 1,610 mmFactory: 1,610 mm3Archive: with cabriolet top closed.
Front track 1,315 mmFactory: 1,315 mm3
Rear track 1,435 mmFactory: 1,435 mm3
Kerb weight 1,420 kgFactory: 1,420 kg3Per DIN 70020: ready to drive, including fuel, spare wheel and tool kit.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 140 km/hFactory: 140 km/h3
0–100 km/h 21 s3
Fuel tank 65 LFactory: 65 L3Tank is in the rear.
Fuel consumption 10.9 L/100kmFactory: 10.9 L/100km3Mercedes-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 187.018 with the M 180 I / 180.920 engine, the same as other W 187 cars. Distinguishing recorded features: a four-door body with a folding top without coach-joints, 4,580 mm length (Cabriolet B: 4,510 mm), 1,610 mm height with the cabriolet top closed, 900 kg chassis weight, 1,420 kg kerb weight and 1,900 kg gross weight, with a 65 litre tank. No cached source gives chassis numbers for the type.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Type 220 (W 187), 1951 - 1954 (model series overview) Level A Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • 41 open touring cars were produced for the police forces
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 220 open tourer Level A
    • 41 open tourers
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  3. 3
    220 open tourer / W 187, 1952 - 1953 (model page) Level A Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • 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 : 4580 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 / 65 l (Engine)
    • Fuel consumption : 10.9 l (Transmission and Performance)
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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