Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 220 › 220 SE Coupé (W 128) · Rare specification · 1958–1960 Very Rare

Mercedes-Benz
220 SE Coupé (W 128)

Fuel-injected “Ponton” coupé.

Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé (W 128) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé (W 128) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: The original uploader was Cete at German Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0
830BuiltFactory 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
830 Built
Years
1958–1960
Engine
Front, longitudinal; vertical; 6-cylinder in-line · 2,195 cc / 2.2 LFactory: 2,195 cc
Power
85.8 kW / 117 PSFactory: 115 hp · converted
Top speed
160 km/hFactory: 160 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Karl Wilfert (styling lead) with head designer Friedrich Geiger
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 SE Coupé is the fuel-injected version of the Ponton coupé, built in only 830 cars from 1958 to November 1960. The archive says the Ponton coupés and convertibles are among the rarer post-war Mercedes-Benz models, and of the 5,731 built in total only 1,942 had the injection engine.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityVery Rare 830 · 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 8301,2 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 220 SE coupé and convertible were offered from September 1958 with Bosch manifold injection, which raised power from 106 to 115 hp and cost DM 1,900 more than the carburettor version. From August 1959 the modified injection engine of the 220 SEb gave 120 hp, and the coupé and convertible continued as the only Ponton versions after the saloons ended. Production stopped in November 1960, with a new 111 series coupé following in 1961.

The archive lists launch prices of DM 23,400 in September 1958 and DM 23,200 in August 1959.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 220 SE Coupé (W 128).

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 127 I / 127.980; from 08.1959: M 127 III / 127.9831
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 ratio8.7:11
Valvetrain1 intake, 1 exhaust valve per cylinder, overhead; 1 overhead camshaft driven by double roller chain1
Fuel systemManifold injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 2-plunger injection pump1
Power 85.8 kW / 117 PSFactory: 115 hp · converted1Rating: manufacturerFrom August 1959 (engine M 127 III) the archive gives 120 hp at 4800 rpm.
Power at 4,800 rpm1Also 4800 rpm from 08.1959.
Torque 186 Nm / 19 kgmFactory: 19 kgm1Archive prints the unit as mkg (metre-kilograms, kgm). From August 1959: 19.3 kgm at 3900 rpm.
Torque at 3,800 rpm1From August 1959: 3900 rpm.

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxManual change-speed gear; dry single-disc clutch (optional "Hydrak" hydraulic-automatic clutch from 08.1957); steering-column shift lever1
Gears41
Gear ratiosI. 3.52; II. 2.32; III. 1.52; IV. 1.0; R. 3.291
Final drive4.101
Driven wheelsRear wheels1

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisFloor assembly / steel unit body1
Front suspensionDouble wishbone; coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser; telescopic shock absorbers1
Rear suspensionSingle-joint swing axle; coil springs; telescopic shock absorbers1
BrakesHydraulic with vacuum booster, acting on front and rear wheels; four-wheel drum brakes; mechanical parking brake on rear wheels1
SteeringRecirculating-ball steering1
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,700 mmFactory: 2,700 mm1
Length 4,700 mmFactory: 4,700 mm1
Width 1,790 mmFactory: 1,790 mm1
Height 1,530 mmFactory: 1,530 mm1
Front track 1,430 mmFactory: 1,430 mm1
Rear track 1,470 mmFactory: 1,470 mm1
Kerb weight 1,380 kgFactory: 1,380 kg1Per DIN 70020: ready to drive, including fuel, spare wheel and tool kit. With Hydrak the archive gives 1400 kg.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 160 km/hFactory: 160 km/h1From August 1959 the archive gives 165 km/h.
0–100 km/h 15 s1
Fuel tank 62 LFactory: 62 L1Tank is in the rear.
Fuel consumption 10.7 L/100kmFactory: 10.7 L/100km1Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 10.7 l (10.9 l with Hydrak; 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 128.037 (design name W 128) with the M 127 I / 127.980 engine, from August 1959 the M 127 III / 127.983. MBZPonton.org lists the chassis code W128.037 for the coupé, and notes that a steel-sunroof coupé has the same prefix as a solid-roof car. Recorded dimensions: 2,700 mm wheelbase, 4,700 mm length, 1,790 mm width, 1,530 mm height and 1,380 kg kerb weight (1,400 kg with Hydrak). No cached auction lot for this model was available.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    220 SE Coupe / W 128, 1958 - 1960 (model page) Level A Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • Units produced : 830
    • Engine type : M 127 I / 127.980; from 08.1959: M 127 III / 127.983 (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 : 8.7 (Engine)
    • Number of valves / arrangement : 1 intake, 1 exhaust / overhead (Engine)
    • Fuel system : Manifold injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 2-plunger injection pump (Engine)
    • Rated output : 115 hp at 4800 rpm; from 08.1959: 120 hp at 4800 rpm (Engine)
    • Rated torque : 19 mkg at 3800 rpm; from 08.1959: 19.3 mkg at 3900 rpm (Engine)
    • Transmission type : change-speed gear (Transmission and Performance)
    • Gearing : 4-speed manual transmission (Transmission and Performance)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.52; II. 2.32; III. 1.52; IV. 1.0; R. 3.29 (Transmission and Performance)
    • Final drive ratio : 4.10 (Transmission and Performance)
    • Driven wheels : Rear wheels (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Frame design : Floor assembly / steel unit body (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : single-joint swing axle (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic, with vacuum booster ... four-wheel drum brakes (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Steering : Recirculating-ball steering (Chassis and Drivetrain)
    • Wheelbase : 2700 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Length : 4700 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Width : 1790 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Height : 1530 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Front / rear track : 1430 / 1470 mm (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Kerb weight : 1380 kg (Dimensions and Weights)
    • Maximum speed : 160 km/h (Transmission and Performance)
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 15 s (Transmission and Performance)
    • Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 62 l (Engine)
    • Fuel consumption : 10.7 l (Hydrak 10.9 l) (Transmission and Performance)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 220 SE Coupe Level A
    • 830 coupés
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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