The ‘Ponton’ models represent a pivotal chapter in the history of Mercedes-Benz in the 20th century. The model that preceded them, the W187-series, featured styling typical of the post-war era – separate fenders, running boards, lines which can trace their genesis right back to the early days of the motor-car.
But with the Ponton, a new era of styling was entered: nicknamed for its unibody profile, the body lines were all of a piece, something which has carried through to the automobiles of today. (‘Ponton’ is the German word for ‘pontoon’, the nickname referencing the manner in which the line running from the headlights down to the tail end of the car resembles the pontoons of a seaplane.)
Naturally this sea-change in approach wasn’t just about the styling. Mercedes’ new ‘Ponton’ was engineered to offer superior crash protection compared to its predecessors and contemporaries and, offered as a range of sedans, coupes and cabriolets, were supremely well specced. There was a wide variety of specifications across four- and six-cylinder models of differing wheelbases, leading to a number of different model codes.
The car we have here is a 180b (model designation W120), which saw the four-door saloon fitted with the 1.9-litre M121 four-cylinder engine. It’s a sublime fusion of elegant design, and robust and willing mechanicals.
This particular car has an interesting pan-European history, having been UK-registered in January 2021. It was imported from the Netherlands (via Germany), and the history file shows that it previously spent much of its life in Sweden; a period service book shows hand-written maintenance records from 1969-75, with further Stockholm documentation from 1992.
The car’s current owner bought it from the renowned Dutch dealer Victory Classic Cars for €24,500 in September 2020, and when it arrived in the UK they had it fully checked over by specialists with any notable issues remedied, a process that cost a further £7,273. The result is a very pleasant Ponton indeed – wonderful condition inside and out, and highly pleasing to drive.
The interior is very clean and tidy throughout, with good quality seat trim front and rear. All of the windows wind up and down freely, and the carpets and headlining are neat. Naturally being a European-market car, it’s left-hand-drive and with the clocks in kilometres. The dash is straight and clean with no evident damage and all the dials functional, and the steering wheel is in good condition.
It's all tip-top inside the boot, with a new carpet, spare wheel with unused tyre, jacks and tools and a solid boot floor – plus a variety of extras including fuel additives and a spare set of chrome wing mirrors.
The burgundy paint looks superb on the bold and imposing lines of the Ponton, and the bodywork all appears to be remarkably solid; take a look underneath the car and it all looks reassuring under there too.
All of the correct chrome trim and badging is in place and in decent condition, with just a very gentle patina to the front bumper. The light lenses and window glass are all good, and the car wears correct steel wheels with colour-coded hubcaps and matching tyres.
It's an impressive machine to behold, and one that received many compliments and favourable comments from passers-by during our photoshoot.
The factory-fit combination of the M121 1.9-litre engine and column-shift manual transmission is a pleasingly smooth and robust one. This engine appears to be in fine fettle; it starts without issue and settles into an even idle, and pulls well through the revs. The transmission is slick and shifts without any crunching or imprecision. The car is softly sprung and rides very well, and really is an enjoyable and entertaining thing to drive.
It’s no secret that Mercedes-Benz is a highly sought-after marque in the classic sphere in 2023; values of 1970s/80s SLs are climbing rapidly, and earlier 190 SLs are enjoying similar appeal to their gullwinged brethren. And the Ponton? This is an entirely different proposition to those sporty alternatives; the Ponton models represent a fascinating period in the brand’s history, not just in terms of radical design changes but also in their impeccable engineering.
To drive a car such as this on modern roads, it’s almost unbelievable to consider that it’s approaching a pensionable age – so much of the experience feels so smooth, so fuss-free. And if this sort of model has started to blip on your purchasing radar, you’re unlikely to find a more pleasing 180b than this one.
A smooth runner that’s delightful to behold, it’s not a car that comes with a lengthy to-do list – this is a classic Mercedes-Benz that’s ready for you to simply slip into and enjoy straight away.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
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1961 Mercedes-Benz 180b ‘Ponton’ - LHD
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