Highlights
- Extremely rare four seat ‘C’ model 220S cabriolet
- Gorgeous two-tone beige and burgundy bodywork with tan leather
- Comprehensive and meticulous restoration costing over €100,000
- Hammer-formed bodywork restoration by specialist artisans
- Original interior preserved in very good condition for its age
- Once owned by a German politician's wife and has spent time in Venezuela
The Appeal
Mercedes’ ‘Ponton’ cabriolet is one of the most elegant and rare four seat convertibles of the 1950s. And this 1959 220S ‘C’ model surely one of the very best on the market.
Unlike its saloon sibling, every W180 cabriolet was virtually hand-built, sharing the underpinning and some mechanicals but little else with the four door cars. It was avalable in ‘A’ and ‘C’ configurations, the latter receiving a rear bench to deliver four full seats. Just 2,178 of both models were built and this 1959 is amongst the last to have left the Sindelfingen plant.
It is a beautiful and high quality car, finished in fetching two-tone beige and burgundy with a highly original tan leather cabin. It has received a €100,000 restoration by some of Europe’s best classic car artisans. When you learn that the work including hammer-forming the panels you may understand why €35,000 of that investment went on the bodywork alone. The engine has been extensively overhauled and the gearbox rebuilt and fitted with a new clutch. The work was completed in 2018, but thanks to its quality and subsequent sparing use, it looks far more recent.
Any W180 convertible is a visual treat, from its hand-crafted veneers to its sculptural bodywork. From its interesting provenance, including time in Venezuela, to that gorgeous specification and the quality renovation, this car is a collector-quality example of a very high order.
The vendor says:
“The cars runs and drives perfectly, a lot has been invested to reach a perfect level of drivability
“This Ponton represents the essence of a no-limits, no budget limitations restoration policy, all dedicated to the goal of bringing it back to its full glory of the 50s. It tells the story of the post-war high society back to the spotlight, while preserving traces of its story in the interior. Barely any Ponton has been brought up to this level of restoration, which merits its place in the hall of fame of Mercedes enthusiasts.”
History and Paperwork
- First registered in 1959
- First owned by the wife of a German politician
- Spent time in Venezuela before arriving in France
- Exempt from Contrôle Technique because it is a pre-1960 vehicle
- Acquired by current keeper in in Rouen in 2015
- Restored between 2015 and 2018 at cost of €100,000
- Large history file advised by seller
- Original paperwork and detailed invoices for the restoration work
- Registered in France with registration number DC-970-KA
The vendor says:
The car was firstly owned by a wife of a politician in Germany who travelled with it to Venezuela for a few decades, later to be imported then imported to France, where she started the restoration but stopped at the very beginning. At the time of purchase around 2015, the car needed a complete restoration due to its condition, I bought the car in Rouen and started a total nut-and-bolt level restoration of all aspects of the car that took 3 years to complete.
“The total cost of the restoration adds up to more than 100,000€, including 35,000€ dedicated to the bodywork restoration alone, which took 2 years to complete. I hold a lot of old paperwork plus invoices for the restoration project.”
The Condition
- Bodywork restored by specialist artisans using traditional hammer-on-metal techniques
- Beautifully presented in beige and burgundy with matching wheel hub caps
- Paintwork and bodywork present at a very high standard as shown
- Chrome components separately restored by specialists in La Rochelle
- Left front wing was custom-produced by an artisan craftsman
- New chassis floor, boot, and bonnet were installed during the restoration
- All woodwork received 6 layers of varnish for protection and appearance
- Period-correct two-tone beige and bordeaux paintwork applied between 2015-2018
- Original tan leather interior intentionally preserved
- Interior shows some patina appropriate to its age but remains in good condition
- No major tears or excessive wear visible in the fauve (tan) upholstery
- Five digit odometer shows 26,052 kilometres but this is not verified
To work through the photos of this 1959 W180 is to be reminded of just carefully executed its lines were, particularly at a time when styling took a back seat to engineering at Mercedes. This car’s period-correct two-tone paintwork makes the most of those lines, lines that were carefully refurbished and recreated during the painstaking restoration process. The bright chromework was extensively restored during the process.
Unlike some extensive restoraitons, that can perhaps be a little sterile, this car blends restored features with originality. That is most notable in the evocative tan leather cabin, which is one of the W180 cabriolet’s most engaging features. We are told the cabin was left largely untouched during the work. The result is a lovely gentle patina across leather and wood veneers.
The vendor says:
“The bodywork phase is exceptionally executed by an uncompromising artisan who made a hammer-on-metal restoration of the body panels, like in the old days, with extreme attention to details. Absolutely not a millimeter of mediocracy can be found in this restoration project, it may be as good as from factory and perfectly aligned to a concours-level. The chrome components have been taken to a specialist in La Rochelle separately to guarantee the highest level of craftsmanship.
“At the time of purchase, there were holes in the underpinnings; therefore the seller decided to take off every element of the car apart to restore it with the highest of care. All woodwork and panels were redone with 6 layers of varnish. To list a few, some elements of the were changed and redone such as the left front wing produced by an artisan, rear right wing new chassis floor, boot, bonnet and the list goes on…
“The car was repainted during the restoration project between 2015-2018, finished to the highest level with a period-correct two-tone scheme, as good as new
“I intentionally kept the original interior of the car as is, which is in an exceptional condition, especially given its age. Signs of age are visible as a part of the car's history but no major tear and wear are visible.”
The Mechanics
- 2.2-litre engine
- 4spd manual transmission
- Engine overhauled during restoration with extensive work completed
- New clutch fitted in 2018 with few miles since
- Gearbox was professionally rebuilt
- Rare crown gear was sourced from Belgium and installed
- Vendor states the car runs and drives perfectly following the comprehensive mechanical restoration
The vendor says:
“Upon purchase, the owner took on the mechanical aspect of the restoration with the engine opened with internal parts changed (including 1 piston). Among others, the clutch was changed, gearbox redone, new crown was purchased in Belgium which is extremely difficult to source.”
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