Mercedes-Benz W187 buyer's guide

The first post-war six — the 220 that restarted the line.

Years: 1951–1955 · Models: 220 sedan, 220 coupe, 220 Cabriolet A and B

Overview

The W187 220 was Mercedes-Benz's first new six-cylinder car after the war, reviving the formula of the pre-war years with an overhead-cam engine and, unusually for the time, the headlamps integrated into the front wings. Most were sedans; the coupes and the two cabriolet styles (the two-seat Cabriolet A and the four-seat Cabriolet B) were hand-finished in small numbers and are the cars collectors seek.

Engines

The 2.2-litre M180 overhead-cam six with a single carburettor, producing about 80 horsepower — the first outing of an engine family used for twenty years.

What to check

• Scarcity-driven checks come first: trim, instruments, lights, and fittings are W187-specific and very hard to replace, so completeness is the inspection.
• Body and chassis rust, and on the cabriolets the top frames and the wood and leather of the interior.
• King pins, steering, and the general state of a seventy-year-old chassis — expect to recommission rather than merely service.
• Engine condition in person; the M180 is a known quantity, but verify oil pressure and compression.
• Paperwork and identity, which in this market are part of the car's substance.

Values

The Cabriolet A and the coupe lead the series by a wide margin, with the Cabriolet B behind them and sedans as the affordable entry. Documented, complete cars make the money; an incomplete two-door car is a long project regardless of price.

Buying tips

Buy completeness. The W187's mechanical side is approachable — it is the missing lamp, badge, or instrument that can stall a restoration for years, so inventory the car against photographs of correct examples before you buy.

See the 20 W187 cars currently listed.