Mercedes-Benz W120/W121

The Mercedes-Benz W120 and W121 are two technically similar series of four-cylinder saloons that Mercedes-Benz sold as the 180 and the 190, and they are the Ponton cars in their entry-level form. The W120 was introduced as the 180 in 1953 with the existing 1.8 litre M136 engine and from 1954 was also offered with a diesel as the 180 D, selling until 1962. The W121 debuted as the 190 in 1956 with a 1.9 litre M121 engine and gained the OM621 diesel as the 190 D in 1958, selling until 1961, when the W110 190 c and 190 Dc replaced it. Together with the longer six-cylinder 219, 220 and 220 SE models they made up 80 per cent of Mercedes-Benz car production between 1953 and 1959. The 180 and 190 were widely used as German taxis, and the W120 is described as the first predecessor of the mid-size E-Class line. A related two-door roadster, the 190 SL, was built from 1955 to 1963.