Mercedes-Benz W136

The Mercedes-Benz W136 was the main line of inline-four cylinder cars from Mercedes-Benz from the mid-1930s into the 1950s, beginning with the model 170 V that made its debut in February 1936 as successor to the W15 170. Between 1936 and 1939 it was the company's top-selling model, and over 75,000 were built by 1942, making it the most popular Mercedes-Benz up to then. Its 1.7 litre side-valve engine gave 38 PS, and the V in the name, for Vorn or front, separated it from the rear-engined 170 H. A wide range of bodies was offered, from saloons and cabriolets to taxis, ambulances and military versions, and in 1949 the 170 D became the world's third diesel passenger car. Its tooling let the company rebuild after the war, and the last W136, the 170 S, was withdrawn in September 1955.