Mercedes 220 W187 Estate/Kombi.

[superdoose]

Hi all, i've recently discovered a Mercedes 220 esate on a farm near me, and would like some more info on it. I can't find anything about the estate/kombi/station wagon, so can anyone on here help?

[Jim Axman]

Most of our stuff on kombi, estate, rural, and trucks, etc is down in the Production variants section under trucks.

This link is probably the closest to what you might want although you will not find much on the 220 per se'  they are seldom seen . 

http://www.170220.com/170smf/index.php?topic=428.0



There was a guy, BoBo Leonard that stopped by the forum a few years ago with some images of a 220 Police wagon (see image)...  is this close to what you saw nearby?

[superdoose]

It looks similar, but the one in the image looks shorter. I'll try and post some pictures up. What's the easiest way to post pictures?

[Jim Axman]

upload them with your reply as jpgs or pngs or bmp. 
when you click on reply, click on "additional options" to the lower left of the posting screen and that will open up BROWSE to find the image you want to upload....it is unlimited as to the number you can add. 

[Des]

how about this?




1952 Mercedes Benz 220 Delivery vehicle


This Sedan-Delivery vehicle shares the front-end sheet metal, bumpers and trim with the 220 sedan.  While the sedan's bodies are all stamped steel, this vehicle's doors are hand-formed of steel sheeting around ash wood frames.  The rear tail-lamps are not shared with any other Type 187 models, but interestingly, can be seen on all Type 187 wiring diagrams.  The Sedan-Delivery's roof is several pieces of butt-welded steel.

Autenrich Karosserie, the constructor of this unique Mercedes-Benz coachwork, was founded in 1921 and closed in 1964.  Note the Nuremberg road service sticker in the lower right corner of the windshield, which translates to, 'Protection and Safety within sight of the castle.'  This fine example was restored by the owner.


After World War II, German businesses desperately needed commercial vehicles to help rebuild. So in 1946, the first post-war production Mercedes-Benzes were actually simple light-duty vans and pick-up trucks based on the pre-war 170 sedan chassis. But by 1951, when the new 220 came along, demand for this type of vehicle had diminished to where only about two dozen 'cab only' chassis were built. This 220 chassis was originally delivered to a building materials company, as a panel van.

[superdoose]

That Panel Van/Sedan Delivery is more like it, the proportions look correct.
Here is the one i found:

[superdoose]

I've just noticed something on my own pictures! 2 doors on the right side and only 1 on the left side!
Coachbuilt hearse maybe...?

[Jim Axman]

Wow !   very unusual..... cool pictures

[Des]

Coachbuilt hearse maybe...?

Sounds right yes,

was there any railings in the floor?


Hopefully there is some floor left in there.

[superdoose]

I didn't notice any railings. I'm going back soon for a very thorough look, because it's obviously very unusual. Can't be a one-off, can it...?

[Des]

Can't be a one-off, can it...?

You can't imagine more than a handful being made, and only a few left today.

Is it for sale or you haven't got that far yet?


Please keep us posted.

[superdoose]

A quick update. I've been back to talk to the owner, and it's available. "Make me an offer", he said.
What do i offer?

[Stephen Dietrich]

Looking at the edge of the hood and how it has rusted, I can only imagine the rust on the portions which can't be seen. I am assuming there is an engine and transmission. Stephen

[Henry Magno]

You will need a sedan to go with this car if there is any hope of restoring it. I don't think I have seen a hood that rusty. What is happening with the cowl?  Is it cut away or has it rusted away?

[Des]

A quick update. I've been back to talk to the owner, and it's available. "Make me an offer", he said.
What do i offer?

My advice would be to go back, take the camera, see if you can get inside it, take a heap of photos, post them up here, so that members can look and see if there are any missing or incorrect parts.


When restoring a car you need to try and find one as complete as possible, as chasing all these impossible to find parts can be very frustrating.


As Henry pointed out you will need to find a sedan to be a donor car in bringing this one back to life.

[John Ellis]

Also understand that you will be trying to restore a custom coach.  From the "B" pillar back, you will not find body parts at any of the normal sources; they will need to be custom fabricated.  Henry and Des made good comments, you will need to find a good donor 220 sedan for the front of the car and other miscellaneous mechanical parts that are missing or in need of replacement.

Be prepared, most likely the framework for the kombi  portion is wood and may require extensive replacement and restoration.

I say all of this, so that in consideration of an offer price, you can factor in the cost, time, and talent that is required to make it possible for restoration.

There is currently a 1938 170V kombi for sale on eBay Germany, and from the pictures it appears to be in  about the same condition or slightly better than the kombi that you are considering.  It has been listed 5 times, and the highest bid has been about $2,500 US.  I personally think that this is too high, however the seller thinks that it is worth more than $8,000 US.

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320370573930

[bobo]

That is special body, made by coachbuilder BINZ.I think that is made only few hearse+few delivery cars and 2-3ambulance cars.Most of mb 220 chassis is police car.(See Binz site-history)Total is 41 chassis.You have found very rare car but its not for restoration,car is destroyed, look like.
brgds Bobo

[superdoose]

It looks similar, but on the one i found, the rear door window and rear fender window are the same general size. The "Binz" version looks to have a smaller Fender window. Were they all as shown in the photo or were they built to a special order?
I'm finding this car fascinating, never found anything so unusual before!