Steering column

[twigren]

Dear friends,
I have seen some cars having the complete length of steering column chromed.
From steering wheel, into instrument panel and into engine compartment and all down to steering box.
Looks very nice with the extra chrome but I wonder If is was standard in  way or yearmodel of the MB 170S?
/Thomas

[John Ellis]

Yes it was chromed as were the 170V models.  The 170S and 170SV with column shift .... I am not sure if these were chromed or not.

[170Sb-Fahrer]

Hi Thomas,

in my 170Sb from 1952, which is in original condition, the steering column is in the same black colour as the whole car. Not chromed. Also in cars owned by some friends of mine.

But however, I've seen some 170 with chromed steering column, and not only this: Their owners chromed almost everything in the engine compartment. This is not original and looks horrible in my opinion.

But the gear shift lever is chromed in original (cars with steering-column gear shift only), instead of the knob, which also is in black colour.

Kind regards
170Sb-Fahrer

[John Ellis]

According to early parts lists manuals, the steering column shaft was chromed on the 170S floor shift models.  The subsequent models 170Sb, 170DS, 170SD and 170SV all had a column shift with a column cover over the shaft that was painted.

[twigren]

Thank you all for replies