The ponton-styled Mercedes 219 was an effort by Daimler-Benz to offer an intermediate no-frills 6-cylinder model option. It combined the larger, more luxurious W128 220-series' 2.2L (134cuin) straight-six M180 engine and forward part of the 220's body shell with the more compact cabin of the entry-level 4-cylinder Mercedes-Benz W120 180/190.
The W128 had been derived from the W120, being stretched 100 mm in front to accommodate a 6-cylinder engine in place of a 4-cylinder, and adding 70 mm to the cabin's rear seat legroom, while leaving the trunk the same on both cars. The most obvious outward manifestation of the two model lines' mating is the shorter, single window rear doors.
History
The W105's ponton body shape had been introduced in 1953 in the entry-level W120 180 sedan. In 1954 Mercedes-Benz debuted the 6-cylinder W180 220a luxury sedan, which was visually similar to the 180 but featured a 170mm (7in) longer wheelbase, and an entirely new rear suspension design. The additional length was divided, with 100mm (4in) added forward of the firewall to accommodate the larger M180 engine's two extra cylinders, and 70mm (3in) enlarging the second seat area to provide more legroom for rear passengers.[2]
The 220a was the next Mercedes up in the maker's line ran until 1956, when the 219 was introduced, and the up-powered 220S version of the otherwise near identical 220a took its place.
Model identification
The 219 from the a-pillar forward was identical to the long-nosed 220a, including the single-carburettor 2.2 L 6-cylinder engine. However, from the a‑pillar back, it used the shorter body of the W120/W121 180/190 models; both models shared the same boot. The result is a wheelbase and total length shorter than the 220 S but longer than the 190.[2] The most obvious telltale of this combination is the one-piece windows of the 180-derived rear doors, which are smaller than the 220 series' and lack the larger car's vent windows.
Inside, the 219 used the simpler instrumentation of the smaller car, along with bakelite trim instead of wood.
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