1951 Mercedes-Benz 170DA Saloon

Description

In the aftermath of World War Two, Daimler-Benz recommenced vehicle production with the pre-war 170V, whose tooling and lines had somehow managed to survive the bombing. Although the 170V had a distinctly Thirties appearance, under the skin it was still a relatively modern design, with a very rigid construction and independent suspension all round (using swing-axles at the rear) to give ride and handling without equal in its class. Two years after production of the 170V commenced, a diesel variant was announced. The 170D utilised a lightweight, overhead-valve four-cylinder engine developing the same 38 horsepower as its petrol counterpart. With diesel priced at a quarter the price of petrol in Germany at the time, it's hardly surprising the 170D was a success. From June 1950, the 170 range received a wider rear track and the revised diesel model has become known as the 170DA. Other detail changes included a hinged rear boot and a larger 1767cc version of the engine, now putting out 40 bhp. In production for just two years, the 170DA was made in relatively large numbers (in total 22,737 were built) but few ever reached Australia.