The Mercedes 170V is unique in that it spanned the entire
war and, somewhat by default, became Mercedes fist post
war model.
First shown to the public at the Berlin Auto Show in February
1936, the vehicle was offered in an extraordinary array
of body combinations including two and four door sedans
and convertibles, a cabriolet limousine, delivery van,
ambulance and even police car.
By 1942 almost 90,000 170's had been manufactured, with
passenger cars accounting for over 70,000 of those. Naturally
many were converted to charcoal burning models during
the war.
In April 1945 Daimler Benz executives announced that
the company had "ceased to exist", however
some of the less damaged manufacturing plants fell
into the Allied occupied zone and, after as many ex-employees
could be located, production resumed on the 170.
Fortunately for us this great marque survived - thanks
to the humble 170!