This 1955 Mercedes-Benz 180D was sold new in July of 1955 and registered to a Naval Officer stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia. That owner kept the car for 50 years and maintained accompanying records until 2005 when it was sold to the owner of a prominent classic car restoration shop out of Starksboro, Vermont. The current owner purchased the 180D in 2020 with 47,601 miles on the odometer in 2020 from the second owner and received documented history along with the car. This example is finished in Black (DB40) over a Red (H3) cabin featuring Red door panels and Brown Bakelite dashboard trim. Power comes from a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder diesel paired to a column shifted 4-speed manual transmission. Features include all original brightwork, lower safety belts, paint matched hubcaps, and a period-correct Becker Mexico tube radio. The odometer displays just over 49k original and documented miles. This 180D is offered by the seller and third owner with complete documentation sorted by all three owners, factory literature, a full set of keys, various extra replacement parts and accessories, and a clean Vermont title.
Noted as a true survivor, this 180D displays Black paint, as noted on the data card. The original brightwork remains in good condition and the windows are reportedly free from cracks and pitting. Under previous ownership, professional repairs were made to the side rail and rib on the driver's side of the car. The owner does mention a few blemishes in the original bodywork including a wrinkle at the top of the right fender, a small dent in the roof approximately the size of a quarter, and light spider webbing in the paint on the right rear and front left fenders. Additional equipment includes bumper overriders, parking lights, Bosch headlights, and a front bumper badge in honor of the original owner.
Factory 13″ steel wheels with paint matched wheel covers measure 13x5 on all four corners and are shown with Michelin ZX tires, replaced in 2019. A body-colored original full-size spare wheel and tire are shown in the trunk along with the original toolkit.
The cabin is trimmed in Red Leather (H3) across the seats, door panels, and center dashboard. The leather seats show heavy creasing on the front seats and little wear across the rear. A professionally restored pair of front seats are also included in the sale. New rubber mats for all door sills and trunk have been professionally installed this year. The dashboard features original chrome and Bakelite-trimmed knobs and buttons including a functional glow plug indicator and tube radio. Red and black woven floor mats are featured at the front and back. The headliner is noted to be in good shape and the seller mentions light speckling on the rearview mirror.
The dual spoke black steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a 90-mph speedometer as well as gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level. The odometer displays 49k original miles which are reinforced by the stamped and noted service booklet shown in the gallery below. Original replacement glass and chrome frame for instrument cluster are included in the sale and shown in the gallery below.
The 1.8-liter OM636 diesel was rated for 46 horsepower and 76 lbs-ft of torque when new and features mechanical fuel injection. Mechanical service is up to date and the seller has maintained and organized records since the first owner. Reinforcement and repairs on the entire hydraulic system, including brake lines, fuel lines, wheel lines, and master brake cylinder were performed under previous ownership and all systems function as they should. The seller also makes note of recent repairs under their ownership including a new water pump, new water pump pulley, new brake reservoir, and a new passenger side heating duct in 2021.
The following spare parts are included with receipts and records: An age-appropriate electric clock, new shock absorbers (front and rear), new rubber bushings, metal plates, miscellaneous fittings for the rear end, a spare Becker radio, and a footlocker of spare parts, including glow plugs, fuel injectors, Bosch injector nozzles, head gaskets, engine valves, various bolts, nuts, and washers, spare muffler, extensive service records, Mercedes workshop manual, original instruction manual, two spare parts booklets (one in English, one in German), and contemporary Mercedes literature for the Ponton model range.
This 180D is offered by the seller and third owner with complete documentation sorted by all three owners, factory literature, a full set of keys, various extra replacement parts and accessories, and a clean Vermont title.
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Enclosed Transit:
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18 Comments
Thanks to all.$19,500 bid placed by @jg123
$19,000 bid placed by @ClassyBenz
$18,500 bid placed by @jg123
$17,500 bid placed by @ClassyBenz
Dear 2003G, Sorry to see you go, but thanks very much for the attention.Congrats on receiving such a healthy bump up in the bidding. In this price range it will be more difficult for me to continue to bid, site unseen, due to the time constraints and distance distance involved. I will necessarily bow out of the bidding - Best of luck with the rest of the bidding.Thank you, Parfour. It’s a great car, one of a kind. And, yes, the kinship of 180 and 190 is strong indeed.This is a fantastic example with the documentation. So interesting that the 190SL also shares in the Ponton lineage with this 180D. You can definitely tell in the styling cues of the lights and fenders.$17,000 bid placed by @jg123
$7,600 bid placed by @2003G500
Thank you, Mark! Give it a new home!I love this car.Mr. 6’3”…just back from the barn with measurements I hope will be helpful. Back rear of seat to roof is 38”. Back edge of seat to bottom of dashboard is 15”. Front edge of seat to bottom of steering wheel is 6..5” on the diagonal. From floor to top edge of seat is 11”. These are made with the driver’s seat all the way back. The rear seat bench is adjustable to three different positions if more or less rear legroom is needed. Please note that these are approximate. Thanks for looking and best wishes.I think a 6’ 3” driver would find this car quite comfortable, with leg room and head room to spare. The second owner was in that range and drove it for 15 years. If he is watching the site, perhaps he will weigh in with commentary.Greetings, Curious how much leg room is there for the driver? How would 6'3" driver with long legs make do?$7,150 bid placed by @sfagrell
If anyone wonders about the shadowy circle on the passenger side of the front grille, here is the answer: It’s from a three-piece badge, reading “Mercedes Benz Diesel” put there by the original owner. I removed it, but saved:; it’s picture no. 106 in the photo gallery. New owner can re-installed if desired.$6,900 bid placed by @BogBenz
Dear Larry. There is a definite diesel aroma in the garage, which could also be coming from the John Deere. Either way, not too overpowering, or maybe I’m just acclimated to it. We had two small leaks earlier this year—one from the water pump and one from the water jacket on passenger side of engine. Both were fixed by the shop foreman at our Vermont Mercedes dealership—bolt and gasket replaced on water jacket, new water pump and pulley installed. Problem solved. Having said that, given the age of the car, the new owner should be ready to replace rubber gaskets, pipes, and washers as they give out. Vigilance and regular inspection is the key.Hello! Larry In Charleston. How badly does your garage smell of diesel? Leaks? Thanks!Thank you Harrdware! Mercedes built this one for style, comfort, economy, and reliability. It’s a real workhorse—and, all these years later, a tribute to the Mercedes emphasis on engineering, design, and build quality.Even the more pedestrian Benz's look so classy! A beautiful car! So great to see one in this condition.$6,120 bid placed by @Jbrauner
Eclectic, Thanks for your bid—and best of luck to you. I’m happy to answer any questions re: the 180D.$1,955 bid placed by @Eclecticollector
Too Many, Thanks so much for this. Yes, it is a superb old veteran, well cared for all these years and still humming along..Fantastic example of a surviving W120! I own 4 of these W120/W121 body cars and yours is the nicest one I've seen advertised in a few years. Not many diesel's out there. The Becker tube radio with the Wonderbar is a rarity. Nice to see one with an original interior. Best of luck to you!