Mercedes-Benz W111

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Mercedes-Benz Fintail

Manufacturer:	Mercedes-Benz
Class:	full-size sedan
Production:	1959 — 1968
Predecessor:	Mercedes-Benz Ponton

Image:Mercedes 230s v sst.jpg Image:SC06 1966 Mercedes-Benz W111 280SE.jpg

The "Fintail" (German: Heckflosse) was a series of luxury cars produced by Mercedes-Benz from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s. Though never officially designated as such, the cars gained the nickname because of the distinctive rear-end which incorporates small tail fins, thought to be an understated attempt to appeal to the United States market at the time (with their outrageously finned cars, such as the Cadillacs and Buicks of the times).

The Heckflosse was the first car incorporating crumple zones [1].

1 Models
2 References
3 External links

[edit] Models

The fintail models consisted of three basic platforms:

W111 - Standard 6-cylinder luxury cars, introduced in 1959
W112 - Ultra-luxurious variants with air suspension, introduced in 1961
W110 - Cheaper, 4-cylinder models with a shortened hood, introduced in 1962; "Kleinflosse" in German

As is standard practice for most automobile manufacturers, several different engine combinations and interiour trim options were applied to the basic platforms, to create many different models.

[edit] First Series (1959-1965)

Image:Heckflosse190D.jpg

1959–1965 220b sedan - model W111
1959–1965 220Sb sedan - model W111
1959–1965 220SEb sedan - model W111 (with fuel injection)
1961–1965 220SEb coupe, convertible - model W111 (with fuel injection)
1961–1965 300SE sedan - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
1962–1965 300SE coupe, convertible - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
1963–1965 300SEL sedan - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
1961–1965 190c sedan - model W110 (cheaper, 4-cylinder variant)
1961–1965 190Dc sedan - model W110 (cheaper, 4-cylinder Diesel)

[edit] Second Series (1966-1968)

Image:Heckflosse280se.jpg

The second series was introduced into production in August of 1965. The large W112 models were no longer needed since the W100 limousines were well-established by then, though the coupe and convertible continued in production for a few more years. The 300SE sedan model was now to be found in the brand new S-klasse series, W108/W109.

All engines were refreshed at this time, with the W110 190 giving way to the 200, 200D and 230 and the W111 220b/Sb/SEb making way for the 230S sedan and 250SE/280SE coupe and convertible.

1965–1968 230S sedan - model W111
1965–1967 250SE coupe - model W111
1965–1967 250SE convertible - model W111
1968–1971 280SE coupe, convertible - model W111
1968–1971 280SE 3.5 coupe, convertible - model W111
1965–1967 300SE coupe, convertible - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
1965–1968 200 sedan - model W110 (cheaper, 4-cylinder variant)
1965–1968 230 sedan - model W110
1965–1968 200D sedan - model W110 (diesel version)

[edit] Timeline

Chassis

Type

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

W111

sedan

220b/Sb/SEb

230S

coupe

220SEb

250SE

280SE

280SE 3.5

convertible

220SEb

250SE

280SE

280SE 3.5

230

200

190Dc

200D

[edit] References

Mercedes-Benz U.S Models. Hiwaay.net. Retrieved on December 1, 2005.
Deutsche Autos 1945 - 1975, W. Oswald, ISBN 3-87943-391-7

[edit] External links

http://www.heckflosse.nl/
The Heckflosse Project - Our Mercedes-Benz 220Sb restoration project, at Classic & Dream Cars

Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1946—1970s [edit]																																	later-->
Class	Type	1940s				1950s										1960s										1970s
		6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
4-cylinder	sedan	W136/W191							W120/W121								W110								W115
	roadster										W121
6-cylinder	sedan						W187			W105/W180/W128							W111								W114								W123
	coupe						W187					W180/W128
large	sedan						W186/W189								W111				W108/W109							W116
	luxury							W188									W112
	limousine						W186/W189										W112				W100 (600)
sports	roadster									W198										W113									R107