Mercedes-Benz W111

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Mercedes-Benz Fintail

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

W111 230S Fintail sedan

1966 280 SE

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 tailfins, 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 idea of using crumple zones came from Bela Barenyi who worked as an engineer for Mercedes-Benz.[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.

Sharp fin on a W110 190D

[edit] First Series (1959-1965)

Chassis code	Years	Model	Engine
W111.010	1959–1965	220b Sedan	M180 2.2 L I6
W111.012	1959–1965	220Sb Sedan	M180 2.2 L I6
W111.014	1959–1965	220SEb Sedan	M127 2.2 L I6
W111.021	1961–1965	220SEb Coupé	M127 2.2 LI6
W111.023	1961–1965	220SEb Convertible	M127 2.2 L I6
W112.014	1961–1965	300SE Sedan	M189 3.0 L I6
W112.021	1962–1964	300SE Coupé	M189 3.0 L I6
W112.023	1962–1964	300SE Convertible	M189 3.0 L I6
W112.015	1963–1965	300SEL Sedan	M189 3.0 L I6

[edit] Second Series (1966-1968)

Soft fin on a W111 280SE Coupe

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 230 S Sedan - model W111
1965–1967 250 SE Coupé - model W111
1965–1967 250 SE Convertible - model W111
1968–1971 280 SE Coupé - model W111
1968–1971 280 SE Convertible - model W111
1968–1971 280 SE 3.5 Coupé - model W111
1968–1971 280 SE 3.5 Convertible - model W111
1965–1967 300 SE Coupé - model W112 (luxurious version, with air suspension)
1965–1967 300 SE 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

[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 v • d • e																																	Next ->
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
	Coupé						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