Introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in April 1951, the 220 was in effect a six-cylinder cousin to the 170S on the same 2,845mm wheelbase chassis.

The first of this line – the four-cylinder, 1.7-litre 170V – had been introduced back in 1936 would form the mainstay of Mercedes-Benz production in the immediately post-war years.

Running gear was state-of-the-art at the time, comprising an oval-tube backbone-type chassis, swing-axle independent rear suspension, transverse-leaf IFS and hydraulic brakes.

Introduced in May 1949, the outwardly similar 170S came with a 1,767cc engine equipped with an aluminium-alloy cylinder head.

The suspension too had undergone considerable development, a thoroughly modern double wishbone/coil spring design being adopted at the front while at the rear the track was widened and telescopic shock absorbers fitted.

The Motor found that the new Mercedes-Benz, 'offered an almost unique sensation in coupling genuine soft suspension and comfortable ride over ro...