Launched in 1959, Mercedes-Benz W111 was quickly dubbed the Heckflosse —or tail fin—in its native Germany, in reference to the model’s smart styling.

Business-like in appearance, the saloon would later be joined by more glamorous Paul Bracq-penned coupé and cabriolet variants, but it was the four-door that would prove most popular with buyers.

And, curiously, with those of a motorsport bent.

On paper, the Mercedes-Benz 220 was far from sporting.

Its workaday 2.2-litre straight-six was no fireball, and it had to be rowed hard to overcome a not inconsiderable kerb weight of 1,334 kilograms.

But in that weight lay strength, and the model became an unexpected hit on the rally stage, particularly in top-spec fuel-injected form.

It proved just the tool for punishing long-distance events, winning the 1960 Rallye Monte-Carlo the 1961 Algiers-Cape Town trans-African Rally.

Finnish hot-shoe Rauno Aaltonen was also a fan, no doubt influenced by his father owning a Mercedes-Benz dealership ...