The best expression of the Mercedes W111 range

The Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet, part of the W111 model family, debuted in 1961 as a full-size open model that replaced the W128 220SE, which was still based on the old-fashioned "Ponton" design. The new model featured a sharper design that has stood as one of Mercedes' best over the years.

The W111 series debuted at the 1959 Frankfurt Motor Show, where Mercedes-Benz unveiled the four-door sedan that quickly earned the nickname "Heckflosse", which means "Fintail" in English. The nickname came about thanks to the car's stylized fins that climbed into the rear of the car, a design suggestion aimed at the American clientele.

The Cabriolet version followed a few years later, after the Ponton-based W128 Cabriolet's production run ended. The two-door car had a soft top and exuded a kind of refined beauty that became almost synonymous with 1960s Mercedes-Benz models. The W111 is considered part of the S-Class lineage, along with the luxury W112, which features bigger engines and more comfort on board.

Tweet