1956 Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet (Ponton)
The Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet was the flagship of the 'Ponton' series, introduced in 1956 and priced at a substantial premium over the saloon. This particular example, carrying body number 6500001, is believed to be the very first Ponton cabriolet produced, and appears in the original factory brochure. It retains a distinctive hard tonneau cover rather than the leather covering used on later cars. Delivered in August 1956, it passed through several owners in Germany and Luxembourg before undergoing a lengthy restoration.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €125,000 – €150,000
- 1956-08-04 → 1971Factory deliveryBernhard Mohrfull documentation
Original first owner, took delivery on the date of manufacture release. Held the car for nearly two decades until his death.
- 1971 →InheritanceMohr familypartial documentation
Retained by the family for several years following Bernhard Mohr's passing before being sold on.
- Date unknownPrivate saleHans Wachtpartial documentation
Began a restoration but was unable to complete it due to difficulty sourcing parts. Sold the unfinished project.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRestoration specialist in Beidweiler, Luxembourgpartial documentation
Carried out approximately two years of restoration work before selling the car.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJosepheus Johannes Havermanspartial documentation
Luxembourg-based owner who acquired the car following the restoration work.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownUnidentified intermediate ownernone documentation
One additional owner is referenced between Havermans and the consignor, with no further details given.
- Date unknownPrivate saleConsignorpartial documentation
Current owner who is offering the car at auction; no further personal details provided.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
Hans Wacht commenced a restoration but it remained incomplete due to difficulty sourcing components; the project was abandoned and the car sold unfinished.
Work began at some point after the Mohr family period and was still ongoing in the early 1990s.
- —RestorationRestoration specialist, Beidweiler, Luxembourg
A restoration specialist based in Beidweiler, Luxembourg, carried out approximately two years of work to bring the restoration toward completion.
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