Description
Chassis number 136869
In 1935, in parallel with the front-engined Mercedes-Benz 170 V, Daimler-Benz AG introduced the Mercedes-Benz 170 H, which used the same four-cylinder 1, 697cc 38PS engine but mounted at the rear. Although designed by Hans Nibel, the 170 H bore more than a passing resemblance to the Volkswagen 'Beetle', the latter's creator, Dr Ferdinand Porsche, having been Daimler Benz's chief designer during the late 1920s.
The Mercedes-Benz 170 H was produced from 1935 to 1939, although only 1, 507 were built over those four years.
Introduced in 1935, the 170H was a more powerful variant of Hans Nibel’s earlier 130H, as it was equipped with an appropriately enlarged engine that now completely occupied the space in the rear of the automobile. It remained in production after World War II, and it joined its earlier sibling in being one of the original German “people’s cars.” Sporting three headlamps, the center being a driving lamp, a rear-mounted engine, and streamlined bodywork, the design, in many ways, recalled the famous Czechoslovakian Tatra. Survivors are rare and hard to find today, particularly pre-war examples, as so few of them survived the conflict.
The two-door saloon offered here is a well-kept older restoration in an elegant combination of cream and wine, with a matching dark red leather interior that is complemented by pebble-finished door sills, which were delivered new through the Daimler-Benz branch in Gleiwitz in February 1936. Chrome has been selectively replated as necessary throughout, and notably, for what was a lower-cost Mercedes-Benz of this period, the interior has an impeccably elegant feel, with clear, round, chrome-edged gauges in a pure white dashboard, which is surrounded by polished wood trim. Despite its diminutive size, the 170H can hold four adult passengers, as it has a full rear seat. Opening the front lid reveals a spare and a small toolkit, which includes a hubcap wrench and hand crank.
During the 1930s, there was great European interest in rear-engined cars, both as competition vehicles and as solutions for family motoring. The foremost proponents were Hans Ledwinka, chief engineer of Tatra and best known for his T77 and subsequent models, and Ferdinand Porsche and the KdF-Wagen — the forerunner of the Volkswagen Beetle.
This fine example was supplied via Mercedes-Benz Lausanne in February 1936 and stayed in Switzerland until being purchased by the present owner in 2020. The original service book is present and documents all the servicing from new until the mid 50’s showing enthusiastic and regular use. In recent years it has formed part of a significant collection of early German cars and was serviced at the beginning of this year. Any collection of streamlined pre-war European cars needs a 170H. This 170H has been rarely seen, it is unusual, and it can be imminently used for purring through local roads or at a car meet, and the opportunity to buy such a nice example as this is rare indeed.
