It would be challenging to find two cars more different than these two Curtis Perry found in Portland, presumably. A Javelin and an W121 Mercedes, quite likely a 190D. As little as six years may separate them in terms of their model years, but in terms of styling and their missions in life it might as well have been an eon. Back then, a basic Mercedes was all about the functionality and efficiency.
And today?
Mercedes sells cars that are the stylistic successors to the Javelin, in four door guise.
Nice find, I did not realize there was another W121 Mercedes in Portland. It has been a few years since my last sighting
These are actually in Seattle, just south of Greenlake
Paul, it’s a 180. The 190 had a chrome strip around the beltline (just below the windows). And it looks to be the “b” version (fat bumpers, wide grill, larger taillights), which puts it from 1959 to roughly 1961.
They make quite a pair, don’t they?
Steve, I’m not sure if the difference between 180 and 190 was for all markets; here in Uruguay (almost all W121s were taxis, 180 D and 190 D), the 180 had a fatter radiator grille, smaller rear lights, and yes, probably different bumpers. At least as imported here, they were not contemporaries, as the 190 succeded the 180. Then again, that might have been just here.
In the U.S., both the 180 and the 190 were available at the same time. I think the only real visible difference is the chrome strip at the belt line on the 190. Having grown up with a 190Db, I can’t imagine what appeal the 180D would have had. The 190Db was a slug, and the 180D was even more of a slug. It was quite the experience learning to drive in the 190Db; I learned a LOT about anticipating hills! The noise was deafening, but the ride and handling were delightful, especially compared to any Detroit product of the time, and I’ve rarely encountered such comfortable seats.
@Steve S:
Correct. It’s a 1960 W120 Ponton 180 Gasoline Export Version.
(Proof: No passenger side mirror, no additional headlamps, instead of that “american” bumpers, and additional turn signals at the fender front).
The top photo is Mama and Papa and the bottom photo is baby all grown up.
Why do SO many new cars look like a Toyota Camry copy cat to me?
There are two vehicles that made quite an impression here in Uruguay. One of them was the W121 Mercedes, which was imported mostly for taxicab service from around 1956 to 1962, first as the 180 and then as the 190. As I myself am a 1965 model, my memory is of cars that were no newer than 10 years old, with most controls, handles, and whatever you name it falling off. But the drivers loved them as they could be fixed by mostly any diesel mechanic. Taxis here used to log around 60 K miles a year. If you think many of them were collecting fares at 20 years old, there were some that got to 2M kilometers. There was a fad to get those cars, paint them in a non black with yellow roof color, and keep them going on. I even remember some “restored”, that is, not to look like oeiginal, but to be really nice. Most had the gear lever moved to the floor, which was just as well as when all those movements were old they were a handful for the driver. In 1971 came the W115 in 220D guise. They werent good for as many years, and most were traded for ’82 W123 240D, as were the remaining 180/190 D.
I said at the beginning that there were two legendary vehicles. One is the W 121. The other is a bus. The Leyland Tiger was imported extensively before WWII. Uruguay changed RHD for LHD in 1946, but many of those buses kept their RHD until they were retired…around 1978. The drivers had to deal with a crash gearbox and a very heavy clutch, as well as an obviously unassisted steering that required being a weightlifter.
The picture is of a restored Leyland; there was lots of wood and leather on the inside of those British buses…as well as lots of diesel fumes.
A classic half-cab, though that bus appears to have an AEC grille.
Nice bus! I want to get Paraguay someday.
I believe that Mercedes sedan is of the “Pontoon” design school, the one before the razor-edged “Grosser” series. That’s the generation that was sold through Studebaker dealers in the U.S. just before they went belly up. Isn’t it cool that former Studebaker dealers could have been selling product in the 70s and 80s, snubbing their nose at AMC? I’ve got nothing against them, and I do think the Javelin is a graceful design in its own right. It’s just an interesting point to talk about.
If they were both in comparable condition as daily drivers (as they appear to be) ….
My choice would be: Mercedes.
The contrast extends to the houses in the background too. The middle house is a contrast within itself featuring elements of Queen Anne, Tudor, and Moorish architecture, with a big modern sliding window thrown in too.
Great photo Curtis. I was never a big fan of the design of this Mercedes. As a kid, their profile reminded me too much of the shape of Bowler hats. 🙂
Yet the new one neither appeals to my Javelin loving left brain, nor my classic Mercedes admiring right brain. Who am I kidding though, I’d pick the Javelin without even glancing at this Benz. I never liked the W121, it looks like a 47 Kaiser with a giant grille.
Not all that far apart. AMC cars were functional and efficient compared to other US cars at the time. The Javelin was smaller and more economical than a Camaro or Cougar.
One selling point of the first Javelin was that it actually had a usable back seat, unlike its direct competitors.
The Benz has me thinking of two other cars which were popular taxis – the Hindustan Ambassador/Morris Oxford, and the Checker.
Very appropriate that the cars are facing in opposite directions, as if they’re snubbing each other, or agreeing to disagree.
Looking at that new Mercedes with its gun slit windows and pinched greenhouse, seems that the functionality and efficiency so valued historically by MB has all but disappeared. Build quality also seems to have slipped. There should be more to a premium car than trendy styling, electronic marvels and excessive horsepower. Function, form, timelessness and superb engineering are a must. Current MB designers should take a long look at that old W121 for some inspiration.