Mercedes-Benz W111

Mercedes-Benz W111
220S (1964)
Overview
ManufacturerMercedes-Benz
ProductionSaloon: 1959–1968
Coupé: 1961–1971
370,807 built
Assembly
DesignerFriedrich Geiger
Paul Bracq (coupé & cabriolet)
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size luxury car (F)
Body style4-door saloon
2-door coupé
2-door convertible
LayoutFR layout
RelatedMercedes-Benz W110
Mercedes-Benz W112
Mercedes-Benz W113
Powertrain
Engine2,195 cc (2.2 L) M127 I6
2,306 cc (2.3 L) M180 I6
2,496 cc (2.5 L) M129 I6
2,778 cc (2.8 L) M130 I6
3,499 cc (3.5 L) M116 V8
Chronology
PredecessorMercedes-Benz W180
SuccessorMercedes-Benz W108 (4-door)
Mercedes-Benz C107 (2-door)
See Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a complete overview of all S-Class models.

The Mercedes-Benz W111 is a line of full-sized luxury cars produced by Mercedes-Benz between 1959 and 1971, including four-door saloons (1959–1968) and two-door coupés and cabriolets (1961–1971). The saloons’ bodywork featured distinctive pointed tailfins that gave the models their Heckflosse nickname — German for "fintail".

Introduced with a 2.2-litre inline 6-cylinder engine, the W111 spawned a pair of bracketing variants in 1961: downscale entry-level inline 4-cylinder engined vehicles sharing the W111 chassis and bodies, designated the W110; and the high-end W112, a luxury saloon built on the W111 chassis with its body but exclusive features, elaborate appointments, and the Mercedes-Benz 300d Adenauer's fuel-injected 3-litre "big block" M189 six-cylinder engine at the time the company's largest.

As with the preceding W180 and W128 series, both the W111 and W112 lines included 2-door coupé and cabriolet body styles distinct from the saloon. Designed by Paul Bracq, these specialty cars were shared between the two new series, and featured their own unique and significantly upscaled coachwork and interiors.