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Mercedes-Benz W188 I Coupe 300 S (150 Hp)
Overall Rating
Mercedes-Benz W188:
The Mercedes-Benz W188 was a two-door luxury sports tourer produced by Mercedes-Benz between 1951 and 1958. The company's most expensive and exclusive automobile, the elegant, hand-built two-door 300 S and its successor 300 Sc were the pinnacle of the Mercedes line of their era.
The pair's conservative styling belied their technological advances, sharing numerous design innovations and mechanical components with the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing", including engine, suspension, and chassis....(Read more on Wikipedia)
I Coupe Overview:
Mercedes-Benz W188 (I Coupe). With 230 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1740 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 15 s). The top speed reaches 175 km/h. A two-door car with a fixed roof, known for its sporty design and dynamic performance. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
300 S (150 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
The 150 Hp M 188 engine provided strong, refined performance for its time, enabling comfortable high-speed cruising suitable for a luxury grand tourer.
Fuel Economy
Fuel consumption of 13.8 l/100 km was typical for a large displacement luxury car of the 1950s, not economical by modern standards but acceptable for its class.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Timeless elegant design
- • Luxurious interior for its era
- • Smooth and powerful inline-six engine
- • Significant historical and collector's value
- • High build quality
Cons:
- • Very high maintenance and restoration costs
- • Poor fuel economy by modern standards
- • Lacks modern safety features
- • Limited availability and parts scarcity
- • Performance is modest compared to modern cars
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(II Cabriolet A: January, 1956 - July, 1957).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model: | W188 |
| Generation: | I Coupe |
| Modification (Engine): | 300 S (150 Hp) |
| Start of production: | September, 1951 |
| End of production: | August, 1955 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Coupe |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 150 Hp @ 5000 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 50.1 Hp/l [30mm more] |
| Torque: | 230 Nm @ 3800 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | M 188 / 188.920 More details about the engine M 188 / 188.920 |
| Engine displacement: | 2996 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Carburettor |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | SOHC |
| Engine layout: | Front, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 85 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 88 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 7.8:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 13.8 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 15 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 15 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 175 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 11.6 kg/Hp, 86.2 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 7.6 kg/Nm, 132.2 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 14.3 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1740 |
| Max. weight: | 2000 |
| Max load: | 260 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 85 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4730 mm mm [30mm more] |
| Width: | 1910 mm mm [6mm less] |
| Height: | 1510 mm mm [Same height.] |
| Wheelbase: | 2900 mm mm [Same wheelbase.] |
| Front track: | 1480 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1525 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Steering type | Cone worm with recirculation balls |
| Front suspension | Double wishbone, Transverse stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | Trailing arm |
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