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Mercedes-Benz W188 I Roadster 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 Roadster Overview:
Mercedes-Benz W188 (I Roadster). With 230 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1540 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-seater convertible designed for open-top driving pleasure. Seating for 4 makes it ideal for daily use.
300 S (150 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Robust and smooth performance for its era, offering respectable acceleration and a high top speed for a luxury roadster.
Fuel Economy
Typical fuel consumption for a large displacement luxury engine of the period, not optimized for modern efficiency standards.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Exceptional build quality and luxurious appointments for its era.
- • Smooth and powerful inline-six engine, offering strong performance for the 1950s.
- • Timeless and elegant design, making it a highly desirable classic.
- • Excellent long-distance touring capabilities.
- • Significant historical and collector's value.
Cons:
- • Lacks modern safety features and crash protection.
- • High fuel consumption by contemporary standards.
- • Maintenance and parts can be very expensive and specialized.
- • Drum brakes and older suspension technology offer a different driving experience than modern cars.
- • Limited availability and very high acquisition cost.
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(I Coupe: September, 1951 - August, 1955).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model: | W188 |
| Generation: | I Roadster |
| Modification (Engine): | 300 S (150 Hp) |
| Start of production: | September, 1952 |
| End of production: | June, 1955 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Roadster |
| Seats: | 4 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 150 Hp @ 5000 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 50.1 Hp/l [Same length.] |
| Torque: | 230 Nm @ 3800 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | M 188.920 More details about the engine M 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 oil capacity: | 7.5 l |
| Coolant: | 19.5 l |
| 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) - extra urban: | 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: | 10.3 kg/Hp, 97.4 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 6.7 kg/Nm, 149.4 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 14.3 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1540 |
| Max. weight: | 2000 |
| Max load: | 460 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 85 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4730 mm mm [Same length.] |
| Width: | 1910 mm mm [Same width.] |
| Height: | 1510 mm mm [Same height.] |
| Wheelbase: | 2900 mm mm [Same wheelbase.] |
| Front track: | 1480 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1525 mm |
| Ride height (ground clearance): | 180 mm |
| Minimum turning circle (turning diameter): | 12.5 m [above average] |
| 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 |
| Wheel rims size | 15 |
| Front suspension | Coil spring, Double wishbone, Transverse stabilizer |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |
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