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Mercedes-Benz W188 II Coupe 300 Sc (175 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)
II Coupe Overview:
Mercedes-Benz W188 (II Coupe). With 255 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1780 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 14 s). The top speed reaches 180 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 Sc (175 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
The 175 Hp M 199 engine provided exceptional performance for a luxury coupe of its era, enabling a respectable 0-100 km/h in 14 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h, making it a capable grand tourer.
Fuel Economy
With a combined fuel consumption of 12.5 l/100 km, the 3.0L inline-six was relatively efficient for a high-performance luxury car of the mid-1950s, though high by modern standards.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Exquisite classic design and craftsmanship
- • Strong performance for its era (175 Hp)
- • Luxurious and comfortable interior
- • High collector's value and prestige
- • Advanced direct injection technology for its time
Cons:
- • Very high acquisition and maintenance costs
- • Lacks modern safety features (drum brakes, no airbags)
- • Fuel consumption high by modern standards
- • Limited availability of parts and specialized mechanics
- • Not suitable for daily driving in modern traffic
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(I Roadster: September, 1952 - June, 1955).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model: | W188 |
| Generation: | II Coupe |
| Modification (Engine): | 300 Sc (175 Hp) |
| Start of production: | September, 1955 |
| End of production: | April, 1958 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Coupe |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 175 Hp @ 5400 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 58.4 Hp/l [30mm less] |
| Torque: | 255 Nm @ 4300 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | M 199 / 199.980 More details about the engine M 199 / 199.980 |
| Engine displacement: | 2996 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Direct injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | SOHC |
| Engine layout: | Front, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 85 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 88 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 8.55:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 12.5 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 14 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 14 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 180 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 10.2 kg/Hp, 98.3 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 7 kg/Nm, 143.3 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 13.3 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1780 |
| Max. weight: | 2040 |
| Max load: | 260 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 85 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4700 mm mm [30mm less] |
| Width: | 1916 mm mm [6mm more] |
| 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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