1960 Mercedes 220

„Proud symbol of integrity is the three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz. It is the hallmark of excellence on any road in the world. You are assured that when you motor behind this distinguished insignia, you drive an automobile incorporating the most advanced engineering possible to modern technology, the most skilled craftsmanship possible to human hands, and design that is always commensurate with the best taste. You are driving the car of connoisseurs.“

Incredible but true: this Mercedes 220 already whisked through the busy traffic of Havana’s Vedado district when Fidel Castro and his posse began to nationalize the Cuban economy in 1960, thus causing trouble with the northern neighbor and effectively ending the import of foreign cars to the island.

Sealed beam headlights show that this Mercedes was an export model for the American market which was distributed in Cuba by one of the local Studebaker-Packard dealers: C. Cisnero & CIA S.A., located in Havana’s Edificio Studebaker, and Galmar Motors S.A., at Vedado’s seafront, between calle Principe and calle Marina.

When presented in summer 1959, the new Mercedes instantly made its competitors look dated, and finally gave Mercedes a car that matched the prestige of the successful Opel models on the German Autobahn.

Although it looked very different to its predecessor, many components of the so-called „Baureihe W 111“ were carried over from the earlier models. 6-cylinder engines came standard, and gave the car the smoothness and zest that matched its prestige ambitions.

The clean „Ponton“ body and the well-balanced proportions made the Mercedes 220 look truly modern, and in hindsight pretty timeless, too. Only the subdued tailfins were an obvious concession to the automotive fashion of the time. Accordingly, being proud of their rational, engineering-driven mindset, the company only referred to them as being „parking aids“.