Which Car Most Influenced The Styling Of The 1959 Mercedes W111?
A bit of an esoteric subject for a post, eh? But t oday’s Mercedes W111 CC has stimulated some interesting speculation as to their influence on the W111’s styling. That got me thinking, and I found a few candidates from the comments and my own. I’ll add others as they’re suggested, especially if you have a link. Keep in mind that the Mercedes was designed in the 1956-1957 period, so anything later than that will have been too late.
The 1956 Rambler’s general boxy shape and proportions are high on the list, in my book, anyway.
The ’58 Rambler’s fins certainly look influential, on a scaled-down way. Perhaps by the fall of ’57, the Mercedes’ body was still not locked up in regard to details like the fins.
The 1956 Studebaker? Hmmm?
The 1957 Chevy was nominated a couple of times, but I don’t find the greenhouse and general body shape that influential. It was getting a bit old, having been around since the fall of1954.
I happen to see some distinct influence of the 1957 Facel Vega Excellence in the Mercedes, especially around the rear door, the little kick-up to the C-Pillar, and the rear fender. Never mind the front end with the stacked lights, although to be fair, the European version of the W111 used an integrated light unit, not two sealed beams like the US version.
Any other nominations?
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I'm more shocked, stunned, with how the Facel-Vega's silhouette looks like a dead ringer for the 1961 Continental right down to its suicide doors. All these years I'd thought Ford actually had a fresh idea.......
I've always thought that the influence flowing from the relationship with Studebaker went the other way. The design of the Lark -- especially from 1962 forward -- seems very much to borrow from Mercedes sedan styling themes of the time.