MERCEDES-BENZ, The 1960s, W111 Two- and Four-Door: From the 220b Sedan to the 220SEb Cabriolet - Paperback

by Bernd S. Koehling (Author)

MERCEDES W111: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SEDANS, COUPÉS & CABRIOLETS

2026 Edition

Model History, Engineering and a Substantially Expanded Buyer's Guide

Introduced in 1959, the Mercedes W111 marked an important new chapter in Daimler-Benz history. Its elegant styling, advanced engineering and Béla Barényi's pioneering safety concepts helped establish new standards and made the W111 one of the company's most significant postwar model series.

This large format, extensively updated 2026 edition covers the complete history and technical development of the W111 Sedans, Coupés and Cabriolets. It now also includes a substantially expanded buyer's guide covering the most important areas to inspect when evaluating one of these cars today.

More than 180 color photographs illustrate the cars, their interiors, chassis components, suspension and important originality details.

The book covers:

• A Substantially Expanded Buyer's Guide
  Detailed advice on rust and bodywork, originality, engines, transmissions, suspension, brakes, electrical systems, interiors, documentation and the most important points to check before buying.
• The Complete W111 Model History
  From the 220b, 220Sb and 220SEb Sedans to the 230S and the elegant W111 Coupés and Cabriolets.
• Safety and Technical Development
  Béla Barényi's pioneering safety concepts, the development of the safety body and the engineering that distinguished the W111 generation.
• VIN and Data Card Decoding
  Guidance for identifying original specifications, equipment, paint colors, interiors and other factory details.
• US-Market Versions
  Differences in equipment, lighting, regulations and specifications of cars built for the United States.
• Original Colors and Interiors
  Factory paint and upholstery information useful when assessing authenticity and originality.
• Coachbuilt Cars and Motorsport
  Rare special-bodied W111 models and the role of the series in competition.
• Specifications and Production Figures
  Engines, performance data, dimensions, production numbers and other essential reference information.

Whether you already own a W111, are considering buying one, or simply appreciate these elegant Mercedes-Benz classics, this book combines model history, engineering, detailed photographs and practical buying advice in one comprehensive volume.

Written by Bernd S. Koehling, author of more than 20 books on Mercedes-Benz automobiles.

Additional photographs and sample pages from the book appear farther down this product page.

Author Biography

With over 25 books and e-books written about Mercedes-Benz cars, Bernd S. Koehling has proven to be an authority on the brand. The books cover cars from the 1936 170V to the 2012 SL R231.

Bernd has been involved in the Mercedes scene since the early 1970s, when he restored a pre-war 170V Cabriolet B. Since then he has not only owned many classic Mercedes including a 220S, 300d Adenauer, 200D, 250SE, 280SE Coupe 3.5, 300SEL, 350SL, 280E, 450SE, SLK230, he has also gained a wealth of knowledge and experience, which he shares with his readers. His other weakness revolves around British cars, here especially Jaguar and Alvis.