The Mercedes-Benz W105 was a four-door executive car manufactured by Daimler-Benz from 1956 to 1959 and marketed as the Mercedes-Benz Typ(e) 219.
The ponton-styled Mercedes 219 was an effort by Daimler-Benz to offer an intermediate no-frills 6-cylinder model option. It combined the larger, more luxurious W128 220-series' 2.2 l straight-six M180 engine and forward part of the 220's body shell with the more compact cabin of the entry-level 4-cylinder Mercedes-Benz W120 180/190.
The W128 had been derived from the W120, being stretched 100 mm in front to accommodate a 6-cylinder engine in place of a 4-cylinder, and adding 70 mm to the cabin's rear seat legroom, while leaving the trunk the same on both cars. The most obvious outward manifestation of the two model lines' mating is the shorter, single window rear doors.
History
The W105's ponton body shape had been introduced in 1953 in the entry-level W120 180 sedan. In 1954 Mercedes-Benz debuted the 6-cylinder W180 220a luxury sedan, which was visually similar to the 180 but featured a 170 mm longer wheelbase, and an entirely new rear suspension design. The additional length was divided, with 100 mm added forward of the firewall to accommodate the larger M180 engine's two extra cylinders, and 70 mm enlarging the second seat area to provide more legroom for rear passengers.[2]