Mercedes-Benz · 1936–present
Mercedes-Benz W136
The Mercedes-Benz W136 was Mercedes-Benz's main line of inline-four cylinder motorcars from the mid-1930s into the 1950s. The model 170 V made its public debut as successor to the W15 Typ 170 in February 1936. Between 1936 and 1939 it was Mercedes' top selling model. Between 1936 and 1942 over 75,000 were built making it by far the most popular Mercedes-Benz model up till that point. Enough of the W136's tooling survived Allied bombing during World War II (or could be recreated post-war) for it to serve as the foundation upon which the company could rebuild. By 1947 the model 170 V had resumed its place as Mercedes' top-seller, a position it held until 1953. The "V" in the 170 V's name was an abbreviation of "Vorn" (front), added to differentiate it from the contemporary rear-engined Mercedes-Benz 170H (W28) ("H" for "Heck", rear) which used the same four cylinder 1697cc engine, but positioned at the back of the car.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Predecessor: Mercedes-Benz W15 · Successor: Mercedes-Benz W120
All Mercedes-Benz W136 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
Specifications
- name
- Mercedes 170 V
- Manufacturer
- Mercedes-Benz
- Class
- Mid-size luxury / Executive car (E)
- Production
- 1935–1955, 1935–1942: 75,006 units, 1947–1955: 83,190 units
- Body style
- 4-door sedan, 4-door Cabrio-Limousine, 2-door 2 & 4 seater cabriolets, 2-door roadster, 2-door pickup, 4-door van
- Predecessor
- Mercedes-Benz W15
- Layout
- FR layout
- Assembly
- Germany: Stuttgart, Argentina: Buenos Aires
- Engine
- petrol:, 1697 cc M136 I4 (1935–1950), 1767 cc M136 I4 (1950–1953), diesel:, 1697 cc OM636 I4 (1949–1950)
- Wheelbase
- 2845 mm
- Length
- 4270 mm
- Width
- 1570 mm, most pre-war body types, 1580 mm, most post-war body types, 1630 mm, from 1950
- Successor
- Mercedes-Benz W120/W121, Mercedes-Benz W191
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43741CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W136CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1363726423 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercedes-Benz_170_SA_1952.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: see file page · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.