Launched in 1959, Mercedes-Benz W111 was quickly dubbed the Heckflosse—or tail fin—in its native Germany, in reference to the model’s smart styling. Business-like in appearance, the saloon would later be joined by more glamorous Paul Bracq-penned coupé and cabriolet variants, but it was the four-door that would prove most popular with buyers. And, curiously, with those of a motorsport bent. On paper, the Mercedes-Benz 220 was far from sporting. Its workaday 2.2-litre straight-six was no fireball, and it had to be rowed hard to overcome a not inconsiderable kerb weight of 1,334 kilograms. But in that weight lay strength, and the model became an unexpected hit on the rally stage, particularly in top-spec fuel-injected form. It proved just the tool for punishing long-distance events, winning the 1960 Rallye Monte-Carlo the 1961 Algiers-Cape Town trans-African Rally. Read more at : rmsothebys.com
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