MiniArt is working on another version of the Typ 170V and has just announced the civil 4-door model.

Read the Full News Story

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

I would like to see more "everyday" cars that might be found wrecked in an urban diorama or on the street outside a shop or home. This car was for the wealthy, and would make a good staff car.

Actually, the 170V was an everyday, everyman car, pre and post WWII.

From a Mercedes Benz history site:

"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 Typ 170 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.

Love the softskins, would like to see more as well! Like the luggage rack on the trunk. Nice touch.

Usually agree with you Bill... but not this time....

Sorry, Gents, I'm not buying it that any Benz automobile was a common sight in pre-war Germany. The whole impetus behind the Volkswagen ("people's car") was to provide a vehicle that the average Johann could afford.

I would love to see Frenchy do his magic and let us know if this car was all that common, and if not, what kinds of cars would be found on a German city or town street.

Frenchy?

With almost 75,000 build it was quite common.
It could be compared to the present e-type.
But what is called a 'common man's car'!?
Nice model any way. And even a Reichspost version too.
Though the internet shows that one only as a stationwagon....

You have to remember, in pre-WWII Germany, MB was equivalent to maybe a Buick here in the US. It was a little higher than a Chevy, but well within reach of the average Johann. The post-WWII conditions (where most were starting over from nothing) led to Volkswagen, not that an MB was too much of an overpriced luxury car. Once Germany recovered in the post-war years, MB was back on top and most could afford them. Still today, in Germany, an MB is a very affordable car.

especially considering the price/prestige/luxury range of Mercedes. The cheapest models are affordable even if the luxury models are out of the reach of most people.

Limousine 2-türig: 3750 RM
Limousine 4-türig: 3980 RM
Cabrio-Limousine (4-türig): 3980 RM
Tourenwagen (2 Türen, bis 1937): 4500
RM Tourenwagen (4 Türen, ab 1938): 4600 RM
Cabrio B 4750 RM Roadster 2+2 Sitze 5500 RM
Cabrio A (ab Ende 1935) 5980 RM
RM = Reichsmark.

The Volkswagen was supposed to cost 990 RM but I don't know if any were delivered before the war. During the war the factory produced 65000 Kübelwagens instead ...

/ Robin

Gino, 75.000 cars over 7 years isn't very many. Ford turned out over 900,000 cars in 1937. I realize the two markets are very different, but I think this is a stretch. It looks like a really nifty model, but until someone shows me a street scene from pre-war Germany, I'm not convinced. Robin, I know what you're saying, but I'm not buying what you're selling. I would like to see some photographic evidence. All the photos I found showed Benzes as Nazi staff cars.

Okay, the german Wiki has some stuff on the pre-war variants (Roadsters and delivery van included) and states "90.000 Build pre-war"

linkname

And this here shows where the company itself sees the car: (Scroll down and open "Zeitleiste bis 1945")

W136 is the internal number

Middle class, same as the say 200D of the 1970s (Diopark has one)

Browsing through the entries gives some production numbers for the bigger units. 4-digit range and not high in it.

In germany the "low end" Mercedes (170 or the 200) are not "luxury cars" but in rather "general use" (Just like the base model BMW of the 3xx series) and more often associated with "Grandpa driving with hat on, bobble-head dachshund and knitted toilet paper cover in the rear window"

Gents, we've gotten sidetracked with whether this is a luxury or middle class car. But the question is: how common would it have been on a city street? Certainly having it in kit form is great, and I'm happy to see it. Can't have too many softskins. I would just like to see photographic evidence of its use as a civilian automobile in "general" use. I'm not swayed by what role this or that Benz plays today, and discussions about the history of MB and its cars is interesting, but ultimately irrelevant. I would like to see some photographic evidence. I don't think that's unreasonable.

It is a bit hard to say "pre/post WW2" since B/W film was common and the clothing similar (And both pre and post models where 170V / W136). But this one

Cabrio was only build pre WW2

likely is pre WW2 shot as is

This (fashion shot in Budapest)

This shows the cars "status" in the post WW2 time. It was a common "students car"

Post WW2

not a high value "oldtimes" (Another reason there are not that many in civilian pictures - no one cared)

Could be one

I can't attest to the years, but here area a few.

One in front of a modest looking house.


Another in a modest village.


One parked on a city street (far right).


Looks like an average Johann and greatas to me.

This is a great topic! I love the pics of the fully-loaded 170 tooling through the desert! 🐪

Thanks for sharing!

—mike

Granted, this is the post war version:

Picture by me, have more if interest exists

But it is used as an "everyday" vehicle by the owner and has a regular, non-season restricted licence plate.

============

Do not get me wrong, it was NOT a "blue collar worker" car back in the 1936-39 timeline. But germany has quite a few "lower payment bracket white collar workers" as well. And this is exactly their "size/price" range. "Better than Joe Worker with the Beetle" WAS important.

Some more stuff:

This is 1930s

And The general link. Tons of pictures there.

So if you build a tram...

========

And as said, this car can be used post 45 as well. Even as a taxi.

Maybe Opel Kadett (model by ICM) could serve as a more common car. The 170V was classified as upper middle class and the Kadett as a lower middle class (class of cars, not a social grouping of the customers ...).
"Der „Kadett“ war für Opel ein großer Erfolg: 1938 hatte er in seiner Klasse einen Marktanteil von 59 Prozent – bis 1940 wurden 107.608 Fahrzeuge aller Versionen verkauft."

The Kadett (2100 RM, from 1938 also a budget version for 1795 RM) was a great success for Opel, in 1938 it had a market share of 59% in its class (lower middle), until 1940 107.608 units were manufactured.
So, we have a huge success, Kadett, reaching over 107 000 cars which we can compare to the 170V which only reached 75000. So for every four Kadetts spotted on a German street we should expect to see three 170V and of course a lot of other cars.
The larger (presumably also more expensive) Opel Olympia (also by ICM in 1/35th) reached 168.875 units during the same time (costing 2500 RM).
For every two Opel Olympia on the streets there would be slightly less than one 170V and there would be 1.5 Olympias for every Kadett
The Opel Super 6 reached 46453 units and cost 3350 RM (cheaper than the 170V and less units produced) replaced by the Opel Kapitän (also by ICM) which reached 25371 and cost 3575 RM (cheapest version). The top of the line was the Admiral for 6500 RM, only built in series in one year and reached 25% market share in its segment (engines needed for the Opel Blitz truck ...).

Conclusion ?
Cars on German civilian street? Opel Kadett, followed by the Olympia and then a 170V and maybe an Admiral if the street gives the impression of a wealthy area. Maybe a tram and an Opel Kadett would do the trick.

The current value of 3750 RM (the cheapest 170V) would be around 16000 Euro, a little more in US $ with the current exchange rate
The average montly income was around 250 RM (or 1060 Euro) so a 170V cost 15 months average pay. Less months for those earning a little more than the average worker.

My grandfather worked in the Flensburg shipyard cutting steel for submarines during the war and he never earned enough to buy a car, don't think he ever got a driving licence either.
They won a car (NSU, horrible thing) in a raffle in the late sixties which they "gave" to my uncle so he would drive them when needed ....

/ Robin

Does the stern looking frau come with the kit?

Looks like it, but I think you will have to put on her makeup yourself


/ Robin

Hi Bill

I'm afraid I'd have a hard time trying to prove whether this car was common or not in German street by providing period pics.... All I can say is that maybe a '36-'40 Opel Kadett (ICM) would be a better choice for a German popular, "everyday" car...

EDIT : looks like Robin has beaten me to it !


Berlin streets 1939 :





More prewar Opels





Wespe Models has released a resin Opel Super 6 :



H.P.

This is a great addition to any dio, and the lady & luggage are useful as well. You could paint the vehicle as a commandeered auto and paint it in whatever camo tickles you, or keep it civi and load it up as displaced fleeing the approaching forces.

or commandeered in camouflage loaded up beyond maximum capacity with "loot" and fleeing back towards Germany during the retreat in the east

/Robin

Opels cars in Frankfurt (1938) :



On a side note a '36-'38 Goliath F400 three-wheeler would be something to consider for a German street dio...


There's a 1/35 one from Leadwarrior.

H.P.

Merci, mon ami! Didn't I say Frenchy is the best?

I'm not against this car, and I'm THRILLED to see more softskins and civvie vehicles. I would like to see more commoner cars, and so far MiniArt and others are pumping out staff cars for the military. That's not a bad thing in itself, and I'm glad we have a little more information about civilian cars in pre-war Germany.

Would like some Peugeots and other French middle-class cars, too.