Answers:

Not a new problem.

Once it fires, it stays running and does so smoothly.

After sitting 2 days or more, there is no squirt of fuel observable after removing the air cleaner.

I am coming to the conclsion , since these cars were originally fitted with a fuel pump that had a priming lever, that in 1959 Mercedes must have realized that the carb on this car had a basic problem of carbs not retaining fuel in the bowls after standing awhile. Am I on track?

__________________
Douglas
1959 M-B 220S cabriolet