Also hydraulic brakes and swing-axle rear suspension.... Hell, i dont think American cars had independent rear susp for another 20 yrs at least. Apparently, the humbler 170D had wooden frame like English Morgan sports car which is said to handle exceptionally like "flexible flyer" sled..... whereas the deluxe 170SD had upgrade to steel I-beam frame.

I've seen a couple of them hit the market on ebay "other models" category...... including one decent roadworthy example in Oregon that has repeatedly been listed - then topped out (reserve not met) somewhere around $3- $4G. Can remember the guy claimed the car could even go 65mph with armchair comfort all day long. The poor bastard probably took a beating on what he spent restoring the car. He visited the vintage forum and was not a happy camper.

I think this car was MB's first serious effort to capture the post-war market, returning to former pre-war glory with high-tech automobile that had incredible interior appointments like dual glove compartments, massive upholstery and wooden dash and window frames...... probably a direct competitor of the Packard, favoring 1930's style running boards, flared fenders, independent headlight pods and coffin shaped engine comparment with hinged side louvred access doors. Hell, the screw cap under the hood ornament was fully functional as the actual radiator cap, although the grill side chrome slabs were not part of the radiator.

Am thinkin this 170SD was MB flagship of the sedan class, aside from the Adenauer Limo at that time, apparently marketed much as the 116 300SD...... before MB got gasoline happy and diesels were reduced to OWNING the world taxi cab market instead.

This is true that American cars of the time "looked" more modern, yet they probably drove like bricks compared with creature comforts and trick suspension of the 170SD.