What is this car ???

[yasserbarkoki]

The two air vents on the sides of the front grille, are they a clue to any one?
They are certainly not the ones on the 4cylinder pontos, but they are positioned too high compared to the 6 Cylinder ones.
I dont see it even in the trucks made by Binz.
???

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I've seen stranger things done to cars, regardless of the original value. I still think it's a custom conversion from either a sedan or one of those truck chassis, and the grill is not from a 1953 but from a 1959 to 1962 'b' or 'c' series Ponton. The hood looks like someone modified it from a 4 cyl Ponton and eliminated the air vents. The bumper looks fabricated too.
I noticed a red 4 cylinder 'b' or 'c' series Ponton in the backgroud of one of your latest photos. You should compare yours to that car - see if the overall body measurements are the same - length, width, height, and compare other details such as the way the hood mounts and any other mechanical & chassis differences.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Gilly]

I think it'd be smart to stop the speculation, and have the owner find what the actual chassis number is (should be on whatever constitutes a "title" in Egypt) and have the owner contact MB with the chassis number. I'm sure they can at least clarify what the car was when it left the factory. It may have been what is called in my history disc a "Partial 2 door chassis", this is what Binz made trucks out of, some of the photos I have show them with only a windshield frame and no roof at all, so they could have made it into a small convertible as easily as making a truck (lot's of Binz truck pictures in the disc as well). But it'd be nice to know what MB says it's supposed to be, I'm sure they would be happy to help.

Gilly

[300SDog]

Assuming they use the same serial number system for Pontons as Heckflossen, chassis number on these cars is coded. First 3 numbers being chassis/body style, second 2 numbers being transmission (auto or manual).

It makes sense to me that if MB was selling bare chassis to companies like Binz for ambulance, truck, hearse and other conversion then the chassis number would be incomplete, possibly just the last 6 digits. So we might not get much help there.

Frame, suspension, engine and drive train being MB make it legitimate. The rest seems to be grab-bag parts from "S" models or outright custom conversion stuff like doors with triangular corner wing windows, external hinges for the hood, etc.

Meanwhile there might be plaques, stamps and manufacturers marks in the usual places - driver's side door post, radiator support and possibly the firewall too.

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by autozen

We salvaged pistons from a dumpster at Safeway Stores. They used to use the MB diesel engines to run their refrigeration at cold storage facilities. Up until about 15 years ago, it wasn't uncommon to go into the engine room on a new sail boat and find one of these old turkies loking brand new. Peter

At one time I worked on commercial fishing boats and saw these engines put to service as generators on 75' vessels. Beauty of the MB 4-cyl diesel is that it was very quiet in operation, unlike the Perkins diesel that made so much racket it would shake the entire boat.

I think the 1.8 litre is actually a very well mannered, highly efficient and practically portable little engine that has probably seen service in all sorts of functions like pumping water, powering winches and operating light heavy equipment.

[68_Mercedes]

Originally Posted by yasserbarkoki

I am still traveling so I will not be able to get a second look on Chassis numbers.

but I sent an email to my cousin Dana and she sent me these day light pictures if they are worth it to any one.

Yasser

How long will it be before you get back and can get the chassis numbers, and/or is there anyone who could look at them for you and get you the info?

[nachi11744]

At one time I worked on commercial fishing boats and saw these engines put to service as generators on 75' vessels. Beauty of the MB 4-cyl diesel is that it was very quiet in operation, unlike the Perkins diesel that made so much racket it would shake the entire boat.

I think the 1.8 litre is actually a very well mannered, highly efficient and practically portable little engine that has probably seen service in all sorts of functions like pumping water, powering winches and operating light heavy equipment

Hello,
Do not want to hijack this thread, but are you refering to the ohv OM636 diesel or the ohc OM621?
IIRC, the 621 was just a ohc head on the 636 bottom end, with 3 bearing crank and all until it was redesigned as the OM615.
Have a good week.

[yasserbarkoki]

Originally Posted by 68_Mercedes

How long will it be before you get back and can get the chassis numbers, and/or is there anyone who could look at them for you and get you the info?

Sorry no one is able to get the numbers of the Chassis now.

I will be back in Egypt in two weeks and promise to post many more pictures and close ups inside out of the car.

I will get the full chassis number also and pictures of the tag if possible.

Cheers

[68_Mercedes]

I finally heard back from the guy that took the picture of the red "whatever it is" that I posted on here. From wht he says, it is definitely a 2 door, and definitely NOT a bakkie. I have wrote him back asking for more clarifications, but in the meantime, here is what he had to say........

Originally Posted by Craig

Hi Dave,

Very sorry for the delay. If I recall correctly, you were asking about the picture of the ponton "cabrio" that I took a photo of in Izmir, Turkey. I saw this not far from my home here, but the car has subsequently been sold. Actually, at the time, there were quite a few questions that people asked, but by the time I got back to the car yard - if you could call it that, it had gone.

This type of car is generally used for circumcision ceremonies, although they are usually 50' or 60' American iron, such as Impala's. I did suspect at the time that it was a cut down body, and having looked at the photo again (copy attached), the doors do not look long enough for it to be a genuine cabriolet. Unfortunately, I was in bit of a rush that day and only took the one photo. I guess it was just as well I had my camera with me.

I don't know if this helps you too much in your search, but if I happen to ever see it again, I will try and stop them and ask, but I suspect they wouldn't know - it was probably done a long time ago.

Kind regards,
Craig

[hd wood]

If this is the right link it should answer your questions. Don't be afraid to scroll down.

http://www.mbzponton.org/pax058/people/photogalleryvariants.htm

Diesel Dave

[DieselPaul]

Read your own link. Someone from this forum forwarded it to that website. Check the dates names and photos.

[t walgamuth]

Cool! It looks like the fellow in CAiro has a one of a kind benz which may have been done in a legitimate factory.

I'd love to see it up close.

[Ritchie]

Very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this thread.

[Squiggle Dog]

Cute car and I love the Arabic license plates. I grew up in Saudi Arabia and used to see plates like that all the time. And the occasional antique Mercedes taxis from Syria.