w153 Mercedes-Benz 230 Cabriolet B a classic mid-range luxury car 1940

Mercedes 230 Cabriolet B https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/5704-1940-mercedes-benz-230-cabriolet-b/ For the casual enthusiast, Mercedes-Benz models of the immediate pre-war period can seem rather confusing, with many of the same model designations being utilized on different chassis and bodies. The Mercedes-Benz W153 was a mid-range luxury car that, typically for Mercedes at the time, was offered in a variety of factory body configurations, and one of several vehicles known simply as the “230”. It was sold in conjunction with the older W143 beginning in 1938, with production ceasing in 1941, though it was reborn after the war as the 170S. Body styles included a sedan, two-seat Cabriolet A, four-seat/two-door Cabriolet B, and four-door/four-seat Cabriolet D. When compared to the W143, the W153 had more full-bodied and modern styling complete with an integrated trunk. The chassis of the W153 was derived from the earlier car, an oval-tube affair with independent front and rear suspension and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The six-cylinder engine displaced 2.3 liters (hence the “230” moniker) and breathed through a pair of Solex carburetors, making just 55 horsepower; thanks in part to the low 6.6:1 compression ratio. Power output was about the same as the W143, albeit with a bit more refinement and torque while power was fed to the rear wheels via a four-speed fully synchronized transmission. Performance is understandably relaxed, but the refinement and quality make the car feel much younger than its pre-war roots suggest. Germany’s government policies effected production as Mercedes was left little choice but to support the war effort, and as such, just 4,264 cars were produced through 1943. #w153 #mercedes230 #cabrioletb #oldbenz source: Hyman Ltd

Added 18 May 2026