What REALLY Happened to the Mercedes 170 V

The Mercedes 170 V was a revolution in 1936 – the first affordable car with the star. Developed by Dr. Hans Nibel and Max Wagner, it was meant to democratize Mercedes after the Great Depression. With its 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine, independently suspended wheels, and a frame that was 50 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, it became the best-selling Mercedes before the war – over 91,000 units by 1942. But then came the war, production stopped, and the Sindelfingen factory was destroyed by bombs. What really happened to this car? It saved Mercedes. In 1946, the first 170 V rolled out of the rubble as a flatbed truck, followed by ambulances and police cars. Without it, there would have been no reconstruction. You'll hear its story now. #mercedesbenz #MercedesBenz #170V #W136 #CarHistory #Reconstruction #PostWar #ClassicMercedes #VintageCars #1930sCars #CarDocumentary #AutoLegends #GermanCars

Added 1 Jun 2026