Mercedes-Benz First Estate Vehicle: the 1965 200 D Universal

Mercedes-Benz 200 D Universal

Surprise: An estate car from Mercedes-Benz back in the 1960s? The 123-series estate was not launched until 1978! This makes the 200 D Universal all the more astonishing for many visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. It can be seen in Collection Room 5: Gallery of everyday heroes. Its history is intriguing.

Show premiere: The estate version based on the “fintail” 110 model series was presented by the then Daimler-Benz AG at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1965, initially as the 190 D. It had a load compartment capacity of 2.71 cubic metres behind the front seats for carrying a load of up to 710 kilograms. For that reason, this spacious body variant was fitted with larger 15-inch wheels than the saloon and came with reinforced springs. The new variant was of in-house design, and sales were via the dealer network. The vehicles were manufactured by IMA in Belgium on the basis of delivered chassis with partial bodywork.

Trendsetter: Quite appropriately, its model designation was “Universal”. Because this variant cut a fine figure on any road: it was the Mercedes-Benz among estate cars, and combined the advantages of the elegant saloon with a high utility value for daily use and leisure time. The Universal was already a harbinger of the attributes that Mercedes-Benz would establish twelve years later with the 123-series estate, which was launched in 1977 and went into series production in 1978.

High everyday utility: At the same time, the Universal heightened public perception of the “fintail” model series in a special way: the successful combination of spaciousness, comfort, performance, value for money and economy was considered ideal. The rigid passenger cell with crumple zones at the front and rear also set new standards in safety at the time.

Elegance: A look at this special estate shows a coherent all-round design. For example, the characteristic rear wings with their “guidance fins” are perfectly integrated into the bodywork – earning the model series the nickname “fintail” at the time. And of course the design of the entire rear section, including the large tailgate and low loading sill, is in keeping with the car’s role as a load carrier, yet it remains elegant and harmonious – typical of Mercedes-Benz.

Symbiosis: The press package of the 1960s describes the effort involved in styling and body construction: “Though the exterior lines already emphasise that this is a vehicle with special character, rather than a car whose rear end has merely been modified or extended, further examination of the uniform bodyshell structure shows that the design has been created as an inseparable whole.”

Premium quality: A glance into the rear compartment also reveals a consistent design for practicality and function with high visual appeal. Medium brown artificial leather gives the interior a cosy feel. The flooring resembles fine mahogany wood. In fact it is ‘Panolux’, as the press package explains: a composition of wood fibres and bakelite resin. “It guarantees maximum protection against scratches, stains, wear and tear, etc., not to mention the luxurious touch it gives the car.” And more: “The use of a wooden floor made of such a valuable material as ‘Panolux’ is more expensive than painted sheet metal, but in addition to the luxurious appearance, it offers the advantage of good sound insulation.” Screw-fitted chrome strips with rubber sections prevent the load from slipping. The rear seat can be folded down to create a load area around 1.90 metres long.

Also with a six-cylinder engine: From 1967, the 190 D Universal was followed by four variants of the “estate saloon” based on the 200 D, 200, 230 and 230 S models. The first two were powered by four-cylinder engines, the other two by six-cylinder units. The 230 S Universal had a special role to play: It was assigned to the luxury-class 111 model series and – with its longer front end, the front section typical of the corresponding saloon models with vertical rectangular headlights and lavish chrome trim – it was a particularly prestigious ancestor of later lifestyle estate cars.

Export career: The exhibit in the Mercedes-Benz Museum is a 200 D Universal. It has a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1988 cubic centimetres and an output of 40 kW (55 hp). The vehicle on display was delivered near to Bordeaux in France, and registered there in July 1968. It was therefore built after the facelift, and has the newly developed hydropneumatic suspension adjustment for added safety and comfort. This automatically adapts itself to the load weight.

Rarity: Plenty of space on four wheels, packaged in an elegant body – that’s what the Mercedes-Benz Universal already offered back in the 1960s. It is a rare beauty. Because between 1965 and 1968, just 2,754 units of the first Mercedes-Benz lifestyle estate were built. A total of 622,453 saloons and 5,859 chassis with partial bodies left the Sindelfingen plant during the six-and-a-half-year production period of the 110 model series.