Overall, the Mercedes-Benz Ponton sedans, coupés and cabriolets used three different styles of radiator grille shells from 1953-1962. The design used on the four cylinder models changed three times during the period while the six cylinder models used the same grille shell design (shared with the second four cylinder design) throughout the period.
The first style grille shell was used only on the early Type 180/180D sedans.
The second style shell was used on the Type 180a/190/190D sedans and also on the Type 220a/219/220S/220SE sedans, coupés and cabriolets.
The third and final style Ponton radiator grille shell was used on the "b" and "c" versions of the four cylinder Ponton sedans (Type 180b/180Db/180c/180Dc/190b/190Db) as well as the W110 Heckflosse series of the 1963-1968 period including Type 190c/190Dc/200/200D/230 sedans. It was also used on the W111 Heckflosse Type 220b/220Sb/220SEb sedans.
Examples of Ponton Radiator Shell / Style 1
Left to Right: circa 1954/1955 Type W120 180 Ponton sedan, 1954 Type W120 180 Ponton sedan, Type W120 180 Ponton sedan
Original part number: 10 120 888 01 15
Types W120 180/180D
Appearance of the first version radiator shell is more narrow than the second version. Only the early Type 180/180D sedans used this design.
To convert the original part number to a current number, take the prefix (10) and move it to the other end so that it becomes a suffix. That is the current "Mercedes-Benz Classic Center" formula for part numbers.
Examples of Ponton Radiator Shell / Style 2 (four cylinder models)
Left to Right: 1958 Type W120 180a Ponton sedan, 1959 Type W120 180a Ponton sedan, 1957 Type W121 190 Ponton sedan
Examples of Ponton Radiator Shell / Style 2 (six cylinder models)
Left to Right: 1957 Type W105 219 Ponton sedan, Type W180 220S (year unknown) Ponton sedan, and 1959 Type W180 220S Ponton cabriolet
Original part number: 10 180 880 03 83
References:
Spare Parts List: Type 190, May, 1956 edition. A
Spare Parts List: Type 190, July, 1959 edition C
Spare Parts List: Type 220S, January, 1960 edition DType W120 180a
Types W121 190/190D
Type W105 219
Type W180 220a/220S/220SE
Appearance of the second version radiator shell is wider than early version. Both four and six cylinder models shared this design for a while.
Examples of Ponton Radiator Shell / Style 3
Left to Right: 1960 Type W121 190Db Ponton sedan, 1962 Type W121 190b Ponton sedan, 1961 Type W121 190b Ponton sedan
Left: 1967 Type W110 220 Heckflosse sedan. Right: 1962 Type W111 220Sb Heckflosse sedan. Both Fintail bodies shared the same radiator shell as the "b" version of the four cylinder Ponton sedans.
The third version of the four cylinder Ponton grille shell is the same as the W110 "Heckflosse" (Fintail) series sedans of the 1961-1968 period and also the W111 Heckflosse sedans that were introduced in 1959.
Original part number: 110 888 00 15
References:
Spare Parts List: 190Db (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 180Db (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 180b (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 190b (edition A, 6/59)
Spare Parts List: 220b (edition A, 7/59)Types W120 180b/180c/180Db/180Dc
Types W121 190b/190Db
Types W110 190c/190Dc/200/200D/230 (Heckflosse)
Types W111 220b/220Sb/220SEb (Heckflosse)
Appearance of the third version of the Ponton radiator shell is wider and not as high as the two previous styles used on the four cylinder Ponton models.