Mercedes C-Class. The ancestors who never saw the light of day!

Twenty years before the 190E, this Mercedes could have been the ancestor of the C-Class.

Before the Mercedes C-Class, there was the 190E. But before the 190E, there were several abandoned attempts by the star manufacturer to develop its range from below. Back to some forgotten prototypes.

While the fifth Mercedes Class C of the name is currently making its commercial debut, its lineage started in 1982 with the 190E is about to celebrate its fortieth anniversary. However, the star manufacturer was considering marketing a notchback sedan that was more compact than its usual models long before that, after the war, and prototypes were even built.

Mercedes W122 prototype front left — The W122 adopted the “pontoon” design.

A first project in the 1950s

At the end of the Second World War, Mercedes relaunched production of the “small” 170 type W136, itself heir to the W15. Then the manufacturer quickly turned to the study of a modern replacement, with a body with integrated wings style “pontoon”. This is how the W122 was designed in the mid-1950s. But its development was abandoned in 1958 when Daimler-Benz took control of Auto Union, officially to avoid internal competition.

Mercedes W122 prototype high grille — The W122 was declined with this rather sober front end …

Mercedes W122 prototype wide grille — … and this alternative to the more loaded style.

TO READ. Mercedes 190E City. The first compact from the manufacturer to the star

When a Mercedes becomes an Audi

Mercedes W118 W119 prototype rear left — The design of the stern is reminiscent of certain production Mercedes of the time.

Mercedes didn’t give up on her idea, however. In 1962, the brand envisioned a “compact” sedan and coupe with the code names W118 and W119 internally. As their development continued, engineer Ludwig Kraus, who was partly responsible, was dispatched to Auto Union, which badly needed a new generation sedan.

To accomplish his new mission, Kraus started from the plans of W118 and W119. However, Auto Union was bought by Volkswagen in 1964 to become Audi. Kraus continued his work there, and from it the Audi 60 was born the following year. The first post-war Audi was therefore (almost) a Mercedes.

Mercedes W118 W119 prototype front right — The sedan of the prototype duo W118 / W119 was transformed …

… in Audi 60 with the change of owners of Auto Union.

It was then almost two decades before the “Baby-Benz”, the nickname given to the 190E, came to fruition. The Class C name only appeared in 1993, at a time when the manufacturer revised its entire nomenclature. Next, the German brand continued to develop its entry level with Class A and B, their various variants and the corresponding SUVs. 4.75 m long, the current C-Class no longer really deserves this “little Mercedes” nickname.

TO READ. Volkswagen Beetle: the replacements that never saw the light of day!