1961 MERCEDES PONTON 180B

This four-door Mercedes Ponton 180B has been with the same family since new, and was imported to the UK from Rhodesia in 2006. In the vendor’s words: "If ever a rust-free example was to be described, this is it. Having hardly ever seen rain and certainly not salt, this is a true preserved example that has never been welded." 

The car was built in Germany in March 1961 and dispatched to Norton Motor Company in Rhodesia, where a Mr. Nortje became its first owner. In 1967 the car passed to Mrs. Nortje, who continued to have the car meticulously maintained while compiling a hand-written mileage log until 2005. Ownership then passed to her son who resided in the UK. After a major service was carried out in Rhodesia, the car made its way to the UK in March 2006. On arrival, it was dispatched to Twickenham Mercedes where a further £5000 was spent replacing worn parts, bushes, and kingpins. Since then the car has been mainly dry-stored since, covering only 144 miles. Today, the odometer displays 21,981 miles, although the mileage log suggests that this figure corresponds to 121,981 miles. 

The Mercedes comes with a large history folder containing many maintenance invoices and information dating back to when it was new. Paperwork includes the current V5C showing zero former UK keepers, previous V5s, import/export documents, and previous tax discs and MoTs. An original owner's manual pack is also included, with a full service logbook recording an impressive 52 services. The car's latest MoT expired in 2017, but as a historic vehicle it is MoT exempt.

Our vendor's verdict: "Now showing some patina, but at the same time having great charm, this would surely win a few trophies in the preserved category at any local show with its wonderful unique look."

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