1937 MERCEDES 170H

A LESSER-KNOWN PEOPLE’S CAR

1937 MERCEDES 170H

A LESSER-KNOWN PEOPLE’S CAR

Production Years: 1935-1939
Country: Germany
Number Produced: 1,507

This Mercedes is a car without clear paternity. Mercedes-Daimler Benz was haunted, as were many other manufacturers of the time, by the concept of the “people’s car.” In 1933, the 130H rear engine (also in our collection) was the company’s first approach. The automobile was small, lacked power and, according to witnesses, handled poorly. It also was no beauty queen.

In 1935, Daimler Benz forgot the 130H and created a nice central engine roadster. For reasons unknown, production was limited to five cars. The only surviving car stands proudly in the Mercedes Museum in Germany.

Obviously, the 170H resembles a Volkswagen deluxe with a good engine, the type 170, which was still alive after the war in conventional Mercedes cars: the 170V. In 1937, Hitler lost his patience with Porsche’s prototypes and commanded DB to realize 30 KDF cars. In 1937, our 170 H was imported to the United States with instruments in English units. The leather seats, overdrive, and radio were definitely not the staples of the Volkswagen Class. On the other hand, coil springs replaced the torque-bar suspension and the engine was water cooled. The cabriolet limousine body, with its open top, was trendy in pre-war Germany.
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Please note that the vehicles shown online are part of our collection but may not be on display when you visit. Our team is always in some stage of repair or restoration on a number of vehicles.

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Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

3301 Gateway Centre Blvd.
Pinellas Park, FL 33782 USA

Museum Hours:

Monday:       10am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday:       Closed
Wednesday: 10am - 4:30 pm
Thursday:     10am - 4:30 pm
Friday:           10am - 4:30 pm
Saturday:      10am - 4:30 pm
Sunday:         Noon - 4:30 pm

Admission:

$14 General Admission
$12 Seniors (65+)
$10 Active Military and Youth (9-17 y.o.)
8 years old and under free with paid adult
Groups of 12 or More $10 per person