Historically, the 170V was first displayed by Mercedes Benz at the 1936 Berlin Motor Show and enjoyed a production from 1935 to 1941. It exceeded that of any other pre-war car and provided the basis for the resumption of Mercedes car production following World War II. The Pre-War 170V was produced in several models, a Cabrio-Limo, Cabriolet A and B models, and a very rare Roadster. The 170V continued in 1947, with the 170D and S models being produced. The 170 S was introduced at the Hanover show in 1949. It was based on pre-war designs. The bodywork was similar to that of the 230 (W153). Its all-round independent suspension gave the car an edge on the competition. In 1953, S-D and S-V versions were introduced, but their production was limited. The 170 sedan series ended in 1955. The 230 is the direct ancestor; by taking the 230 chassis and body, and adding a modified 170 engine, it became the 170S, and later modification created the 220. This particular car has recently gone through an 18 month, $60,000+ restoration. The car was stripped to bare meal and completely repainted in Mercedes Black. All upholstery was replaced including the seats, door panes, headliner and carpet. The Car was owned by a Mercedes Benz dealer who had the car prominently displayed in his showroom. The paint on the car is nearly perfect and has a magnificent shine and luster. No cracking, scratches or dings to be found. Both front and rear bumpers retain a great shine with no damage showing to either. All the trim pieces are in tact and show no pitting or dings. The car has the original flag turn signals that come out of the B pillar for turn signals. Inside, the new upholstery is in excellent condition. The carpet, headliner and seats are all nearly perfect with no imperfections to be found. The wood dash is solid and all the gauges are working as they should except for the clock. The car did not originally come with a radio. The 4 cylinder diesel engine was a major development by Mercedes. These early motors have been documented with well over 1 million miles and still running strong today. There have even been rumors of some 1.5 - 2 million mile taxi's running around, still in use. The efficient 4 cylinder diesel achieves near 40 mpg and cruises well at 60+ mph. This particular car runs great and has no mechanical problems that we have found. In the trunk there is a full size spare, jack and first aid kit. The painted black wheels are wrapped with newer tires that have good tread life left on them. The stainless dog dish hub caps are also in good condition with only some minor dings. The underside is very solid with no rot that we have found. This car is a very solid example of a rarely seen post war Mercedes. It's a safe bet that you will be the only one with a 170DS at the next car show. Whether you're using it for shows or as a classic limo or taxi, the car is sure to please and run for a very long time. The current mileage on the car shows 21,925 and the VIN number is 691110198553.