The Mercedes-Benz W 142 was a six-cylinder passenger car launched in February 1937, as a successor to the Mercedes-Benz Typ 290. The car was known by its name Typ 320 at the time of its production and service, but is in retrospect commonly referred to using its Mercedes-Benz works number, "W142", which gives a more unambiguously unique nomenclature.
Mercedes-Benz Typ 320 n (Works number W142/I) 1937–1938
The standard-wheelbase version of the W142 shared its wheelbase with the standard lengthened versions of its predecessor, but a more streamlined form with longer overhangs meant that even in this form the W142 was substantially longer and indeed wider than the earlier car. The front grill was gently raked backwards, and there was no longer a bar in front of it to carry lights, all of which gave the car a more sporting look than the model it replaced. Power came from a newly enlarged straight six 3,208 cc side-valve engine with a listed maximum output of at 4,000 rpm, supporting a claimed top speed of 130 km/h. This was delivered to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission which, unusually in the 1930s, incorporated synchromesh on all four ratios. The footbrake used a hydraulic control mechanism and operated on all four wheels. The suspension set-up was carried over from the W18 with a swing axle at the rear and the front axle suspended with a central transverse leaf spring and coil springs beside the wheels. Customers wishing to make their own arrangements in respect of bodywork could buy a standard-wheelbase W142 in base chassis form at the manufacturer's listed price of 6,500 Marks. Otherwise the choice of standard bodies was restricted to a three-seat cabriolet or a coupé-bodied equivalent with a removable roof, priced respectively at 11,800 Marks or 12,300 Marks.
Mercedes-Benz Typ 320 (Works number W142/II) 1937–1938
Longer-bodied cars came with an extra of wheelbase, and Mercedes-Benz offered a choice from a wide range of standard body options for the longer cars. Customers happy to make their own arrangements in respect of bodywork could buy a longer-wheelbase W142 in base chassis form at the manufacturer's listed price of 6,800 Marks, or 300 Marks more than the price of the shorter chassis. The entry level model with a Mercedes-Benz body included in the price was the four-door ”Limousine” at 8,950 Marks. There were no fewer than four cabriolet-bodied versions of the longer-wheelbase car offered, being a two-door 2/3-seater, a two-door 4-seater with four side-windows, a four-door 4-seater and a very substantial-looking four-door 6-seater with three rows of seats. Other soft-topped standard-bodied versions were a Torpedo-bodied 6-seater "Tourenwagen" and a sporty 2-seater Roadster. There was also a six-seater “Pullman-Limousine” with three rows of seats and six side windows under a conventional steel roof. The rear seat of the Pullman-bodied cars was above the back axle, and an extra luggage locker at the back left the overall length of the Pullman-Limousine at, still using the wheelbase. The highest listed price for a Mercedes-Benz-bodied W142 was 14,500 Marks for a "Stromlinien-Limousine" featuring a strikingly modern exceptionally streamlined steel body.
Mercedes-Benz Typ 320 (Works number W142/III) 1937–1939
The short-wheelbase version of the car was also the basis for a "Wehrmachtskübelwagen", one of several such vehicles which may have provided inspiration for the subsequent Jeep. The W142 “Kübelwagen” retained the frontal style of the car on which it was based, but with a horizontal bar ahead of the front grill on which to mount lights. It had four front-hinged doors, a canvas top and wide-tread tyres for rough terrain. In this form the vehicle came with a listed top speed of 118 km/h.
Mercedes-Benz Typ 320 (Works number W142/IV) 1938–1942
In 1938 the manufacturer increased the cylinder bore to, thereby increasing the engine capacity to 3,405 cc. Nevertheless, the cars retained the "Typ 320" designation. There was also no change in the power output, still listed at at 4,000 rpm, and there were no claims of improved performance. Instead the compression ratio was lowered in anticipation of future shortages enforcing the use of fuel synthesized from coal which was expected to have a lower octane rating than the “normal” fuel used at the time. The larger-engined car also came with an overdrive ratio added to the hitherto four-speed gear box which the car had featured since launch. In 1939 the larger engine was also used in the W142/III Kübelwagen, this time accompanied by a small increase in maximum output to and an accompanying reassurance that the top speed was undiminished.
Commercial
Between 1937 and 1942 Mercedes-Benz produced 4,326 of the 3,208 cc cars and 885 of the 3,405 cc cars. Production of a further 1,806 W142 based military Kübelwagen between 1938 and 1940 is also recorded.
