Absolutely Bananas Mercedes Rally Monster Hits Auction Block
AMG-powered Ex-Carrera Panamericana rally 1965 Mercedes 220S has disc brakes, independent suspension superb high-speed handling.
Mercedes-Benz cars are not usually the first thing to spring to mind when you mention rallying. That’s why our eyes got big and excited when we spotted this bright yellow W111 220S on Bring a Trailer that’s built for going off the beaten track.
There is a strong case for a rally Mercedes, though. when you consider suspension design, chassis strength, and then bring up the idea of AMG power it starts to make some sense. You’re not necessarily starting with a light car, but you are starting with very solid engineering. In the case of Mercedes W111 chassis, you’re talking about something that was very advanced when it first appeared in 1959. It had the first crumple zones built into a production car, disc brakes, all-round independent suspension, and a reputation for superb high-speed handling as well as a very comfortable ride on the bumpiest of roads.
This rally model has some, understandably, hefty modifications to not just speed it up for competition, but also handle the rigors of an extended life pushing hard on the roughest of roads. Under the hood, the engine was swapped for a 3.6-liter DOHC inline-six from an AMG car that’s fed by three Weber carburetors then cooled with by an aluminum radiator. The oil system also has extra cooling, and to bolster the drivetrain this 220S has a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission built onto a Ford rear end. The brakes have also been upgraded with a Brembo system and it’s running Bilstein shocks all around.
The inside is everything you expect from a car built to rallying spec, but we love the little detail of keeping the wood dashboard trim in trim in place. Just because you’re sideways in the middle of nowhere in a cloud of dust while your navigator issues instructions doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the finer things amongst your bucket seats, harnesses, roll cage, and fire suppression system. A humidor might be a bit much, but some wood trim seems appropriate to us.
According to the seller, the yellow 1965 Mercedes 220S rally machine has run in both the Rally Maya Mexico and also competed in the modern incarnation of La Carrera Panamericana several times. To us, it looks like the perfect machine for an adventure like that, and the canary yellow paint is absolutely perfect to make it stand out. Then there’s that sound and, oh man, does it sound good. The owner included a YouTube driving video along with detailed pictures.
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