A landmark model for the Stuttgart-based manufacturer, the four-cylinder, 1.7-litre 170 V was introduced in 1936 and formed the mainstay of Mercedes-Benz production in the immediate post-war years. Running gear was state-of-the-art at the time, comprising an oval-tube backbone-type chassis, swing-axle independent rear suspension, transverse-leaf independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes. In May 1949, an improved version – the 170 S – was introduced, which came with a 1,767cc engine equipped with an aluminium-alloy cylinder head and produced 52bhp, a 37% improvement over the 170 V.