If you don’t associate Mercedes-Benz with pickups, that’s understandable. However, that doesn’t mean that Mercedes hasn’t built them. Back in 2017, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the first-ever X-Class mid-size truck, but the automaker chose not to offer it in the U.S. market. The same goes for the hulking, over-the-top G 63 AMG 6×6. Our Pick of the Day is a Mercedes truck from a much different era. You can find this 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170 Va pickup listed on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Scottsdale, Arizona. It comes with a variety of documents, including the factory build sheet.
According to Mercedes-Benz Classic, the origins of the 170 V (W 136) date back to 1936, when it debuted at the International Automobile and Motorcycle Exhibition in Berlin. Initially, Mercedes offered it in six body styles, with the Cabriolet A model soon following. After a World War II-induced halt to production in 1942, Mercedes resumed making panel van, ambulance, and other utilitarian versions of the 170 V in May 1946 to aid in the reconstruction of Germany. In July 1947, four-door car models began rolling off the assembly line—the first Mercedes passenger cars made after WWII. Nobody knew it at the time, but those started a lineage of vehicles that continues with today’s E-Class.
The Mercedes-Benz Corporate Archive shows that Mercedes produced several 170 V variants between 1946-53. One of those was the 170 Va, which was available in multiple configurations, including a chassis cab that could be fitted with different special-purpose bodies. The seller of the 1952 170 Va pickup highlighted here bought it in New Zealand back in 2006. (S)he says, “The truck has never actually been restored, just lovingly maintained. Amazingly solid truck with only very light surface rust in just a couple of places on the chassis.” Overall, this 170 V appears to be in surprisingly good shape. The green and white two-tone color scheme doesn’t seem to have a heavy or splotchy patina, the bed is free of dents, and there’s only one reported tear in the gray tweed fabric seating surfaces.
However, a little TLC wouldn’t hurt the 1.8-liter I4 gas engine or the four-speed manual gearbox. As the seller puts it, the truck “RUNS GREAT but, it’s been in storage for quite a few years so it might take a little while to wake it up. Ran perfectly fine when it was placed in inside storage so I’m not anticipating too much difficulty.”
If you buy this 1952 Mercedes-Benz 170 Va pickup for $75,000, one thing that you might find challenging is dealing with all the questions people ask about it—especially if you load up the bed with 2x4s at your local Home Depot.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
