The Mercedes-Benz W111 introduced crumple zones and a reinforced passenger cell to production cars in 1959.
Mercedes-Benz launched the W111 sedan in August 1959 as the 220, 220 S, and 220 SE. Engineer Béla Barényi’s safety design gave the front and rear sections controlled deformation areas while keeping the central passenger compartment comparatively rigid.
This arrangement allowed crash energy to be absorbed away from occupants rather than transmitting all of it directly into the cabin. The W111 also used padded dashboard surfaces and other safety improvements, making it a landmark in passive automotive safety.
The model is sometimes confused with the later W108, which shared styling elements but arrived afterward. “Fintail” is the W111’s popular nickname, referring to its modest rear tail fins. Barényi had patented related safety concepts before the W111, but this Mercedes made the crumple-zone principle widely visible in a production automobile.