Mercedes-Benz 170D OTP - „Polizei-Berlin“

Product description

A high-quality resin model of a Mercedes-Benz 170D OTP police car in the "Polizei-Berlin" (Berlin Police) configuration. The model features rolling wheels and comes in a clear display case on a base, enclosed in a cardboard sleeve.

Chasing Criminals in a Convertible

The three letters following the model designation—OTP—reveal what makes this particular Mercedes-Benz so special. The abbreviation stands for "open touring car for the police" (*otvorený turistický automobil pre políciu*).

Responding to high demand from police forces in the late 1940s, Mercedes-Benz offered the 170D (Series 136) in a special police configuration—a version that was eagerly adopted by police departments. Having been in production since 1936 (with a wartime interruption), the 170 model was regarded as a reliable, robust, and proven vehicle, which contributed to its great popularity. Furthermore, in 1951, it represented the cutting edge of automotive technology, at a time when many competitors were still largely relying on their latest civilian models from the late 1930s.

For this service version, the Swabian manufacturer equipped the vehicle with a hypoid rear axle as standard. Unlike the civilian version, the driver and front passenger sat on a shared, non-adjustable bench seat rather than on individual seats. The vehicle also featured wider rims than the standard, commercially available 170 model.

The 170D OTP model was typically painted in a distinctive "fir green"—a shade favored at the time by the police and the newly established Federal Border Guard. However, vehicles intended for the Berlin police were finished in a "blue-grey" color, while those supplied to Baden-Württemberg were distinguished by a black stripe on the fenders.

Between 1951 and 1953, the Swabian automaker offered this Mercedes model for official use to state institutions, which purchased a total of 530 units—though some sources cite the figure as 531.