1952 Mercedes-Benz 220A Cabriolet

“Butterfly” by Hiro Yamagata, part of the series Earthly Paradise. This 1952 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A is one of 1,278 examples produced by Sindelfingen between 1951 and 1955, representing the refined engineering and craftsmanship of the early postwar Mercedes-Benz era. Built on the W187 platform with a 112-inch wheelbase, it is powered by a 2.2-liter M180 inline-six with a single overhead camshaft and Solex carburetor, paired with a column-shifted four-speed manual transmission.

This particular automobile is part of Hiro Yamagata’s celebrated Art Car series. Rather than a traditional factory finish, the body serves as a canvas for Yamagata’s hand-painted composition. Titled “Butterfly,” it features vibrant butterflies, palm trees, and lush floral imagery in the artist’s signature luminous style. Even the Mercedes-Benz hubcaps are hand-painted to mirror the tropical motifs, reinforcing the seamless integration of art and automobile.

Born in Japan and later based in Los Angeles, Hiro Yamagata rose to international prominence in the 1980s and 1990s for his vividly colored silkscreens and pioneering laser installations. His work often explores themes of nature, light, and technology. For his Earthly Paradise series, Yamagata reimagined several 220 A Cabriolets as large-scale sculptural artworks. The series debuted in 1994 at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, presenting eight hand-painted cars as immersive expressions of his vision.

The exterior retains hallmark Cabriolet A details, including rear-hinged doors, driving lamps, running boards, chrome bumpers with overriders, and a beige convertible top with chrome landau bars. Inside, the cabin is upholstered in tan leather with wood trim accents, complemented by VDO instrumentation and a Becker push-button radio—preserving the car’s authentic character beneath its artistic transformation.