Talk:Mercedes-Benz Ponton
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Ponton meanin
[edit]This page seems to say that Pontoon styling means Three box styling, which is different. Ponton styling refers to the way the line of the fenders runs straight back from the headlights to the doors to the rear fender with the body being the full width of the fenders, distinct from older cars with a narrow body area of running boards between front and rear fenders, with the whole line being a separate visual unit from the main central hood and body. So a 1940s car with a narrow body and hood, wide fenders and running boards making the whole width of the car is not ponton styling, nor is a 1960s car with a integrated slab hood/fenders with lights mounted at the corners and no separate 'hood' unit. Either of these types can be 3 box, which just means a distinct hood, cab and trunk when viewed from the side, instead of a hatchback/5-door like the 1940s and after (I think that's why someone was confused, both 3-box AND ponton styling were 'modern' in the 1950s). A 'ponton' automobile must have the hood with two quasi 'fenders' flanking it, visually connecting older fendered/running board cars with modern autos with integrated full width single-unit hoods and bodies. The primary visual element of a ponton style automobile are the lines running straight back from each headlight, like pontoons on a pontoon plane. As it clearly says on the page Ponton (automobile). This car was clearly called 'Ponton' because the tube-like fenders flanking the hood unit and appearing to run the length of the car, due to the full width body, visually looking like pontoons.