In 1935, alongside the front-engined Mercedes-Benz 170 V, Daimler-Benz AG introduced the Mercedes-Benz 170 H. This model featured a rear-mounted four-cylinder 1,697cc engine producing 38PS, which was the same engine used in the 170 V.
The design of the 170 H, created by Hans Nibel, bore a striking resemblance to the Volkswagen ‘Beetle’, as Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, the creator of the Beetle, had previously served as Daimler-Benz’s chief designer in the late 1920s. Production of the Mercedes-Benz 170 H spanned from 1935 to 1939, during which only 1,507 units were built over the course of four years.
Source: Bonhams