1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S

Sold for $445,000 at 2022 Bonhams : The Quail Auction.
The Mercedes-Benz 300S was one of the world's most exclusive automobiles with a price tag that was nearly double that of a contemporary top-of-the-range Cadillac. It was one of Mercedes-Benz's first all-new designs of the post-war era and made its debut in 1951 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Custom built by Mercedes-Benz's most experienced craftsmen, the Mercedes-Benz 300 was a high-performance luxury automobile of the finest quality and trimmed with materials of the highest quality. Luxuriously appointed, the 300S was one of the few contemporary vehicles capable of carrying six passengers in comfort at sustained high speeds.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 was unofficially known as 'Adenauer' after German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, its most famous customer.

The 300 Saloon was joined by the 300S Super in October 1951 when it debuted at the Paris Salon. The 300 saloon chassis was given two-seater Coupe, Cabriolet, and Roadster coachwork and was powered by a more potent engine with triple (as opposed to twin) Solex carburetors and raised compression ratio. With 150 horsepower on tap, the two-seater 300S was capable of achieving top speeds of 110 mph.

In 1969, this Mercedes-Benz received a professional restoration. The engine received a rebuild in later years, less than 4,000 miles ago. Its exterior is finished in yellow and the interior is Tobacco-colored. There is a factory-fitted Becker Nürburg radio, VDO gauges, and the rear luggage compartment is trimmed with original factory Karl Baisch-fitted luggage, with tartan lining. Also in the trunk are two spare wheels, a factory jack and a wheel wrench.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022