1928 Mercedes-Benz Model S

The Ferdinand Porsche-designed Mercedes-Benz S Type was introduced in 1927 as a racing version of the 4-liter Type 400 and 6.3-liter Type 630 touring cars. With a 6.8-liter engine set further back in the lowered and shortened chassis, the S-Type was unbeatable in its first race at the Nurburgring.

This Mercedes-Benz SS started life as an S Rennwagen owned by Prince Hohenlohe-Langenburg and raced by Rudolf Caracciola and Has Stuck. it was a common practice back then to replace the body of race cars with something more comfortable when their racing days were over. Accordingly, this car was sent back to Mercedes-Benz to be upgraded to SS specification, then on to Ambruster in Vienna to be fitted with lovely new Cabriolet coachwork. Ambruster was acclaimed as one of the finest Austrian coachbuilders, having built carriages for the Imperial Court. After being used in Europe, the car was exported to the United States, where it was owned by Tom Barrett for a time and eventually passed into the Keller Collection. The car was later restored in two tones of red with crocodile upholstery, like the original.

When the car first arrived in the United States it was painted in the white German racing colors although the current two-tone red paintwork shows off the car's unusual scalloped door panels to advantage.