1954 Mercedes Benz 300 S Roadster

1954 Mercedes Benz 300 S Roadster
Chassis no. 188.012.3500355
Engine no. 188.920.00074/53
High Bid $460,000
RM / Sotheby's Auction, Amelia Island, Florida 2015
150 hp, 2,996 cc overhead-camshaft inline six-cylinder engine with three downdraft Solex carburetors, four-speed column-shift manual transmission, double-wishbone, coil-spring, and torsion bar front suspension, coil-spring swing axle rear suspension, and four-wheel vacuum-assisted hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 110 in.
•One of 141 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadsters built
•Restored in elegant colors
•Proudly driven and enjoyed by its owner
In an effort to bridge the gap between the Classic and Modern Eras, the Mercedes-Benz 300 was launched in 1952 with an unbeatable combination of modern engineering and performance with meticulous Old World build quality. They were built to uncompromising standards, and Mercedes-Benz employed the latest materials and technologies to achieve maximum power and minimum weight. Each car was lavished with beautiful finishes and woodwork, and each could travel at triple digit speeds with a full load of cosseted occupants.
The 300 S was built upon the already sumptuous top-range 300 series chassis, with special attention being given to its appearance details and build quality. The extraordinary cost to do so resulted in a “halo” car for Mercedes-Benz, which was priced nearly 50 percent higher than its counterparts. This car was equipped with triple Solex carburetors that were mounted to the 2,996-cubic centimeter engine, which could produce 150 horsepower, and it was inarguably one of the best luxury touring cars available in the 1950s.
The sportiest 300 S variant was the roadster, which was a dashing convertible that featured a top that folded completely flat, giving the car a very elegant appearance. Only 141 were produced, and they are the most desirable 300 Ses amongst enthusiasts today.
According to the owner, the car shown here has a 1953 chassis number but was sold in the United States as a 1954 model. It came off the line in early 1954, according to Mercedes-Benz records, and was then delivered to the West Coast distributor in Ventura, California, on June 22, 1954. The owner reports that this was the second 300 S off the line in 1954, in a year when only 54 Roadsters were built, and that it is also equipped with a rare Becker Nürburg radio.
The car eventually ended up in Chicago, where the owner reports that it spent some 20 years in a garage. When purchased by the consignor, it had been repainted white and a new top, which is still in place and in good condition, was installed. The current owner shipped the car to Lyford Engineering in Plymouth, Michigan, who restored the engine. The color was matched to the Mercedes-Benz Silver, with the outer body panels being removed and the body taken apart as far as possible in order to paint it as the factory had originally. The original seats remain in the car and are in good shape. Likewise, the chrome trim is in good original condition as well. With the work now completed, the car runs great and is reported to have been driven without an issue since. “The engine runs wonderfully,” the owner reports happily, “and is a driver car, not something I haul from show to show.” He has driven the car every summer since 1999 and has shown it in Omaha, Nebraska, and in fundraising shows at Des Moines.
As originally intended, this Mercedes-Benz is a wonderful tourer, and it would be suitable for a good home.
Robert Myrick Photography