Mercedes-Benz introduced its first all-new designs of the post-WW2 era - the 220 and 300 - at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1951. The 300 re-established Mercedes-Benz in the front rank of prestige car manufacturers, marking as it did a return to the marque's tradition of building high-performance luxury automobiles of the finest quality. The conservatively styled 'Adenauer' saloon - so called because of the eponymous German Chancellor's fondness for the model - was soon joined by the 300S (Super), a luxury sports model that succeeded in recapturing the elegance of the pre-war 540K. More expensive than the 300SL and almost double the price of the contemporary top-of-the-range Cadillac, the 300S was one of the world's most exclusive automobiles. Inevitably, production was limited, only 760 examples of all types of the 300S/Sc leaving the factory between 1951 and 1958. Ownership was restricted to the wealthiest lite, Bing Crosby, Gary Cooper and the Aga Khan being counted among owners of the 300S. This rare Mercedes-Benz 300S, one of only 141 Roadsters produced on that chassis, has enjoyed single family (father/son) ownership for the past 50-plus years. The vendor's father occasionally played golf with Bing Crosby who once recounted the story of how his 300S had been hit by a drunk driver running a stop sign. Bing attributed his miraculous survival to the inherent strength of the 300S, and the vendor's father felt that that was recommendation enough for buying one, purchasing this example in January 1954. In the 1990s the car underwent extensive renovation at Phil Reilly & Co Auto Restoration, of Corte Madera, California that included a no-expense-spared complete engine rebuild finished in April 1996. Included in the sale are detailed invoices relating to this and other works, as well as the 1954 sales receipt issued by International Motors Inc of Hollywood, California. Handsomely finished in green with matching leather interior, the car comes complete with toolkit, owner's manual and original suitcases made by Karl Baisch of Stuttgart.
Mercedes-Benz introduced its first all-new designs of the post-WW2 era - the 220 and 300 - at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1951. The 300 re-established Mercedes-Benz in the front rank of prestige car manufacturers, marking as it did a return to the marque's tradition of building high-performance luxury automobiles of the finest quality. The conservatively styled 'Adenauer' saloon - so called because of the eponymous German Chancellor's fondness for the model - was soon joined by the 300S (Super), a luxury sports model that succeeded in recapturing the elegance of the pre-war 540K. More expensive than the 300SL and almost double the price of the contemporary top-of-the-range Cadillac, the 300S was one of the world's most exclusive automobiles. Inevitably, production was limited, only 760 examples of all types of the 300S/Sc leaving the factory between 1951 and 1958. Ownership was restricted to the wealthiest lite, Bing Crosby, Gary Cooper and the Aga Khan being counted among owners of the 300S. This rare Mercedes-Benz 300S, one of only 141 Roadsters produced on that chassis, has enjoyed single family (father/son) ownership for the past 50-plus years. The vendor's father occasionally played golf with Bing Crosby who once recounted the story of how his 300S had been hit by a drunk driver running a stop sign. Bing attributed his miraculous survival to the inherent strength of the 300S, and the vendor's father felt that that was recommendation enough for buying one, purchasing this example in January 1954. In the 1990s the car underwent extensive renovation at Phil Reilly & Co Auto Restoration, of Corte Madera, California that included a no-expense-spared complete engine rebuild finished in April 1996. Included in the sale are detailed invoices relating to this and other works, as well as the 1954 sales receipt issued by International Motors Inc of Hollywood, California. Handsomely finished in green with matching leather interior, the car comes complete with toolkit, owner's manual and original suitcases made by Karl Baisch of Stuttgart.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
