With the last owner since 1992, restored in Germany!
Matching numbers and original leather!
One of just 216 coupés!

Mercedes-Benz renewed its stake in the luxury class, presenting its 300 model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in spring 1951. The company then added the 300 S to its programme at the Paris Motor Show in October of the same year. It was built as a coupé, convertible and roadster and was popularly seen as the successor to the famous compressor car of the 1930s. Mercedes designed an imposing body with the long fenders on a shortened 300 sedan chassis. The interior was dominated by heavy leather and fine wood. These premium S models in the 300 series had 150 hp engines, enough for a top speed of 175 km/h, making it Germany’s fastest. Mercedes was able to build 560 cars by August 1955, 216 of them with an elegant coupé body. The reason for these homoeopathic unit numbers was the price of these upscale vehicles, manufactured painstakingly by hand. A 300 S costed 34,500 DM, irrespective of the body, and was therefore completely unaffordable for almost everyone. Directors bought an Adenauer Mercedes for the princely sum of 19,900 DM; in comparison, an average worker’s monthly wage was around 150 DM.

This coupé was delivered to Paul Sinclaire in New York on 14 December 1953. The 300 S is listed under the commission number 559 544. The chassis number is quoted as 188011-35 00337, while the engine is numbered 188920-35 00348, as it is today as well. A Becker radio is also among the optional extras.

A title for this vehicle was issued in York, Pennsylvania, on 16 May 1986. This may have been the day on which the Mercedes was sold to Sweden. The vehicle returned to Germany in 1992, via a prestigious German dealership. The dealer told the consignor that the Mercedes only had one owner in Sweden.

The consignor registered the 300 S on 22 July 1992. At the time, the Mercedes was in an orderly condition, an unrestored vehicle in a roadworthy state, still equipped with its original engine. These factors were important to the consignor, as he ran a small restoration garage with staff at the time. He wanted to purchase and test an unrestored original, before having it restored in his garage for personal use. The coupé was stripped and body-off restored from 1993 to 1996. Photos accompany the various stages of work, while invoices confirm the engine overhaul and new parts, among other things. In contrast, the original green/grey leather is refurbished and preserved, and the wood panelling also did not need replacing. The vehicle was reregistered on 9 October 1996, and since then has moved among other vintage cars. The vehicle and its owner had a happy, relaxed marriage until 2012, until a coincidental encounter with a Mercedes executive led to an invitation to the classic Mille Miglia. The organisers were willing to make an exception, as a 300 S had never taken part in the Mille Miglia during the 1950s, although this was actually a precondition for participation. The Mercedes people argued that the importance of this type for the make’s post-war development was simply too important, and were able to convince the strict committee. Invited by Mercedes, this 300 S therefore started the 2013 Mille Miglia as the first and – to this date – only one of its kind. So Mercedes finally paid homage to its former superstar in the ranks of dream automobiles!

VIN: 1880113500337 Milage: 25,813 mls (read) Displacement: 2,975 ccm/R6 Gearbox: 4-speed 121 Engine: 1889203500348 Colour: white/green-grey (leather) Power: 150 hp Papers: German registration document