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For Sale at Auction: 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 in Park Hills, Missouri

Vehicle Description

The Mercedes-Benz W186 model 300 was a high-end luxury car produced by Mercedes-Benz between 1951 and 1957. The company's largest and most prestigious automobile, elegant,powerful, exclusive, and expensive. Also referred to as a "Type 300", the W186 was equal in features and price but superior in performance to the rival Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Favored by statesmen and business leaders, it offered options such as a glass partition and VHF mobile telephone.

All but hand-built as the company flagship, the W189 is often identified as an Adenauer after Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, was a lengthened version of the earlier 300 models, and it was designed to be an executive's limousine that would compete head to head with Rolls-Royce. Among the custom features in these "parade cars" were writing desks, sirens, curtains, dividing partitions, sunroofs, and half-roof "landaulet" configurations.

Three versions were produced in succession, known informally as the 300A (or simply 300), 300B, and 300C. An enlarged "300D" variant built on the W189 chassis succeeded it in late 1957. It featured sweeping changes that included revised bodywork and a fuel injection engine. The 300D was fitted with an improved version of its 3.0 L (2996 cc/182 in�) overhead cam, aluminum head straight-6 engine. Bosch mechanical direct injection and an innovative diagonal head-to-block joint that allowed for oversized intake and exhaust valves produced 180 PS at 5500 rpm. A 3-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission was standard. A total of 3,077 300D models (priced at DM 27,000) were produced through March 1962. The 300d was unparalleled in its time for comfort, as it had a vast interior that was swathed in a log cabin's worth of hardwood and a herd of thick leather hides, with enough legroom for even the tallest passenger to achieve comfort.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 D Saloon offered here is a "historical car". Ordered in 1958 by the Somoza Government of the Country of Nicaragua with some special equipment including high torque engine, telephone, parade light, siren, flag holder hood ornament and "Polar-Matic" air conditioning. On March 2, 1958, the automobile was shipped to Nicaragua on the ship S.S. Hein Hoyer owned by Hanseatic Vaase Line. In 1979 the car arrived in California, USA. Since that time, the car passed through to some un known owners before joining a private collection in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2013 the car was shipped to Germany for professional restoration. The W189 has never been fully taken apart mechanically, because it has never required it. The interior woodwork and the chrome on the inside and out have both been well kept, whilst the upholstery, headliner, and carpets were all redone to a very fine standard. The chassis pans were replaced and parts of the main frame were repaired or replaced, the transmission re-sealed, water pump replaced, brake system overhauled. The car was sent back to Phoenix at the end of 2013.

"Significant world event car". A historical treasure that belongs in a world-class Mercedes collection. Some of the special features include: high torque engine, telephone, parade light, siren, flag holder hood ornament and "Polar-Matic" air-conditioning. All of the documentation seems to show that this was owned Nicaragua's first family. From 1936 to 1979, the Somozas had ruled Nicaragua and accumulated personal assets totaling $400 million. From an official Daimler-Benz letter it appears that Luis Somoza officially ordered this Mercedes on September 14, 1957. Mr. Somoza communicated to Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft that this limousine was to have special equipment. Chassis number 7500143 was built with a high torque fuel-injected engine, double acting telescopic coil springs, refrigeration, radio-telephone, military siren and blue lamp. Mr. Somoza stated that since the automobile was of pillarless design, his intended use did not require armor-plating. On March 2, 1958, the auto was shipped to Nicaragua on the S.S. Hein Hoyer owned by Hanseatic Vaase Line. Twenty years later, on December 14, 1977, A. Somoza (Anastasio) wrote an official letter from Casa Presidencial, Hacienda El Retiro to Senor Julio Cesar Gallardo expressing the family's appreciation for his service and telling him he would be given his brother Luis' car that had been in the family for so long. Somoza said the car would be legally transferred to Gallardo on December 23. He wished Gallardo "feliz navidad" (Merry Christmas) and referred to their relationship with the term, "amigos". On December 23, 1977, A. Somoza and Gallardo signed a Bill of Sale for un cordoba C$1.00. The document number on the carta de vente (bill of sale) was 0,003,428. The document stated that the vehicle was a blue 1958 Mercedes Benz limousine 300D with chassis number 7500143. The paper was officially stamped and signed by Dr. Ulises Fonesca Talavera, a Notario Publico in Nicaragua. In the Carta de Vente, Gallardo agreed to restore the car in minute detail as assessed by Senor Carlos Jose Mendoza of the Mercedes-Benz agency in Managua. Gallardo agreed that the car was to be considered as a museum piece and a national treasure. Gallardo promised that it would never leave its homeland of Nicaragua. Gallardo kept his word. He had the car restored. On August 4 1978, the Club de Vehiculos Clasicos de Nicaragua awarded Julio Cesar Gallardo first place for Concurso de Elegancia. When Gallardo signed the Carta de Vente, he had every intention of honoring the agreement to keep the car in the country of Nicaragua as a national treasure. In August 1978 Sandinistas storm the National Palace, taking government officials hostage and demanding the release of political prisoners. Somoza resigns and flees the country with one hundred associates and family and finds exile in Paraguay. When the Sandinistas came to power in 1979 they released Decree #3 (Decreto No. 3, Aprobado el 20 de julio de 1979) which was for the confiscation of all Somoza family property. This decree extended to all Somoza family, soldiers, officers and presumably associates who left the country. We have to assume that Anastasio's long time chauffeur. According to documents with the car, the same Carlos Jose Mendoza of the Mercedes agency in Managua delivered the car to the port for export to California and its new owner. Since previously the Somozas owned this Mercedes agency, we have to assume it was now under government control. This Mercedes Benz was part of this fortune. "The most elegant car in the world," the Mercedes Benz 300D had a distinctive regal appearance that was unmatched by any car on the road. It was also touted as being large and powerful. These adjectives made the Mercedes an icon for Somoza's ego image, "Ownership was the mark of a man who had reached the top." On Wednesday, September 17, 1980 in his exile Paraguay, Anastasio Somoza Debayle climbed into his white 1979 Mercedes Benz limousine. Seven blocks later, a bazooka rocket hit the limo broadside tearing away the roof. Somoza and his long-time faithful driver, Senor Julio Cesar Gallardo, were killed. The Somoza family's 43-year dynasty had finally come to an end. Somoza was buried in Miami, Florida. The car then turned up on eBay in 2009 and sold for an undisclosed sum to a collector.

TIME-LINE
1-1-1937 Anastasio Somoza Garcia is elected President of Nicaragua
9-1956 A. S. Garcia is assassinated and his son Luis Somoza Debayle succeeds him and is elected president several months later.
9-14-1957 Daimler-Benz receives the order for a model 300c (thi...for more information please contact the seller.

Vehicle Details

  • 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300
  • Listing ID: CC-1087232
  • Price: Auction Vehicle
  • Location:Park Hills, Missouri
  • Year:1957
  • Make:Mercedes-Benz
  • Model:300
  • Exterior Color:Dark Blue
  • Interior Color:Grey
  • Odometer:0
  • Stock Number:48
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