Vehicle Description
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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 late...for
more information please contact the seller.