Vehicle Description
In the wake of suffering huge losses during World War II,
Mercedes-Benz worked feverishly throughout the late 1940s and into
the 1950s to reestablish itself as an industrial powerhouse. By the
mid-1950s, the product catalog was vast and diverse, ranging from
humble taxicabs and heavy trucks to luxury cars suitable for heads
of state. The flagship of the fleet was the 300, known internally
as the W186, first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951. Based
on a robust X-shape chassis with independent front suspension and a
swing-axle rear end, the car featured handsome sedan or cabriolet
coachwork - elegantly and stately yet decidedly modern. Despite the
steep asking price of DM19,900 ($4,720) or DM17,600 without tires
(a post-war rubber shortage left it up to the buyer to fend for
tires!), the orders piled up rapidly. As Mercedes was still
rebuilding its production capacity, even German customers were
placed on a waiting list. Perhaps the best-known champion of these
big, flagship Mercedes was German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who
maintained a fleet of six different versions of the big 300 during
his 1949-1963 tenure. Such was his association with these elegant
automobiles that the cars soon earned the nickname "Adenauer." In
1957, the W186 evolved into the W189, retaining the proven X-frame
chassis, but now fitted with an updated 3.0 liter inline six with
Bosch mechanical fuel injection, adapted from the 300SL sports car.
Revisions to the styling brought a fresh look that maintained the
elegance of the original, thoughtfully freshened for the new
decade. With an additional four inches added to the wheelbase, the
300d was just slightly longer than its chief rival, the Rolls-Royce
Silver Cloud. The 180 horsepower overhead cam inline-six mated to a
Borg-Warner automatic gearbox, and with a massive cooling system
and thermostatically controlled oil cooling, it could sustain long
periods of high-speed cruising or stop-go urban traffic with equal
aplomb. As with its predecessor, the W189 300d was hand-built in
small numbers. With 3,077 sedans and a mere 65 four-door cabriolets
built, exclusivity was assured, and the 300d became a favorite
among heads of state, captains of industry, and movie stars alike.
This 1959 300d Cabriolet is a marvelous example of Mercedes-Benz's
iconic luxury car. The four-door Cabriolet one of the most
desirable models in the Adenauer range, with stunning presence and
exceptional rarity - as it is one of just 22 cabriolets built in
1959, out of a total production of only 65 units. This original
US-market example comes recently from an extensive private
collection, and it presents in an elegant dark, non-metallic green
with black interior trim and a black hood. It features an
attractive, well-maintained older restoration with high-quality
paintwork and excellent, straight panels. The paint has a deep
gloss, with only a few minor imperfections and touch-ups accounting
for the car's careful and occasional use. The extensive chrome and
brightwork are in similarly fine order, appearing straight and with
excellent finishing. Bumpers, headlight trims, and the proud,
upright radiator grille present in excellent order, with only minor
polish marks visible upon close inspection. The convertible top is
covered in correct-type German canvas and includes a matching boot.
It retains appropriate Bosch lamps all around and rides on proper
chrome wheels with color-keyed hubcaps and wide-whitewall cross-ply
tires. Passengers enjoy opulent, wood-and-leather trimmed
accommodations. The generous seats are trimmed in black leather,
and display a wonderful character with light creasing and a
pleasing luster. The door cards are upholstered to match, capped
with beautiful wood trim that wraps around to include the dash and
windscreen pillars. The dash features original instruments,
switches, and bright metal trim, along with the signature ivory
two-spoke steering wheel, while a modern stereo is discreetly
concealed behind a matching wood panel. Additionally, electric
windows have been added for convenience. Verified by the
Mercedes-Benz data card, this car retains its original engine,
which is in strong running order. The sophisticated Bosch fuel
injection remains in place, and the engine features power steering
as well as updates for the trunk-mounted Arti-Kar air conditioning
system, namely, a modern-style rotary compressor. Backing the
engine is the preferred automatic transmission, which allows for
the ultimate luxury motoring experience. The presentation of the
big 3.0-liter engine is excellent, with high quality painted
finishes on the air cleaner and ancillaries, plus numerous period
correct decals and labels. Aside from the A/C unit, the generous
trunk houses the spare wheel, jack and lug wrench, and features the
original rubber lining. With its lovely presentation, this car
earned an Award of Excellence at the 2017 Classic Sports Sunday
concours, part of the prestigious Palm Beach Cavallino Classic. It
is a beautiful example of this rare, exquisitely engineered, and
highly desirable Adenauer; ready for enjoyment on the road or for
display in regional concours events where its exceptional rarity
and commanding presence can be appreciated.
