To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Essen event, 11 - 12 April
2019.
Estimate:
€450.000 - €550.000
- Offered from a Private Swiss Collection
- The third 300 Sc built
- First used by Mercedes-Benz as a works test vehicle
- Driven by the legendary Rudolf Uhlenhaut
- Painstakingly and correctly restored by Europe's leading
Mercedes-Benz specialist
From today's perspective, the 1950s may seem like some utopia
contemplated through the long perspective of reversed binoculars.
At that time, nobody knew what lay ahead. All that was clear was
that prosperity must return and that all remnants of the Second
World War should be eliminated as soon as possible. Against this
backdrop, Mercedes-Benz recognised the need to once again make a
classically beautiful sporting luxury car. A car that epitomised
the high-quality engineering and no-compromise construction that
the marque was so justly famous for. Developed by Dr Karl Wilfert,
Head of Car Development, and chief engineer Professor Dr Fritz
Nallinger, the new Mercedes-Benz W188 chassis was presented at the
Paris Salon in October 1951 and marketed as the 300 S.
Manufacture began in July 1952 and ended in August 1955. Cars were
special-ordered and custom-built in coupe, roadster and convertible
body styles, all powered by a street-tuned three-carburettor
version of the 300 SL sports car engine. Only 113 hand-built 300 S
left the factory in 1952, rising to 353 in 1953 as the model found
favour with celebrities and jetsetters. However, as other luxury
manufacturers began adding air conditioning and high-powered V-8
engines to their offerings, only 92 examples were delivered in
1954.
In response, manufacture of a new second-series Sc model (W 188 II)
commenced in September 1955. New Bosch direct fuel injection
boosted power by 25 bhp for improved performance, while a new
single-pivot rear swing axle secured better handling. The already
handsome looks were enhanced with chrome-plated perforated disc
wheels and richer chrome trim, while new vent windows gave better
cabin ventilation. Limited production of this second series lasted
from September 1955 to April 1958: a total of 98 coup�s, 49
Cabriolet As and 53 Roadsters were built.
Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc chassis no. 188.014. 5500003 was the third
example built and first registered on 22 December 1955 to
Automobilfabrik Daimler-Benz A.G. at Mercedesstra�e 136, Stuttgart
Untert�rkheim. Finished in special dark grey nitro-cellulose paint,
an interior upholstered in light grey leather and a Becker Mexico
radio mounted in the dash, the car was used by Daimler-Benz as a
test and factory vehicle to assess the newly developed injection
system. The legendary Rudolf Uhlenhaut, who was heavily involved in
the development of the injection system, also used the car.
In September 1957, it was registered to the B.P. Benzin und
Petroleum Gesellschaft in Hamburg, where it may have been used for
testing fuel compounds. It is not known when BP disposed of the
car. In 2007, a broker named Rolf Bunte contacted the famous German
Mercedes-Benz specialist and restoration company Kienle Autotechnik
on behalf of his client, an elderly owner who was dissolving his
collection. The car was still in its original nitro-cellulose paint
with only 26,000 km on the clock. It is likely that Kienle
facilitated a sale to Hans-Joachim Sander in Berlin.
From 2007 to 2009, the car was completely restored by Kienle
Autotechnik on behalf of Sander, with great emphasis on originality
and authenticity. The car was completely disassembled, the body
professionally repaired in all areas and then repainted with
nitro-cellulose paint in the original colour. The engine and all
other mechanicals, including the injection system, were restored to
factory specifications. The interior was completely restored in
correct grey leather with black piping. Only original parts were
used and, as far as these were no longer available, replaced by
parts that were reproduced according to original factory
drawings.
A 300 Sc epitomises all that is desirable in a Mercedes-Benz:
prestige, presence and performance. It was the modern successor to
the great supercharged cars of the late 1930s, in particular the
handsome 540 K, whose style is echoed in the 300 Sc's extended
hood-line and fenders that flow gracefully over minimal running
boards into a short rear end. In addition, this car boasts a
fascinating period history as a development car for Mercedes-Benz,
plus later use by the B.P. petroleum company in Germany. Finally,
the car has been given a world-class restoration by a leading
specialist - a combination of factors that makes this 300 Sc
possibly one of the best in the world.
• Aus einer privaten Schweizer Sammlung
• Der dritte jemals gebaute 300 Sc
• Ersteinsatz als Mercedes-Benz Werkstestwagen
• Gefahren vom legend�ren Rudolf Uhlenhaut
• Originalgetreu und korrekt durch Europas f�hrenden Mercedes-Benz
Spezialisten restauriert
Aus heutiger Sicht m�gen die 1950er Jahre wie eine Utopie wirken,
die wir r�ckw�rtsgewandt mit umgekehrtem Fernglas ersp�hen. Damals
jedoch wusste niemand, was die Zukunft bringen w�rde. Klar war,
dass Wohlstand so schnell wie m�glich zur�ckkehren musste, und dass
alle Erinnerungen an den Zweiten Weltkrieg so schnell wie m�glich
beseitigt werden mussten. Vor diesem Hintergrund erkannte
Mercedes-Benz die Notwendigkeit, wieder ein klassisch sch�nes und
sportliches Luxusautomobil zu bauen - ein Fahrzeug, welches das
hohe Niveau der Mercedes-Benz Ingenieurskunst und die
kompromisslose Entwicklung der Marke zur Schau stellen sollte.
Entwickelt von Dr. Karl Wilfert, Leiter der Fahrzeugentwicklung,
und Entwicklungschef Professor Dr. Fritz Nallinger, wurde die
Modellreihe W188 als Mercedes-Benz 300 S 1951 auf dem Pariser Salon
vorgestellt.
Die Produktion begann im Juli 1952 und endete im August 1955. Alle
Fahrzeuge wurden speziell auf Kundenwunsch hergestellt und als
Coup�s, Roadster oder Cabriolets ausgef�hrt. Als Antrieb f�r alle
diente die stra�entaugliche Dreivergaser-Version des 300 SL
Sportwagens. Nur 113 handgefertigte 300 S verlie�en 1952 die
Werkshallen, gefolgt von 353 im Jahr darauf - ein Anzeichen, dass
dieses Modell inzwischen Anklang bei Prominenten und Jetsettern
gefunden hatte. 1954 ging die Produktion jedoch auf nur 92
Exemplare zur�ck, als die Konkurrenz begann, Klimaanlagen und
V8-Motoren in ihren Modellen anzubieten.
Als Antwort auf diese Herausforderung erschien im September 1955
die zweite Serie (W188 II) als 300 Sc. Eine neue Einspritzanlage
von Bosch hob die Leistung um 25 PS f�r eine bessere Performance,
w�hrend eine Eingelenk-Pendelachse hinten f�r bessere
Fahreigenschaften sorgte. Die schon vorher h�bsch anzusehende
Karosserie wurde durch verchromte Scheibenr�der und mehr Chromzier
versch�nert, w�hrend neue Dreieicksfenster f�r eine bessere
Bel�ftung sorgten. Die begrenzte Produktion dieser zweiten Serie
belief sich von September 1955 bis April 1958 auf 98 Coup�s, 49
Cabriolets A und 53 Roadster.
Der Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc mit der Fahrgestellnummer 188.014. 5500003
ist das dritte jemals gebaute Fahrzeug dieser Serie und wurde am
22. Dezember 1955 auf die Automobilfabrik Daimler-Benz A.G. in der
Mercedesstra�e 136 in Stuttgart Untert�rkheim zugelassen. Der in
einem speziellen schwarzen Nitrozelluloselack ausgef�hrte Wagen mit
einem Interieur in hellgrauem Leder und einem Becker Mexico Radio
im Armaturenbrett fungierte als Testfahrzeug f�r das neuentwickelte
Benzineinspritzsystem. Der intensiv am Entwicklungsprozess
beteiligte, legend�re Rudolf Uhlenhaut...for more information
please contact the seller.