For Sale: 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 in Saint Louis, Missouri

By the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz had largely recovered from wartime devastation, returning with a huge range of vehicles, from humble taxicabs to heavy trucks and opulent luxury cars. The undisputed flagship of the fleet was the 300, known internally as the W186, and first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951. Underpinning the stately body was a robust chassis with independent front suspension and a swing-axle rear end. Despite a steep asking price of DM19,900 ($4,720) or DM17,600 without tires (the post-war rubber shortage left buyers to fend for tires!), the orders piled up rapidly. With post-war rebuilding and material shortages, even German customers were forced to join a waiting list. But it was worth the wait. The 300 was a car for captains of industry, the social elite, and heads of state. Perhaps the best-known champion of the model was German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who maintained a fleet of six different versions during his 1949-1963 tenure. Such was his association with these elegant automobiles that the cars soon earned the nickname "Adenauer."
The Adenauer evolved through four iterations, the original W186 300, 300b, 300c and finally, the newly designated W189 300d which arrived in 1957. The latter retained the same basic chassis architecture, but was longer, with revised styling and the 3-liter Bosch-injected Einspritzmotor adapted from the 300SL sports car. The 180-horsepower overhead cam inline-six was backed by a Borg-Warner automatic gearbox, and the massive cooling system and thermostatically controlled oiling allowed it to sustain long periods of motorway cruising or stop and go urban traffic with equal aplomb. With 3,077 sedans and a mere 65 Cabriolet Ds built, exclusivity was assured, just as its target clientele would want.
This breathtaking 300d Cabriolet D is an exceptional example of Mercedes-Benz's stately flagship. This car is one of just 16 cabriolets produced in 1961, from a total production of only 65 Cabriolets. The production date of August 14, 1961 is particularly notable, since just a single Cabriolet D was built in the 1962 calendar year, making this among the very last ones produced. Presented as it was originally delivered in black against a gorgeous red leather interior, it has all the presence and poise expected of a vehicle fit for Herr Chancellor.
According to previous owner and prolific collector, the late Willem Van Huystee, in an article he wrote for The Star magazine (July/August 1991), this car was purchased new by a distinguished woman from Virginia named Antoinette. Known as "Tony" among friends, she reportedly took delivery of the car at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Stuttgart. When it arrived at her home in Virginia, it was put to work on her country estate for all manner of transport duties - including hauling a horse trailer!
In February of 1989, Mr. Van Huystee purchased the car and, as he did with all of his cars, set about researching the history. A fascinating individual in his own right, Van Huystee owned many wonderful automobiles through the years, often performing superb restorations in his own garage workshop. He painstakingly restored the 300d over the next two years, even connecting with Tony's Neice and inviting the family to share in a drive in the restored car. In 2003, the stately Adenauer was acquired by Don Williams of the Blackhawk Collection, who would later say that it was the finest example he'd encountered. Williams sold the car to Irving Marks of Houston, Texas, who was followed in 2006 by an Ohio-based collector with a passion for Mercedes-Benz 300-series cars. Still wearing the restoration by Van Huystee, it was shown at various prestigious concours events, scoring class awards at the 2007 and 2009 Ault Park Concours, and Best in Class at the Keenland Concours in 2008.
Even with its concours accolades, the owner sought to elevate the 300d even further, handing it over to Bob Platz of Precision Autoworks in Camden, New Jersey for extensive cosmetic freshening, restorative detailing, and service. Over a 15-month period, Platz rebuilt the original engine, and addressed any cosmetic issues previously noted by judges. It was completed in time for the 2011 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, taking home the Star of Excellence Award for the most outstanding Mercedes-Benz, presented by the factory. This was followed by a Best in Class at the St. John's Concours at Meadow Brook, and an Award of Distinction at the Glenmoore Gathering.
In early 2013, the owner enlisted the services of Pierre Hedary, technical advisor for the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, noted 'Mercedes-Benz whisperer', and owner of a Mercedes specialist repair shop. In Mr. Hedary's respected hands, the 300d had a full service, various adjustments and fine tuning, including dialing in the fuel injection mixture settings, fitting a replacement thermostat, adjusting the brake pedal rod, and confirming the presence of the original gearbox and engine.
With the car in top running and cosmetic order, it was time to find a new custodian, and it was acquired by the prestigious Maj. Gen. William Lyon Collection in August of 2013. The superb restoration has been exceptionally well-preserved by the team at the Lyon Family Collection, and the car remains in top form - perhaps one of the finest examples of a 300d Cabriolet D available. In its splendid original livery of black over red leather, it has an imposing presence that few cars of its kind possess. Importantly, it retains the original engine and gearbox as confirmed by Mr. Hedary, along with details like matching fitted luggage, Becker Mexico radio, and a factory tool kit.
Superb in virtually every respect, this impressive Mercedes-Benz will likely continue to perform on the concours field or out on the open road where the exquisite engineering and vault-like quality shine brightest.

Offers welcome and trades considered.