1957 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Coupe

2,996cc SOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Mechanical Bosch Fuel Injection
175bhp at 5,400rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Well-preserved, highly original example with factory fitted sunroof
*Serviced and maintained by noted Mercedes-Benz specialist
*Equipped with fitted luggage and original Becker Mexico radio
*One of just 98 highly exclusive, top-of-the-line examples made by hand

THE MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SERIES

More expensive than the 300SL sports car and almost double the price of the contemporary top-of-the-range Cadillac, the Mercedes-Benz 300S was one of the world's most exclusive automobiles. It is also historically significant as one of Mercedes-Benz's first all-new designs of the post-war era, debuting at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1951. The 300's arrival re-established Mercedes-Benz in the front ranks of prestigious car manufacturers, marking a return to the marque's tradition of building high-performance luxury automobiles of the finest quality.

"To the characteristics of high performance, impressive appearance and fine detail finish which distinguished the big Mercedes models of pre-war days are added new virtues of silence, flexibility and lightness of control, while the latest rear suspension, a product of long experience on Grand Prix cars and touring cars, confers a degree of security at high speeds on rough and slippery surfaces which it would be very difficult indeed to equal," observed Autocar magazine.

Although Mercedes-Benz would adopt a unitary chassis/body construction for its lower and mid-priced cars as the 1950s progressed, the retention of a traditional separate frame for the 300 enabled a wide variety of coachbuilt body types to be offered. The 300's cross-braced, oval-tube chassis followed the lines of the 170S and 220, with independent suspension all round and four-wheel drum brakes, but incorporated the added refinements of hypoid bevel final drive, dynamically balanced wheels and remote electrical control of the rear suspension ride height.

Initially developing 115bhp, the 3-liter, overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine - used in fuel-injected form in the 300SL sports car - was boosted in power for the succeeding 300B and 300C models, finally gaining fuel injection in the re-styled 300D of 1957. Other improvements along the way included larger brakes (with servo-assistance from 1954), optional power steering (on the 300D) and the adoption of three-speed automatic transmission as standard on the latter.

Custom built by Mercedes-Benz's most experienced craftsmen, the Mercedes-Benz 300 was luxuriously appointed and trimmed with materials of the highest quality. Fast and elegant, it was one of very few contemporary vehicles capable of carrying six passengers in comfort at sustained high speeds. The 300 was the car of choice among West German government officials, and throughout Europe and the USA was widely favored by businessmen, financiers and politicians. Indeed, 'Adenauer' became the 300's unofficial model name, after German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, its most famous customer.

The conservatively styled 300 Saloon was soon joined by the 300S (Super), a model that succeeded in recapturing all the elegance of the pre-war 540K. Introduced at the Paris Salon in October 1951, the 300S was built in two-seater Coupe, Cabriolet and Roadster forms on a shortened 300 saloon chassis.

Not only was the two-seater 300S considerably lighter than the saloon, it was also more powerful, boasting an engine equipped with triple (as opposed to twin) Solex carburetors and a raised compression ratio. Maximum power output was increased to 150bhp and top speed to 110mph (176km/h). Unlike some of its spartanly furnished contemporaries, the 300S boasted a lavishly equipped interior featuring supple leather upholstery; beautiful burr walnut trim, chromium-plated dashboard instrumentation and precision-made switchgear.

The top offering of the series was the 300Sc. The 300 Sc featured a 175bhp dry-sump engine equipped with Bosch fuel injection and boasted a revised rear suspension with single-pivot swing axles similar to that of the 300SL Roadster, a development that enhanced both road holding and handling. The car's top speed was now 180km/h (112mph) with 100km/k (62mph) reachable in around 13 seconds. To cope with the improved performance, servo-assisted brakes, optional from 1954, were standardized.

Coachbuilt in the traditional manner by Sindelfingen, the 300S family represents a standard of excellence that has rarely been equaled; only materials of the finest quality were used for the hand finished interiors, which were comparable with those of the contemporary Rolls-Royce. The 300Sc is widely regarded by discerning collectors as the most desirable of all Mercedes-Benz's post-war luxury models. Only 200 examples of the 300Sc were built and survivors are both rare and highly sought after. Ownership of such an exclusive automobile was necessarily restricted to a wealthy few, among them film stars Cary Grant and Gary Cooper, and the Aga Khan.


THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

One of only 98 built with this particular Coupe body style, this stunning and ultra-rare 300Sc Coupe was manufactured at the Stuttgart and Sindelfingen based Mercedes-Benz workshops entirely by hand. Of the just 98 examples produced, this car is one of even fewer fitted with the desirable factory sunroof option.

Many Mercedes-Benz' specialist and enthusiasts know this car as having been in a Midwestern collection owned by a gentleman named Charles Beattie. Refurbishment were undertaken while in Mr. Beattie's collection. The rare and luxurious 300Sc Coupe later passed through the hands of noted California-based Mercedes-Benz collectors, before purchased by the consignor in 2005, another noted California-based collector, where the car has since been stablemate to various important 300SLs.

While in the consignor's possession, the genuine 300Sc has been further preserved, and recognized for its high level of originality. It is really a car that has that great genuine feel of a car that never appears to have been taken apart or neglected. Escondido-based marque expert Silver Star Mercedes Service has been entrusted with refurbishments, service and maintenance on the car, and receipts totaling over $70,000 from various mechanical refurbishments, including transmission and engine rebuild, can be found in the history file accompanying the sale of the car.

Upon close inspection today, the car presents beautifully throughout, with many compartments still displaying original factory finishes. The largely original chrome and brightwork presents very well, with great fit and finish. The black exterior paint has been touched up to a very high standard, but some of the exterior paint is indeed believed to be the factory applied paint. Original lights and lenses are present throughout the car, and of course the original sunroof opens and closes easily. The interior upholstery appears to be largely original, but possibly dyed at some point, while all in all it shows a lovely patina, and the original Becker Mexico radio remains fitted in the dash. A full array of rare Karl Baisch luggage is situated in the trunk, as is the factory jack and emergency light bulb kit. From the end-of-the run of real hand-built Mercedes-Benz automobiles, this rare and extraordinarily well-preserved 300Sc Coupe is ready for its next custodian.