LOT 119

1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet Chassis no. 18801000048/52 Engine no. 188.920.000

Sold for €293,250 inc. premium

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Lot 119

1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet

The Paris Sale|30 January 2026, 12:00 CET|Paris, Polo de Paris

1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet
Chassis no. 18801000048/52
Engine no. 188.920.000

• Very rare and beautiful example
• Matching engine
• Restored in 2020

More expensive than the 300 SL 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. Elegantly styled in the pre-war manner yet technologically bang up to date, the 300S was built to the Stuttgart firm's uncompromising quality standards. Inevitably, production was limited, only 760 examples of the 300S/Sc (560/200) leaving the factory between 1951 and 1958.

The 300S (Super) was a short-wheelbase derivative of the 300 saloon, one of Mercedes-Benz's first all-new designs of the post-war era, which had debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1951. The 300's arrival re-established Mercedes-Benz in the front rank of prestige car manufacturers, marking as it did a return to the marque's tradition of building high-performance luxury automobiles of the finest quality.

The 300's cross-braced, oval-tube chassis followed the lines of the 170S and 220, boasting independent suspension all round, but incorporated the added refinements of hypoid bevel final drive, dynamically balanced wheels, and remote control of the rear suspension ride height. Initially developing 115bhp, the 3.0-litre, overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine was also used in fuel-injected form in the 300 SL sports car. Custom built by Mercedes-Benz's most experienced craftsmen, the Mercedes-Benz 300 was luxuriously appointed and trimmed with materials of the highest quality.

Introduced at the Paris Salon in October 1951 and built in coupé and cabriolet forms on a shortened 300 saloon chassis, the 300S succeeded in recapturing all the elegance of the pre-war 540K. Today the 300S is among the most sought after of post-war Mercedes-Benz automobiles.

This 300S Cabriolet was restored in 2020 and comes with numerous photographs relating to the rebuild. Finished in blue with a beige leather interior, this Mercedes breaths elegance and style. The engine runs very smooth and the bodywork and interior are in a nice and good condition. Accompanying documentation consists of history files (dating back 30 years), an old-style logbook and a 'daten karte'. The car also comes with a tool kit and a Dutch registration.

Footnotes

Mercedes 300S Cabriolet de 1953
Châssis n° 18801000048/52
Moteur n° 188.920.000

• Très rare et très bel exemplaire
• Moteur à numéro concordant
• Restaurée en 2020

Plus chère que la 300 SL de sport et vendue près de deux fois le prix de la Cadillac de haut de gamme du moment, la Mercedes 300S était l'une des voitures les plus exclusives au monde. D'un élégant style évoquant l'avant-guerre, mais d'une technologie moderne, la 300S était construite en respectant les intransigeants critères de qualité de la firme de Stuttgart. Sa production, inévitablement, fut limitée, et seuls 760 exemplaires des 300S et Sc (560 et 200) sortirent d'usine entre 1951 et 1958.

La 300S (pour Super) était un dérivé à empattement court de la berline 300, qui avait été lancée au Salon de Francfort 1951 et qui était l'une des Mercedes de l'après-guerre à la conception totalement nouvelle. Son arrivée avait redonné à Mercedes une place de premier plan parmi les constructeurs de voitures de prestige et signait le retour de la marque à la tradition consistant à construire des voitures de luxe performantes et du plus haut niveau de qualité.

Le châssis à tubes ovales entretoisés de la 300 était dans la droite ligne de celui des 170 et 220, à quatre roues indépendantes, mais doté de raffinements tels qu'un pont arrière à couple conique hélicoïdal, des roues équilibrées dynamiquement et un réglage à distance de l'assiette du train arrière. Son six-cylindres de 3.0 litres à arbre à cames en tête développait initialement 115 chevaux, mais il équipait dans une version à injection la 300 SL de sport. Construite à la demande par les compagnons les plus expérimentés de Mercedes, la 300 était luxueusement équipée et garnie des matériaux de la plus belle qualité.

La 300S, lancée au Salon de Paris d'octobre 1951 sous forme de coupé et de cabriolet reposant sur un châssis de 300 raccourci, réussit à retrouver toute l'élégance de la 540K d'avant-guerre. De nos jours, la 300S fait partie des Mercedes d'après-guerre les plus recherchées.

Cette 300S Cabriolet, restaurée en 2020, dispose de nombreuses photos retraçant l'opération. De couleur bleue sur intérieur en cuir beige, elle est d'une allure qui respire l'élégance. Son moteur tourne en douceur et sa carrosserie, ainsi que son habitacle, sont en bon et bel état. Sa documentation comprend un dossier historique remontant à 30 ans, un carnet de bord d'autrefois et une 'daten karte'. Elle dispose par ailleurs d'une trousse à outils et d'une immatriculation néerlandaise.

Saleroom notices

This car does not come with history files dating back 30 years and a data karte, as stated in the catalogue. This car comes without a toolkit. Cette voiture n'est pas livrée avec les dossiers historiques remontant à 30 ans et une carte de données, comme indiqué dans le catalogue. Cette voiture est livrée sans trousse à outils.

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