Mercedes-Benz 300S Coupé - 1973
— The superlative Mercedes —- Model Exceedingly rare, as only 216 coupes were made. A top of the line post-war Mercedes, that was one of the most luxurious and expensive models of its time.
- Conception The 300Ss were assembled by hand, without compromise, and had an exceptional finish
- History Our 300S Coupé was restored decades ago and has a superb patina, after years of being dormant.
- Technical Legendary engineering, with the same 6-cylinder engine, except the fuel injection, as the 300SL Gullwing
In 1950, Mercedes was willing and ready to build extravagant and luxurious cars again so as to renew with its glorious past. The Mercedes 300 unveiled in 1951 became the symbol of such ambition, first with a limousine powered by the superb six-cylinder engine, then with the 300S available in coupe, convertible and roadster versions. The 300S quickly became the paragon of luxury cars.
The symbol of the post-war Mercedes revival
After WW2, Mercedes-Benz had a clear ambition to renew with its status of building some of the best cars in the world.
Unveiled at the 1951 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 300 Limousine was the first real new post-war model made by Mercedes-Benz. Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, made it his official vehicle and used six of them during his term. The car has forever been nicknamed “Adenauer” since then.
The 300 were built on a separate chassis, which allowed to easily fitting different body styles. Indeed, the limousine was soon followed by a shorter version named 300 S unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1951.
The 300S was available as a coupe, a cabriolet and a roadster. It clearly aimed to revive the prestige of the pre-war 540K. True to the brand’s slogan “Das Beste oder nichts” (the best or nothing), the 300S quickly seduced a wealthy clientele looking for a fast and luxurious vehicle.
The 300S was the most luxurious and technically advanced car of its time. It was sold with a very high price tag. Of course, in true Mercedes style, the finish was impeccable, with hand-stitched leather seats, precious wood, perfect fittings, polished paint and chrome, not to mention the custom-made luggage provided with each car.
All this came at a high cost since the craftsmen of the Mercedes-Benz Karosserie in Sindelfingen assembled each car by hand with the highest quality standards. They were working under the direction of design chief Hermann Ahrens.
More expensive than the now iconic 300 SL Gullwing and twice the price of the top-of-the-range Cadillac, the Mercedes-Benz 300S was one of the most exclusive automobiles of its times.
Only 560 cars were produced between 1952 and 1955, of which 216 were coupes, 203 convertibles and 141 roadsters.
©Aguttes
A conservative styling hiding state-of-the-art technology
The conservative and even slightly dated lines, clearly inspired by the aesthetics of pre-war cars, were noticed for their round shapes with a majestic vertical grille at the front end. This grille was slightly set back from the prominent wings that housed the front headlights.
This conservative design hid an ultra-advanced engineering for its times, actually almost identical to the one of the very sporty 300SL Gullwing.
The brilliant 3-litre, overhead cam, light alloy 6-cylinder engine fed by three Solex carburettors, which offered a higher compression ratio than the Limousine, powered the 300S. It produced 150 hp at 5,000 rpm, allowing the 1.760 kg coupe to reach a top speed of 175 km/h.
The oval steel tube X-frame chassis was dotted with independent suspension and finned aluminium drum brakes on all four wheels. The 300S was also filled with some truly refined innovations such as a bevel gear differential, balanced wheels and remote height adjustment of the rear suspensions.
Such advanced engineering ensured unparalleled comfort for the times, as the Autocar magazine stated: “The high performance, exceptional looks and attention to detail, all typical of Mercedes cars are complemented by new qualities of silence and driving comfort, while the new rear suspension, the fruit of long experience gained in competition, provides a level of safety at high speed on rough and slippery surfaces that is difficult to match.”
Only one major evolution marked the model’s career: the Bosch injection introduced on the 300 SC.
In addition to its presence and performance, its cost, twice that of a 300 SL Gullwing and a Rolls Royce, contributed to the prestige of this model, which was particularly appreciated by an international elite, from royalty to Hollywood stars and tycoons, such as the Aga Khan and Clark Gable, to name but a few.
The 300 S is now one of the most sought-after post-war Mercedes-Benzes.
©Aguttes
The 300S from the ANNA LISA collection
A true rarity, our 300 S is one of only 216 coupes ever built. Our black car was repainted a long time ago, and its interior in sublime red leather was also redone during an older quality restoration.
After being dormant for decades, we decided to put this car back on the light after having rediscovered it with great emotion. This car patina gives to the car a unique and strong personality.
It is up to the future custodians of this sublime and rare car to preserve this patina by restoring only the mechanical parts, or to decide to carry out a full restoration in order to give back all its lustre to this superb and prestigious coupé.