1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 Cabriolet D
- Engine
- 3.0L SOHC inline-six, two Solex carburetors, 115 bhp
- Colour
- Green (DB 221)
A Mercedes-Benz 300 D Cabriolet, one of the rarest and most opulent variants of the post-war 300 series, built on 31 December 1952 for the US market in a special-order Dark Green over grey-green leather combination. Retaining an exceptionally rare Becker Nürburg III six-band radio, the car passed its first three decades with one family before a concours-grade restoration was commissioned in 1999. Subsequent ownership by marque authority Tom Hamilton produced multiple Best in Class awards at prominent American concours events.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$151,200
- —Auction saleEstimate US$275,000 – US$375,000
- 1953 → 1969Factory deliveryFranklin Elypartial documentation
Buffalo, New York resident who used the car only for special events before placing it in storage in Ithaca, New York after accumulating roughly 66,000 miles.
- 1999 → 2004InheritanceNephew of Franklin Elypartial documentation
Commissioned a thorough concours-standard restoration to original specification, sourcing new-old-stock components across Europe and consulting the original convertible top supplier in Germany; passed away before the work was fully concluded.
- 2004 → 2015Private saleTom Hamiltonpartial documentation
Former president of the 190 SL Club and published Mercedes-Benz authority who completed and refined the restoration, then exhibited the car at concours events across the United States.
- 2015 →Private saleMercedes-Benz dealerpartial documentation
Kept the car as part of a curated post-war Mercedes-Benz collection; vehicle saw minimal use but received ongoing maintenance and care.
Competition
- 2012Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John'sBest in Class
- 2013Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceAward winner
Maintenance & restoration
- 1999RestorationWarren Riter & Sons
Full concours-standard restoration to original factory specification, including sourcing of new-old-stock components from Europe and verification of correct convertible top colour with the original German supplier.
Commissioned by the inheriting nephew; restoration was substantially complete but not fully finished at the time of his death, after which ownership transferred.
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