1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 Type S Sports 4 (four-passenger sports tourer)
- Engine
- Supercharged straight-six
- Colour
- Cream
A 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 Type S four-passenger sports tourer with exceptional American provenance. Delivered new to entertainer Al Jolson by the New York distributor, it passed in 1947 to renowned industrial designer Brooks Stevens, who displayed it for over four decades and credited it as inspiration for the Excalibur. Possibly a prior gift to racing driver Rudolf Caracciola, it was exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2006 and 2011 and remains in well-maintained condition following a 1991 restoration.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$3,500,000 – US$4,000,000
- 1928 → 1947Acquisition unknownAl Jolsonfull documentation
Delivered via the New York distributor in 1928; registered in California as 5M456. Period press photographs showed Jolson and his wife Ruby Keeler alongside the car. He held the vehicle until it was sold from his California estate.
- 1947 → 1990Private saleBrooks Stevensfull documentation
Prominent industrial designer who purchased the car from Jolson's California estate. Displayed it in his automotive museum for over four decades; the car is credited as design inspiration for his Excalibur neoclassic automobile.
- 1990 →Private saleCalifornia enthusiastpartial documentation
Acquired the car from Stevens, described at the time as a largely original, unrestored example. Had the car professionally restored the following year and has maintained it in museum-quality condition, with recent mechanical and cosmetic work completed.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryRudolf Caracciolapartial documentation
According to Stevens, Caracciola originally owned the car, reportedly presented to him by the factory in recognition of his racing achievements with the SSK models. Caracciola later confirmed this to Stevens in person.
Competition
- 20062006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Car was exhibited at the concours; no result recorded in the source.
- 20112011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Second appearance at this prestigious California concours event; no result recorded in the source.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1991RestorationMike Fennel
Full restoration returning the car to its current appearance: cream exterior finish, red leather interior, and tan soft top. The original dual side-mounted spare wheels were repositioned to the rear of the car.
Work carried out in Saugas, California, approximately one year after the car left the Brooks Stevens Museum.
- —Service
Recent mechanical and cosmetic freshening undertaken to maintain the car in good order.
Carried out for the current owner during an ownership period of approximately eleven years.
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