1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet

128.030.10.002524roadGermany

Engine: 2.2L SOHC inline-six with Bosch mechanical fuel injection, 134 bhp
Colour: Black

A 1959-built, 1960-registered Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet finished in original black over parchment leather, delivered new to Theodore Roosevelt III — grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt — in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The car accumulated over 100,000 miles across two consecutive Philadelphia-area owners while receiving dealer maintenance throughout, and retains a largely original appearance. Its presidential-family provenance and well-documented service history make it a notable survivor among late-1950s German convertibles.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Estimate US$130,000 – US$150,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1960 →Factory delivery
Theodore Roosevelt III
full documentation
Grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt; took new delivery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Car accumulated over 100,000 miles under his care and that of the subsequent owner, with maintenance performed at the authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer throughout.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Philadelphia-area neighbor of Roosevelt
partial documentation
Resided in the same Philadelphia suburb as Roosevelt; continued using and maintaining the car in a similar fashion, with records retained in the same service file.
Date unknownPrivate sale
Prominent private collector
partial documentation
Acquired the car with the intention of preserving its originality and provenance; invested over $10,000 in mechanical upkeep including fuel injection pump rebuild and engine bay detailing during the six months prior to the auction.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—Service
Mercedes-Benz dealer
Ongoing routine servicing carried out at an authorised Mercedes-Benz dealership throughout the car's working life under its early owners, documented by an extensive file of service records.
Service records detail both the work performed and the mileage accumulated.
—
Service
Comprehensive maintenance package costing in excess of $10,000, covering fluid, belt, and hose replacement, a full rebuild of the Bosch mechanical fuel injection pump, and cleaning and detailing of the engine bay.
Carried out over approximately six months prior to the auction sale, commissioned by the most recent collector-owner.

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