1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 b Cabriolet D
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six OHC, twin dual-barrel downdraft carburetors, 7.4:1 compression
A rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 b Cabriolet D (W186, chassis 00359), one of only 59 produced that year, this car served as the official factory show exhibit at the 1955 Toronto National Motor Show. It has long been associated with Konrad Adenauer, the first West German Chancellor, reportedly serving as a chauffeur car for his visits to New York via the German Consulate. Retained by its third owner for approximately 57 years, the car remains largely original in interior, trim, and paintwork.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$148,500
- → 1964Acquisition unknownSecond ownerpartial documentation
Owner placed a classified listing in the New York Times in 1964 to sell the car; correspondence from this owner survives including a letter to his mechanic regarding a 1963 tune-up bill.
- 1964 →Private saleThird and long-term female ownerfull documentation
Kept the car in largely unrestored condition for approximately 57 years; engaged noted restorer Jim Capaldi for ongoing servicing over the final 30 years of her ownership, with invoices on file.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownGerman Consulate in New York Citypartial documentation
Car reportedly served as a diplomatic vehicle, used to chauffeur Chancellor Adenauer during his visits to New York and nearby areas in the mid-1950s.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1963Service
A tune-up was carried out, documented in correspondence between the second owner and his mechanic.
A surviving letter from the second owner humorously protests the $92 cost of this service.
- —ServiceJim Capaldi
Ongoing maintenance and servicing performed over approximately 30 years, with invoices on file.
Capaldi is described as a noted restorer who handled the car's upkeep during the long-term current ownership.
- —MechanicalJim Capaldi
Fuel tank restored to working order, an electric fuel pump fitted, and both carburetors rebuilt to return the engine to proper running condition.
This work represents the most recent service episode documented in the invoices file.
- —Bodywork
Repaint applied to the front end of the car, blended to closely match the surviving original paintwork on the rest of the body.
The remainder of the exterior retains what is believed to be over half of its original factory paint.
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