PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Houston, Texas (acquired in 2005)
Current Owner (acquired from the above)

THIS CAR
Produced from 1952 through 1958, Mercedes-Benz’s elegant 300 S series coupe stood at the top of the prestigious carmaker’s model lineup. Sharing components with the flagship 300-series luxury sedan and four-door convertible, as well as with the iconic 300 SL Gullwing, the 300 S could be had in coupe, cabriolet, and roadster form. Its three-liter overhead-cam straight six was notably more powerful than that used in the 300 sedan due to its higher compression and triple carburetion. Matched to a four-speed manual gearbox, the smooth six provided fairly spirited performance for the nearly two-ton car.

Between the early 300 S and the later, fuel-injected 300 Sc was the 300 Sb, which was produced for 1954 and 1955. The 300 Sb featured a number of improvements over the earlier 300 S, including power-assisted brakes with finned drums, the addition of front vent windows, a more efficient heating system, a redesigned dashboard, and a newly standard Becker radio with three bands. Back in 1955, a 300 Sb cost about $12,300, significantly more than the 300 SL Gullwing. Virtually hand built, the 300 Sb embodies something of a classic prewar design, with its delineated tear-drop fenders and tall, proud grille. The cabin is lavishly trimmed in top-grade wood and leather, while jewel-like instrumentation and controls grace the dashboard.

This particular 300 Sb is the beneficiary of an older, comprehensive high-level restoration that still presents extremely well today. The restoration was conducted by a former owner, a vintage automobile enthusiast and racer, with the guidance and assistance of his friend, renowned model expert and restoration guru Chuck Brahms.

Although much of its early history is unrecorded, the car was part of a respected Houston-based collection focused on the finest examples of iconic Mercedes-Benz automobiles, such as the 300 SL Gullwing and the 600. In 2010, the then-owner sent the car to marque specialist Paul Russell and Company to carry out any required service and a cosmetic freshening.

Presented in its elegant original color combination of Dark Grey (DB 164) with Light Grey leather interior, this 300 Sb features a very rare and desirable floor-shifter for its four-speed manual gearbox, as opposed to the more typically seen column-shifter. Significantly, this car also retains its original, matching-numbers engine, as confirmed by its Zertifikat from the Mercedes- Benz factory. It also boasts the factory fitted luggage, as well as the factory Becker Le Mans radio, a tool kit, and owner’s and service manuals. As a result of its meticulous care, the car is reported by the consignor to drive quite well, and as such would make a fantastic event car in addition to making its owner proud on the show field.