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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster - fast and sophisticated travel behind the star

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Created on August 15, 2016

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

31

Daimler AG

26

Daniel Reinhard

31

Daimler AG

26

Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - das Design erinnert noch an die Vorkriegsformen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Design made in Sindelfingen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - beim Roadster konnte das Verdeck komplett versenkt werden

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - hoch bauender Kühler

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - der Radstand wurde gegenüber der Limousine gekürzt

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Platz für zwei Personen und notfalls auch mehr

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - kein Hauch von Ponton-Karosserie

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - imposante Erscheinung

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Vergaserausführung

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - noch klar ausgebildete Kotflügel

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Frontansicht - das machte damals schon Eindruck

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Heckansicht

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - rund 170 km/h rannte ein 300 S vor 60 Jahren

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Freude am Fahren schon damals

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - kein Rennwagen, aber flott unterwegs

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - für den Herrenfahrer

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - der Stern auf dem Bug

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - hier steigt man gerne ein

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - oppulentes Cockpit

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - schönes Holz für das Armaturenbrett

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - grosses Lenkrad

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - viel Leder und Holz im Innern

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - zentraler Tacho und komplette Überwachungsinstrumente

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - geschaltet wird am Lenkrad

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Radio Becker Nürburg

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - drei Vergaser

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - schöne Rundungen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - eindeutig beschriftet

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Stern und Typenschriftzug auf dem Heck

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - die Rückleuchten wurden beim 300 SL auch wieder verwendet

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A (1951) - die ersten beiden Exemplare - Cabriolet und Coupé

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A (1952) - die andere Offen-Variante

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A (1952) - Cabriolet aus dem zweiten Baujahr

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A (1953) - gebaut von 1951 bis 1955

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Coupé (1953) - auch mit festen Dach zu kaufen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - grosse Seitenscheiben, die komplett in der Türe verschwinden

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - mit geöffnetem Verdeck

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - mit der Rundumsicht hapert es bei geschlossenem Verdeck ein wenig

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - auch mit geschlossenem Verdeck elegant anzuschauen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - mit geschlossenem Verdeck

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - mit geschlossenem Verdeck

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - mit hochgedrehten Seitenscheiben

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Modellreihe W 188

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A (1951) - mit den aussenliegenden Sturmstangen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - schwarzes Lenkrad, viel Holz und Leder

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Armaturenbrett mit Radio

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Blick in den offenen Wagen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - Blick in den offenen Wagen

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - praktische Abdeckung für das Verdeck

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - voll versenkbares Verdeck (Baureihe W 188)

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - das Verdeck kann schnell aus dem Kasten befreit werden

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster (1953) - auf der Werbeillustration

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Roadster (1955) - Zeichnung vom Prospektblatt

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Roadster (1956) - äusserlich kaum verändert, unter der Haube aber zog der Fortschritt ein

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Roadster (1956) - mit Einspritzmotor und 20 Mehr-PS

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A (1951) - mit dem passenden Koffersatz

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Summary

Together with its direct successor, the 300 SC, the Mercedes-Benz 300 S is rarer than the now legendary 300 SL, but was even more expensive at the time. The fast touring car for two people in the construction program of the time was available as a Cabriolet, Roadster and Coupé, all of which were largely hand-built between 1951 and 1957. This driving report is about a 300 S from 1953, shows it in current and historical pictures and lets you hear it on your sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

Presented in Paris in 1951
Intensive testing
Progress does not wait
Internal competition
On the road as a gentleman driver
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In the early 1950s, the sporty top-of-the-range model from Mercedes-Benz cost a whopping 46,900 Swiss francs or 34,500 DM. A VW Beetle was available for less than 6,000 francs, but a small detached house was certainly within reach for the equivalent value of a Mercedes-Benz 300 S. Naturally, expectations were correspondingly high and the buyer received real value for money. The new 300 S was certainly one of the main attractions at the 38th Paris Motor Show in October 1951, and the ADAC Motorwelt devoted an extensive description to the new arrival: "The new Mercedes-Benz "300 S", which emerged from the "300" type shown at the Frankfurt exhibition, attracted particular interest. The output of the new 3.0-liter engine, which is equipped with three downdraft carburetors, was increased to 150 hp, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 10.8 kg/hp with a car weight of 1620 kg. With this car, which has the same chassis as the "300" and therefore also has the same excellent suspension and exemplary road holding, Germany is finally once again well represented in the international top class. Not only in terms of top speed, which is stated at around 170 km/h, but also in terms of acceleration - which is even more important in today's vehicle density - the "300 S" should be on a par with all equally large products in the international top class, with the exception of pure sports cars, at the stated power-to-weight ratio."

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