Mercedes-Benz 300 S
(1951 - 1955)
Car articles about Mercedes-Benz 300 S by year
Car fans once dreamed of top-of-the-range or super sports cars. Since the turn of the millennium, however, hypercars have been regarded as the ultimate in automotive transportation. But whether they offer real driving pleasure is doubtful. To prove this thesis, this article takes you through the development of the sports car up to the present day and shows many of the cars mentioned in pictures.
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.
With the Mercedes-Benz 300, the Stuttgart-based company presented the ultimate in fast touring sedans at the IAA 1951. The W186 was the benchmark in its segment for years to come. No wonder 'hobby' test driver Martin didn't miss out on a drive in the 115 hp 300. And his enthusiasm is practically palpable from line to line. This article reproduces the original wording of the test report from that time and shows the Mercedes-Benz 300 in many historic pictures.
In 1953, the Daimler-Benz test department created a special version of the Mercedes 300 SL, a lightweight streamlined coupé with an injection engine, uncompromisingly trimmed for maximum performance, which promised ambitious sports drivers everything that the later production 300 SL was not to deliver. One example of this most exciting and "hottest" car ever built in this model series has been preserved. In this historical report, eyewitness Jörg-Erhard Hofelich talks about the fast 300 SL of 1953 and its interesting history.
From 1951 to 1958, Mercedes built the 300 S/Sc as a Cabriolet, Roadster and Coupé. These luxury cars embodied the ultimate in comfort without being unsportsmanlike. In fact, industrialists also liked to drive these vehicles over long distances, which they could cover with high averages. This report portrays a 300 S Cabriolet A from 1954 and also shows it and its brothers in historical illustrations.
At the end of January 1954, Mercedes-Benz presented two new models that are still among the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer's flagship models today: the 190 SL and the 300 SL road-going sports car. Naturally, the magazine 'hobby' did not miss the opportunity to take a seat behind the wheel as soon as possible. Editor Sponsel even gave the 190 SL a lot of racing potential. This article restores the driving report from that time and shows the 190 SL in many early historical pictures.
Great victories and a racing tragedy of immeasurable proportions characterized the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S), which was only used in the 1955 racing season. This report looks back on the short career of the racing sports car, showing it in historical and new pictures, but above all also during extensive repair work that became necessary due to an accident in 1996.
Perhaps the most desirable racing car in the world never even drove a single race. The drivers preferred a different body shape; the planned first outing was canceled after a catastrophe. The "Uhlenhaut Coupé" based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR remained a test vehicle against its will for the rest of its life. This article tells the story of the eight-cylinder racing coupé, which remained unsold for 66 years until it passed into new hands for EUR 135 million.
Current market prices for Mercedes-Benz 300 S
Coupe, 150 PS, 2996 cm3
Convertible, 150 PS, 2996 cm3
Roadster, 150 PS, 2996 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 116 PS, 2996 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 125 PS, 2996 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 125 PS, 2996 cm3
Convertible, 116 PS, 2996 cm3
Convertible, 125 PS, 2996 cm3
Convertible, 125 PS, 2996 cm3
Coupe, 175 PS, 2996 cm3
Convertible, 175 PS, 2996 cm3
Roadster, 175 PS, 2996 cm3
Coupe, 215 PS, 2996 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of Mercedes-Benz 300 S
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S (188) 1954 Sold Bonhams The Mercedes Benz Sale (March 28, 2015) |
300 S (188) | 1954 | Sold | Bonhams The Mercedes Benz Sale (March 28, 2015) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster 1953 Sold RM/Sotheby's Amelia Island (March 4, 2023) |
300 S Roadster | 1953 | Sold | RM/Sotheby's Amelia Island (March 4, 2023) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A 1954 Sold Bonhams Grand Palais Sale (February 6, 2014) |
300 S Cabriolet A | 1954 | Sold | Bonhams Grand Palais Sale (February 6, 2014) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S Coupe 1954 Sold Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach (August 16, 2019) |
300 S Coupe | 1954 | Sold | Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach (August 16, 2019) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S (188) 1953 Not Sold Fischer Luzern (May 28, 2016) |
300 S (188) | 1953 | Not Sold | Fischer Luzern (May 28, 2016) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S LHD 1953 Sold Artcurial Rétromobile 2014 & Solo Alfa by Artcurial Motorcars (February 7, 2014) |
300 S LHD | 1953 | Sold | Artcurial Rétromobile 2014 & Solo Alfa by Artcurial Motorcars (February 7, 2014) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S (188) 1953 Sold Bonhams The Scottsdale Auctions (January 15, 2015) |
300 S (188) | 1953 | Sold | Bonhams The Scottsdale Auctions (January 15, 2015) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S (188) 1953 Sold Dorotheum Fahrzeug Auktionen Wien (June 18, 2016) |
300 S (188) | 1953 | Sold | Dorotheum Fahrzeug Auktionen Wien (June 18, 2016) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A 1953 Sold RM/Sotheby's Amelia Island (March 5, 2022) |
300 S Cabriolet A | 1953 | Sold | RM/Sotheby's Amelia Island (March 5, 2022) | |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster 1955 Sold Bonhams Quail Lodge (August 13, 2021) |
300 S Roadster | 1955 | Sold | Bonhams Quail Lodge (August 13, 2021) |
Query all auctioned vehicles of Mercedes-Benz 300 S
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