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Bonhams' Laguna Seca sale is bringing out one of the most original examples of Mercedes-Benz's post-war flagship coupe, a 1953 300 S that has been with a single family in the United States since 1963 and spent more than six decades largely tucked away in storage.
Introduced at the Paris Salon in October 1951, the 300 S represented the pinnacle of Stuttgart's post-war production, built entirely by hand and offered in Coupe, Cabriolet, and Roadster forms atop the W188 chassis. It cost roughly fifty percent more than the already-prestigious 300 "Adenauer" sedan and shared much of its underlying engineering with the legendary 300 SL Gullwing, including an independent front suspension and swing-axle rear end. Only 216 300 S Coupes were built in total, making this one of the rarer body styles of an already exclusive model.
Beneath its conservative styling, the 300 S packed genuinely advanced engineering for the era, sharing much of its chassis architecture with the flagship saloon while wearing coachwork built entirely by hand. This example is accompanied by original period German service records and is described as remarkably preserved despite its decades in storage, the kind of honest, unmolested survivor that collectors increasingly chase over cars that have been over-restored. Our recent look at Restomod vs. Original: Which Is Right for You? digs into exactly why originality like this commands such a premium.
The 300 S crosses the block at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on August 13, offered without reserve. You can view the full lot details and photo gallery over at Bonhams.
