1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet
Priced above even the 300 SL at its introduction (and reportedly close to double the cost of a top-of-the-range Cadillac at the time), the 300S occupied an unusual position in the postwar market.
Introduced at the 1951 Paris Salon, it was offered as a coupe, roadster, and Cabriolet A (the cabriolet distinguished by its characteristic landau irons), with bodies built largely by hand at Mercedes-Benz’s Sindelfingen works.
Derived from the larger 300 sedan but riding a shortened 114.2-inch wheelbase, the styling deliberately recalled prewar tradition, with long hood lines and upright formal proportions that the contemporary press praised for their restraint.
The separate oval-tube chassis incorporated fully independent suspension with double wishbones up front and swing axles at the rear, a hypoid bevel final drive, and a dashboard-operated rear suspension leveling system.
A 3.0-liter (2,996 cc) overhead-camshaft inline six fitted with three Solex carburetors produced approximately 150 hp. The same basic engine, in mechanical fuel-injected form, powered the later 300 SL.
A total of 560 examples of the 300S were built through 1955, with the fuel-injected, revised-suspension 300 Sc carrying the line through 1958 (200 additional examples). Combined production across both variants reached 760 cars.
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