17-strong Mercedes-Benz collection goes under the hammer

Star performers

An impressive 17 Mercedes-Benz classics from one private collection are for sale right now with Belgian firm Noble Auctions.

Dating from the 1930s through to the ’50s, these magnificent three-pointed stars were each carefully selected by their owner and are joined by one outlier – a 1932 Chevrolet.

Bidding for these cars on Noble’s online platform is open now and closes on 15 December – let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer.

1. 1938 Mercedes-Benz 170VS Roadster (est: €195-205,000)

First registered in June 1938 and wearing a red and salmon-pink body, this is a rarity, with only around 30 of all 170VS and 200V variants built, according to the manufacturer.

One suspects that the date of this pretty roadster’s launch – February 1938 –  has something to do with that.

1938 Mercedes-Benz 170VS Roadster (cont.)

Described by its manufacturer as a ‘two-seater off-road sports model’, this example has been restored to what appears to be a very high standard – and it was during this time that its striking exterior colours were chosen.

The cream-leather-trimmed cabin is the perfect match and while the car’s two-litre, four-cylinder engine isn’t the one it left the factory with, it is of the same type – expect a top speed just shy of 70mph.

2. 1934 Mercedes-Benz 170 Sport Roadster (est: €250-285,000)

Just a few years older and finished in rather more sober tones is this Sport Roadster, which is one of an incredible 10 body styles offered for the W15, built between 1931 and 1936.

In fact, this car is one of just three built and is the sole-surviving example, making its sale a unique opportunity.

1934 Mercedes-Benz 170 Sport Roadster (cont.)

It started its life in Germany before a US Army captain stationed there took it home to America with him, the car making the return trip to Europe in 2007.

And not only has it benefited from a bare-metal restoration, this car previously secured a third-in-class finish at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

3. 1936 Mercedes-Benz 230 Cabriolet B (est: €125-140,000)

Our third ’30s drop-top is another in a dazzling, two-tone finish, this car’s blue-leather-trimmed interior described as ‘superb’ and its straight-six engine said to be in good condition.

You don’t see many of these today, however in period the W143 was one of the marque’s biggest selling cars to date, more than 19,000 sold between 1936 and 1941, including all body styles.

1936 Mercedes-Benz 230 Cabriolet B (cont.)

Built in Germany, sourced from France and heading to auction with Dutch registration documents, who knows where it will be off to next when the (virtual) hammer falls on 15 December.

With generous seating for four in its leather-upholstered and wood-detailed cabin, it is ready for enjoying with family and friends – well, with just over 65,500 miles on the clock, it’s got plenty of life left in it.

4. 1951 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (est: €105-115,000)

Mercedes revealed its W187 220 range at the inaugural Frankfurt Motor Show in April 1951, offering it in saloon, Cabriolet A and Cabriolet B body styles, and this example was first registered just two months later.

Powered by a 2.2-litre ‘six’ that is described as being ‘silky smooth’, it is one of 1278 built at the Sindelfingen plant.

1951 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (cont.)

This example has been restored and although this work took place some time ago, it appears to present well.

Lovely original details include its beautiful Becker radio, foldaway rear bench seat and period matching suitcases, plus this car has been upgraded with power steering, for more effortless cruising.

5. 1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet A (est: €120-140,000)

This appears to be a very well-kept example of a model first shown to the world at an exhibition in Hannover in May 1949.

Delivered to Sweden when new, it has since been the subject of a bare-metal restoration, photographic evidence of which will be included in the sale. It has covered 2587km since this work.

1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet A (cont.)

Production of the 170S Cabriolet A lasted until November 1951 and 830 were produced.

This dark-grey example with a green-leather interior is also being auctioned with matching suitcases, this time with fetching tartan-esque lining, as well as a set of tools and a wooden device used for opening the radiator filler cap.

6. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet (est: €120-130,000)

Let’s brighten things a little by taking a closer look at this, one of the younger cars in this impressive Mercedes-Benz collection.

Its unusual Erdbeerrot (strawberry red) colour is, pleasingly, original, plus it has a black fabric roof and a cream-leather interior.

1957 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet (cont.)

This ‘Ponton’ cabriolet, one of 2178 built between July 1956 and October 1959, has enjoyed regular use by its current custodian on overseas road trips and rallies – which also accounts for the addition of a sat-nav where you’d expect to see the radio.

It has 66,190km on the odometer and comes with striking fitted suitcases, finished in black with cream trim and tartan lining.

7. 1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (est: €100-130,000)

You’ve probably gathered by now that these cars’ owner is a big Mercedes-Benz fan – and 170S Cabriolet Bs, particularly those from 1950, are a recurring theme, too.

This is one of four in Noble Auctions’ 15 December sale and it is described as one of the best in existence; quite some claim. With just 1603 built, almost 70 years since production ceased this might be one of the largest collections of this model in the world.

1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (cont.)

It’s this Mercedes’ concours-level restoration, of course, that sets it apart, and it has covered a little more than 400km since the completion of that work.

Another matching set of luggage is found tucked in the boot, so if you want to fire up the 1767cc ‘four’ for a classic road trip, you can do so in style.

8. 1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (est: €75-80,000)

If a 170S Cabriolet B is very much your style, but you’re on a (slightly) more modest budget – and you don’t mind a bit of work – then how about this lot?

Imported from Norway, its restoration has been started, but it needs further attention.

1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (cont.)

The car runs and its body has been restored, but some of it still needs to be painted.

Meanwhile its original red cabin appears to wear its patina reasonably well and the odometer shows it’s not too far from covering 100,000km. Anyone for a winter project, then?

9. 1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (est: €60-70,000)

Virtually reversing the previous example’s colour scheme is this 170S – perhaps their keeper wanted one in every colour?!

Joking aside, as you might have guessed from the pre-sale estimate, this is not primed for the concours lawns, but that might just make it a much more usable example.

1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (cont.)

Its engine and gearbox have been overhauled, so the Benz should run and go well, while the interior shows a few signs of wear but is more-than usable.

The driver’s side window might need some attention before hitting the road, unless you fancy wind-in-your-face motoring, but that could well be a small price to pay for such style.

10. 1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (est: €110-130,000)

The fourth in this W136 quartet also has the highest pre-sale estimate – but then the auction house does describe it as: ‘as close to factory-fresh condition as one could expect’.

Yes, you’ve guessed it, it has been meticulously restored, this time in a subtle two-tone grey with matching hubcaps, a dark-blue leather interior and a dark-blue fabric roof.

1950 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet B (cont.)

We have to admit, it’s possibly even better than factory-fresh – and, naturally, has its period fitted luggage, spare tyre and period-correct tools.

And it has been hardly driven since the restoration, so will the winning bidder enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labour, or wrap this Mercedes up in cotton wool?

11. 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S (est: €16-18,000)

Finally moving on to a different model, with this six-cylinder W180 saloon we have the youngest car in this collection – and one of the most affordable, too.

It was grey when new, gaining this deep red later in life, and is described as a classic for driving and enjoying, maybe giving it some TLC along the way.

1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S (cont.)

These so-called ‘Ponton’ models were the first monocoque, unitary-body production models from Mercedes-Benz and, believe it or not, elements of its rear suspension derived from developments made for the mighty W196 Silver Arrow racer.

This car, with its well-kept, brown-vinyl interior is thought to have done more than 109,000 miles, but still has plenty of life left in it.

12. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 200 Cabriolet C (est: €100-110,000)

It is a return to ’30s cabriolets with the next lot in Noble Auctions’ Mercedes-Benz sale, this time a W21 200 in Cabriolet C form, one of nine body styles offered during this model’s 1933-’36 production run.

Inside and out, this car has been carefully restored, to the extent that its vendor describes it as ‘magnificent’.

1935 Mercedes-Benz 200 Cabriolet C (cont.)

These models are seldom seen and this pre-war, six-pot classic was sold new to Denmark, returning to its German homeland in 2010.

Its light-grey leather-upholstered interior, complete with attractive door pockets and twisted rope handle, appears to be in a very fine condition, too.

13. 1939 Mercedes-Benz 170V Roadster (est: €200-210,000)

We love the deceptively simple lines of this black-and-cream drop-top.

Like so many cars in this astonishing collection, it has been expertly restored and this W136 must surely be one of the best examples left.

1939 Mercedes-Benz 170V Roadster (cont.)

Its red-leather interior is set off perfectly by the cream steering wheel, glovebox doors and the surround housing the trio of chrome-ringed dials.

And for those times when you need to carry more than two, there is a fold-out rumble seat – but this is only for use in good weather, the folding black fabric roof isn’t designed to go over it.

14. 1953 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (est: €105-115,000)

Two years younger than the other 220 Cabriolet A we’ve looked at so far in this collection, this example with grey-over-black two-tone paintwork was registered on 2 January 1953, in the middle of the model’s August ’51 to August ’55 production run.

And despite its restoration being around a decade ago, this W187 drop-top will cross the block in very smart condition.

1953 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (cont.)

The black-leather-trimmed cabin looks like a lovely place to spend time whilst wafting about in this six-cylinder-powered classic.

Indeed this M180 ‘six’ was introduced on this and the 300s, all of which made their debut in Frankfurt in April 1951.

15. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Coupé (est: €38-41,000)

Here’s this collection’s sole coupé, a car that was delivered to California when new and made the return trip across the Atlantic Ocean around a decade ago.

Just 830 examples of this fuel-injected ‘Ponton’ coupé were built, making these among the more rare post-war models, and this one could even turn out to be an investment.

1958 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Coupé (cont.)

Unlike many of its stablemates it’s not had a painstaking restoration. It is said to be solid with a ‘tidy and presentable’ engine bay, making it a decent usable classic.

But if someone wanted to put in the time, money and effort, it really could be something very special.

16. 1951 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (est: €130-140,000)

No, your eyes don’t deceive you. This is the third 220 Cabriolet A and the second dark green example from ’51 – in fact, the two cars were registered just three days apart.

This is the (slightly) younger car – and its €130-140,000 pre-sale estimate exceeds the €105-115,000 of the other car.

1951 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (cont.)

It’s heading to auction in a condition described as being potentially concours. Well, like many other Mercedes in this collection, it has undergone a ground-up, no-expense-spared restoration.

Green from its paintwork to the seat leather and the carpet, this is broken by smart wooden veneers and twinkling chrome; an enticing prospect.

17. 1949 Mercedes-Benz 170V Cabriolet B (est: €60-70,000)

Finally we come to the 17th and last three-pointed star in this collection being sold by Noble Auctions – and this pale grey and dark red convertible is a very handsome car.

The W136 was the first model Mercedes resumed production of after the WW2 and it certainly has a charming, pre-war look to it.

1949 Mercedes-Benz 170V Cabriolet B (cont.)

It has been restored… Nearly. The vendor explains that it requires a few finishing touches, so while it has been reupholstered, the door handles and window winders need fitting, and the window mechanisms adjusting, for example.

Yet it is still a delightful prospect and with it we come to the end of these Mercedes, but not quite to the end of this auction catalogue…

18. 1932 Chevrolet Roadster (est: €35-39,000)

The 18th lot in this sale isn’t ‘just’ the only non-Mercedes, it is also the oldest and has the largest engine.

A completely different proposition, then, but like many of the cars it shares garage space with, this striking black roadster with a 4.2-litre straight-six engine has been immaculately restored.

1932 Chevrolet Roadster (cont.)

Black with a red interior, as well as lovely red detailing, it appears to carry just two until you unfold the rumble seat. Its simple, uncluttered cabin is a joy.

The whitewall tyres with their red detailing are a dramatic contrast to the black bodywork.

Bidding on all these cars is open now, online with Noble Auctions, and will close on 15 December. To find out more, please click here.