Description
Lot #5086 - Chassis no. 172436 is an outstanding late-production example of the 320 Cabriolet B, featuring the enlarged and more powerful 3.4 Liter motor equipped on later 320 examples, as well as the concurrent overdrive that allowed for low rpm cruising. As Manheim chassis records were largely burned during the severe Allied bombing of World War II, there is little original factory documentation available on this car, despite the efforts of the prior owners to source data from the manufacturers and the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart. The chassis number does demonstrate that the car is a long-wheelbase Cabriolet B, and several rare late-production features, such as the foot warmers in the back seat, the signal indicator lamps on the fender tops and the rear back-up light, suggest the car may have been produced as late as 1939. Acquired after the war by an American Air Force officer in Germany, this Mercedes was imported to the United States in early 1954, with an authentic import tag showing that the car cleared customs on April 4, 1954. By the early 1980s, the 320 was being offered by Samuel P.A. Gast of Gast Motor Cars in New Holland, PA. In early December 1982, 172436 was purchased by Dr. James W. Delevan of Grand Rapids, MI, who was impressed by the car's incredibly unrestored condition. The odometer disclosure statement during the transaction reflected a modest mileage of 64,061 kilometers. Accompanied by a deep file of restorations invoices and correspondence from the factory and other marque authorities, this exceptional premium Mercedes-Benz displays all of its original motor and body stampings, proving itself to be a desirable matching-numbers example. Replete with sensational luxurious styling of its big brothers, the 500 and 540K, this elegant 320 Cabriolet B will make an impressive entrant at any marque corral or regional concours, and should capture the fancy of prewar Benz enthusiasts' fans far and wide.
