Show of hands if you’ve ever heard of a Mercedes “Adenauer”, in this case, a 1958 model 300d. It’s a full-size luxury car named for western Germany’s first Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (1949-1963). I can honestly say that not only have I not heard of this special M-B model, I’ve never seen one either and this example probably doesn’t present this special automobile in the best light. Found in Monterey, California, this luxury-sized four-door saloon is available, here on craigslist for $10,500.
Also known as a W189, the 300d Adenauer was offered between 1957 and 1962 realizing total production of over 3,000 copies along with just a handful of cabriolets thrown in for good measure. These are big cars, 204″ in length, weighing in at 4,300 lbs. and riding on a 124″ wheelbase. The tall side windows along with the C-pillar vent glass project a limousine/tourer presence. It’s the greenhouse that seems so unfamiliar to me.
There are obvious issues like missing parts including door handles, the rear window, stainless trim, and windshield wipers. The driver’s door is dented and misaligned and the rear bumper is bent. In spite of the scuffed paint, surface rust, and primer, the body shows as being sound, as well as the underside, though the trunk’s spare tire wells are looking a bit shaky. Fortunately, the prominent and immediately recognizable grille looks like it has not been kissed. I didn’t realize it at first but this Mercedes is actually a hardtop body style – it has no B-pillar. Please review this walkaround video and you’ll get a better idea of this Benz’s overall condition.
The interior is less impressive than I would have thought for a car of this stature. The seating upholstery is in nice shape but it’s a rather industrial-grade-looking material. The steel floors are exposed and the door panels are missing as are parts of the dashboard. Note the large centrally mounted speedometer – it looks like a strapped-on tach as you’d find in a muscle car. This interior, unfortunately, is going to need a lot of work!
This Mercedes is a non-runner but when it did, the power came about thanks to a 180 HP, 3.0-liter, in-line six-cylinder engine, and in this case, the go is channeled via a three-speed automatic transmission – I found that surprising as I assumed a four-speed manual gearbox would handle all things gear related. The seller mentions that the engine does turn freely. I’m no expert on Mercedes engines but it does appear that everything essential is in place.
The seller suggests, “This is a very rare vehicle that could be worth quite a bit of money once restored“. Yes, that’s probably true but if one is focused on end-game value, one needs to consider the ton of cash that will be necessary to actually make this Adenauer fit for a chancellor. This is just a fantastic car that needs to be saved and restored. Yeah, easy for me to say because I won’t be the one undertaking the heavy lifting but maybe some dedicated soul out there will accept the challenge, right?
I just had to look these up restored. I highly recommend it!!! These are beautiful cars restored. The seats do not appear to be correct. The interiors of these Mercedes are beautiful. These were expensive and very nicely appointed for their day. Unfortunately, it appears as though this one has had it day. A long time ago. Possibly decades ago. This would have to be a labor of love and a huge one at that.
Engine shares a lot of parts with the 300SL Gullwing and roadster. Easily that engine is worth the price.
MacVaugh
While the 300d does share an engine history with the 300SL, there are few parts that are the same, as the 300SL engine was laid on an angle, and it is fuel-injected. I’ve worked on both types, and for years I had a 300d 4-door cabriolet [rough] sitting out back behind my shop. Got rid of it due to the insane costs to restore.
Before buying a car like this one, it’s VERY important to research them fully. While most of the trim parts this car needs are available, the financial costs can be huge. When I was working on cars like this one, I was also working on Rolls-Royces, and most spare parts were cheaper for a comparable Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud.
While it’s going to be expensive to have all the interior wood trim parts refinished correctly, the first challenge will be in finding good replacement pieces. If they need to be created from bulk lumber, then veneered and sprayed before polishing, the costs for this work alone could exceed what the asking price is for the car.
Restoring the interior using the correct materials, done to show quality work, can cost upwards of $30k, twice that if you are paying a specialist to do the work.
Being sold at “Dodi’s Auto Shindig” Call ahead to make sure “Dodi” is not surfing. Only in California! Love it.
There are actually two missing “B” pillars (B1 & B2 according to some restorers) or a “B” & a “C” before one reaches the “D” (the modern SUV naming convention). The rear-most side-windows can be removed so as hardtops go, the 300d is more pillarless than most.
If you squint? You can just about see a Gullwing, sitting there.
If you’re drunk and squint, maybe.
Columbo could have driven this.
Ross Martin’s art expert character on an early Columbo episode, circa 1971, DID have a car like this, an earlier 300b, or maybe c? 1953-56?
They are rare, but partially because they are right up there with the MB 600 for being mechanically complicated (for their time). I have spotted one at a well known independent MB shop in Boise. It looked better than this, but was still a little rough
There is (or at least was) a truly rare (and gorgeous) Adenauer cabriolet at the Mercedes Classic Center in Irvine, CA. The woodwork alone is a work of art.
Quite right, season 1, episode 4, November 1971: “Suitable For Framing” (thank you Wikipedia).
Photo available at
https://www.afamco.org/usa/tv/series/columbo/cars/mercedes/?lang=US
simple. overpriced. run, fast. away. over and out. (the cost to restore this would be a king’s ransom.)
There’s a 2 door coupé versiin too
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These are not so hard to find on sale and better to buy a good one than a car with needs.
I thought the “D” meant diesel. Meaning the engine pictured should be a diesel. As for value, I would imagine the price is a bit high just due to the missing parts.
The D suffix is to designate the series and should be a small d. the c series was more popular as the rear fenders were rounder and had taillights in a different location. More classic appearing.
I debated whether the D (d) should be upper case or lower. I’ll change it.
JO
If you look closely, this has a mechanical fuel injection on it. Just my 3 cents…
One in much better condition, a runner, just sold on BAT for $16,500. These cars in top condition rarely break the kid $50s. So you be the judge.
One sat in a field off route 4 in NH for decades, slowly settling into the grass and mud. Sad end for an incredible car.
“Adenauer” was not an official model name applied to this series by Daimler-Benz but was a nickname given the cars in later years because Chancellor Adenauer used Mercedes 300’s and was often shown riding in them in press photos. See photos and footage of President Kennedy’s famous trip to West Berlin in 1963.
You saved me the typing effort.
These have always been known as ‘Adenauers’ . A Hall of Fame NFL player from the glory days down here in SoCal used to drive one to the gym back in the Eighties. Always liked his style. No bling, no clown outfits…just an Adenauer :)
Beautiful cars.
Go ICON Derelict or go home. With this lovely shape and patina this is a perfect candidate for an ICON Derelict build.
Your production dates are incorrect. I have one that is right hand drive for the UK market and it is a 1955 model. Perhaps the date you show was for the introduction to the US market? Parts prices are horrendous and not as widely available as for other Mercedes models. I hate to say it, but this one is a parts car.
As Betty Davis said in some old film, “ What a dump.”
I have owned several MB 220’s and know that there are a number of parts the lesser models share with this car. But, also there are plenty of unique to the car parts as well. Also, it should be noted that this motor is the rare “fuel injected” model motor, different from most of the 219’s and 220’s. As someone stated above, the motor on this car is worth a lot, but also stated above: restoration WILL be expensive!
My dad owned a 1959 300d (bought new) for 3 years. A glorious road cruiser, when it ran properly.
The automatic chassis lubrication system (one-shot every 100 miles) would occasionally blow a fuse and kill the engine.
There were at least two transmission replacements under warranty. It spent 2/3 of its time in the shop.
It was dark gray with red leather. After a family trip to the beach our white dog came home pink.
Dad traded it in after it was hit by a ’56 Chev whose driver lost control when her parrot bit her nose, but that’s another story.
He switched to Lincolns after that.
Back in 1981, living in Tianjin, China I was occasionally driven around in a 1957 300d. Mostly it was used by my competitor. The owner was the government, and it was used to ferry around foreign businessmen. They kept it in like new condition, with the driver dusting it at every stop and washing it daily. When my competitor was being repatriated he offered to buy the car. The gov’t people said they couldn’t sell it, but if he supplied another car they could trade it. So he went and bought them a new Nissan Cedric and he ended up with the 300d and left with it for the US. I whined to them, I’m staying and how come I don’t get a 300d. They looked and looked but the closest they ever came to finding me one was a 1959 (maybe) roached out 190d. Chinese replacement motor, replacement interior (localized), and rusted out as well. They thought it was identical to the one they let go. Much later they found me a Hong Qi which kinda looked like a Lincoln Continental Mark II, but I unfortunately passed on it.
Drop it on a Dulie 4×4 Diesel, it will gain its respect back.
I wonder just how the seller priced it at $10,500. Not $10,000, not $11,000 but $10,500. Whatever, that price will be only a very small fraction of what a proper restoration would cost. Spend $200,000-plus, and you’ll have a very nice $100,000 car. The only way to come out ahead is to keep it forever (assuming it will appreciate) and enjoy it in the meantime. This is not the project for a do-it-yourselfer, but a few restoration shops do specialize in these cars. Bring money!
I had a 1952 300, no letter identifier as it was the first of the 300 series. An Army officer brought it back from Germany and traded it in for a newer car upon retirement. The used car lot I found it in was glad to get rid of it mainly because it smoke so badly. I had a mechanic replace the valve guides but he ended up breaking the overhead camshaft in the process. I later found out I could have installed little clips that divert some of the oil away from the valve guides for 25 cents per valve. I ended up trading it for a ’57 Pontiac.
The 300 was pure luxury. It had a 5 band shortwave radio, and a load leveling devise that raised or lowered the rear end by several inches. It was a dark red with green leather interior. Somebody taste for colors was lacking. Of all the cars I’ve had I wish I had kept it.