The W186-generation Mercedes-Benz 300 was the marque’s flagship model in a period of post-war prosperity for Germany’s automakers. The 300 utilised a platform built for luxury and was notably offered in cabriolet, saloon, landaulet, or limousine body configuration. Favoured by statesmen and wealthy business leaders alike, the model became synonymous with Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, who was often seen using a rotation of differing 300 body styles while he was in office.

Some 12,190 cars were built in a production run spanning 1951 to 1957, within which the 300 is differentiated by ongoing updates across three generations, informally known as the 300 a, b, and c. The lattermost car, the 300 c, was unveiled in September 1955. It is believed that only 51 examples of the newest variant were built with the Convertible D body style, including the example offered here.

While little is known of the car’s earliest years, it is presented from The Willy Michiels Collection as a fine example of 1950s German engineering. The 300 c is finished in black with a beige leather interior and complementary beige convertible hood. The car is powered by a 3.0-litre, inline-six type M186 engine—the correct type for this model—paired with an optional extra three-speed automatic gearbox. Extra parts accompanying the car include a spare wheel, jack, and wrench.