The Mercedes-Benz Type 300 (chassis codes W186, W188, and W189) were the company's largest and most-prestigious models throughout the 1950s. Analogous to today's S-Class, the Type 300 cars were elegant, powerful, exclusive, and expensive.
The 300, 300b, 300c (chassis code 186), and successor 300d (chassis code 189) models were touring cars, often referred to as Adenauers after Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In office from 1949 to 1963, he employed six custom convertible, hardtop, and landaulet versions during his tenure.
These large saloons and four-door cabriolets incorporated many luxury features. Options such as Becker radio, VHF mobile telephone, and dictation machine were geared to the business man and politician. Among the custom features in Chancellor Adenauer's "parade cars" were writing desks, sirens, curtains, dividing partitions, sunroofs, and half-roof landaulet configurations.
The 300s and its successor the 300Sc (chassis code 188) were all but handmade sports tourers, the pinnacles of the Mercedes line of their era. Each were available in 2+2 coupe, cabriolet, and roadster versions.
Famous quotes containing the word type:
“The real American type can never be a ballet dancer. The legs are too long, the body too supple and the spirit too free for this school of affected grace and toe walking.”
—Isadora Duncan (1878–1927)