1956 Mercedes Benz 300 C
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Large and luxurious, the Mercedes 300 series was built from 1951 until 1957 in its original form. The company's largest and most-prestigious models, the Mercedes-Benz Type 300 is considered a trademark of the era throughout the 1950s. With a 3 liter engine capacity, the name 300 said it all. Exclusive, expensive, elegant and full of power, the Type 300 vehicles were in an elite status all of its own. The total production of the 1956 300C was limited to 41 unites. Those who owned them in the US included a handful of rich and famous; Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Lloyd Wright, Maria Callas, Gary Cooper, Yul Brynner, and Errol Flynn.

This particular car was owned by Eleanor Randolph Sears. Miss Sears was one of the country's greatest women athletes and one of the most striking sports personalities of her time. She purchased the car new and kept it at her Massachusetts estate. Following her death in 1968 the car was purchased by Richard Hall. John Shane purchased the it in 1978 and the present owner William Brooks purchased it in 2007.

The Type 300 b was introduced with power brakes in 1954. In September of 1955, a larger rear window was featured on the Type 300 C. Also featuring a swing axle rear independent suspension, the Type 300 C was sold at $10,864 in the U.S. with the convertible available at an expensive $14,231.

About the 300 Series
The Mercedes-Benz 300 was produced from 1951 through 1958 and is one of the most graceful and classic creations of the post-World War II era. The style was both classic and modern and built to high standards. They were constructed from fine materials using the latest in technology and achieving minimal weight with a high degree of strength.

The 300 was built on a traditional body-on-frame construction as many other marquee's, including most of the Mercedes-Benz line, had switched to unit-body construction. The body-on-frame construction was ideal for maintaining a high level of quality for vehicles produced in limited quantities. The front end was suspended in place through the use of an independent suspension with A-arms and coil springs. The rear was the tried-and-true swing axle with coil springs.

Under the bonnet was a 2996-cc six-cylinder engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection that produced 175 horsepower. Considering the modest wheelbase size and the overall low weight of the vehicle, the 175 horsepower was more than enough to carry these custom-built vehicles at highway speeds with little effort. The car was fast, luxurious, safe, and comfortable.