A 1928 Mercedes-Benz S-Type, one of just 174 examples built, is expected to draw as much as $2.3 million when it crosses the block at Bonhams’ Bond Street Sale. The car represents one of the earliest milestones in Mercedes-Benz history and carries a layered story that ties together motorsport engineering, celebrity ownership and decades of museum preservation.
Introduced in 1927, the S-Type was born during the early years of the Mercedes-Benz name and shaped under the direction of Ferdinand Porsche while he served as Daimler’s chief engineer. Designed as a competition-focused machine, the S-Type quickly built a reputation after winning at the Nürburgring’s inaugural race in 1927. In the United Kingdom, the model was designated as the 36/220, highlighting its 6.8-liter supercharged six-cylinder engine capable of producing up to 180 horsepower.
The example being offered, chassis No. 35952, is a Four-Seater Sports Tourer delivered new in 1928. Its early ownership record points to AW Dowding, though little is known about its coachwork or the vehicle’s path until actor Peter Ustinov acquired it in 1951. Ustinov later placed the car on public display, first at England’s Montagu Motor Museum in 1955 and then at the National Motor Museum beginning in 1973, where it remained for nearly half a century.
During its museum tenure, the car underwent a significant refurbishment to prepare it for road events in the 1980s. The restoration replaced an earlier two-seat body with a newly built four-seat configuration and made the car serviceable for rallies in 1986 and 1987. Those efforts, however, left several elements unfinished, including loosely secured running boards, an improperly fitted bulkhead and incomplete wiring.
After roughly 40 years off the road, the car now requires extensive mechanical and structural work, making it a project suited for a dedicated enthusiast. Its long absence from the public market and its connection to automotive history help explain the strong estimate. Bonhams notes this is the first time in more than seven decades that the S-Type has been available for private ownership, adding further weight to a rare opportunity for collectors.
Via Bonhams|Cars
Shawn Henry