1953 Mercedes 300 S Coupe #26364

1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Coupe: One of 216 Produced

A remarkably preserved example of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship post-war grand tourer, this 1953 300 S Coupé is accompanied by exceptional documentation tracing its history from Germany in the 1950s through more than six decades of single-family ownership in the United States. Originally finished in green with matching interior, it was later refinished in silver. The car survives in largely untouched condition.

Period workshop invoices document service in Hamburg, Hannover, and Nuremberg through 1959. On 13 May 1963, the Mercedes arrived on Mercer Island, Washington, where it was acquired by Dr. Wallace Nelson, a decorated wartime veteran, distinguished neurologist, and lifelong collector of exceptional automobiles. Family records, including his wife’s diary, document the car’s arrival: Dr. Nelson left home in an Oldsmobile convertible and returned in the elegant Mercedes. After a celebratory drive, he reportedly decided the 300 S was “too special to drive.” He soon placed it in storage, where it has remained since 1964.

Produced in an edition of just 216 Coupés, the 300 S combined sophisticated engineering with understated coachbuilt elegance and represented Mercedes-Benz’s return to the upper reaches of the luxury touring market. With documented European history, single-family U. S. ownership since 1963, more than six decades of storage, and comprehensive records, this 300 S offers a rare combination of authenticity, provenance, and preservation.

One of only 216 300 S Coupés produced

Single-family ownership in the United States since 1963

Remarkably preserved after more than six decades in storage

Accompanied by original period German service records

An exceptionally original example of Mercedes-Benz's premier post-war grand touring model

Price: $279, 500