1950 Mercedes-Benz W191 & W136

This 1950 Mercedes-Benz 170 S is one of approximately 830 examples built with Cabriolet A coachwork during three years of production and was reportedly delivered new in Germany before spending time in California. The car is said to have undergone a refurbishment that was completed in 2019 before being purchased from a German owner by Texas collector Paul Andrews, with whom it remained until his 2021 passing. It was then purchased by its current owner and received further freshening of the paintwork, after which it won class awards and the 2022 Cavallino Classics and Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance as well as at the 2023 Cavallino Classic. Finished in black over red leather, the car is powered by a 1,767cc L-head inline-four mated to a floor-shifted four-speed manual transmission. Equipment also includes a single Solex downdraft carburetor, coil-spring suspension with a double-wishbone front setup and a swing-axle rear assembly, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, body-color steel wheels, a black convertible top, and a Becker radio. This W136 cabriolet is now offered by the current owner’s dealership with awards from its concours victories and a clean Florida title. The 170 S model debuted in May 1949 at the Hannover Technical Export Fair alongside the more utilitarian 170 D as the first new passenger car models introduced by Mercedes-Benz following World War II. The underpinnings of the 170 S were derived from those of the 170 V, but with a more powerful variant of the engine, a coil-sprung wishbone front suspension, and a roomier body with styling based on the pre-war 230 luxury model. The 170 S was offered in three body styles, the highest-priced and most-luxuriously appointed of which was the two-seat Convertible A. This example is finished in black (040) and underwent a refurbishment under previous ownership, while additional work performed one month ago is said to have included repaints of the doors and trunk lid. Design elements include rear-hinged doors, bright shoulder-line trim, bumper guards at front and rear, fender-mounted headlights, front fog lamps, trafficators, and a black convertible top with hinged landau bars. Body-color steel wheels are appointed with chrome hubcaps and beauty rings and are wrapped in 6.40-15 Firestone Deluxe Champion wide-whitewall tires, while a spare is housed under a cover in the trunk. Braking is handled by hydraulic drum brakes all around. The cabin is trimmed in red leather over seating for two as well as over a fold-down occasional seat. Matching upholstery covers the door panels, dash, and rear side panels, while color-keyed carpeting lines the floors and trunk. Features include burl wood door caps, black floor mats bound in red, roll-up windows, and door pockets with chrome handles. The three-spoke steering wheel hosts a chrome horn ring and sits ahead of VDO instrumentation including a 160-km/h speedometer, a clock, and a combination gauge monitoring oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 210 kilometers (~130 miles), approximately three of which have been added under current ownership. A Becker radio with a burl wood bezel is situated to the driver’s right beneath a matching upper dash that hosts an ashtray and cigar lighter. The 1,767cc M136 inline-four is a higher-displacement derivative of the powerplant used in the 170 V and features a detachable aluminum cylinder head and a downdraft Solex carburetor. Output was factory rated at 52 horsepower and 82 ft-lb of torque. Service performed eight months ago is said to have included an oil change, replacement of the fuel pump, and a reseal of the fuel tank. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an all-synchromesh four-speed manual transmission. Coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers are utilized as part of both the rear swing axle and the double-wishbone front setup, the latter of which incorporates an anti-roll bar.