1955 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet

Having resumed production in 1946 with the 170 in unchanged, pre-WWII form, Mercedes-Benz introduced its first all-new designs of the post-war era-the 220 and 300-at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1951. While the 220 was an advance on the 170, the 300 re-established Mercedes-Benz in the front rank of prestige car manufacturers, marking as it did a return to the marque's tradition of building high-performance luxury automobiles of the finest quality. The 300's oval-tube chassis followed the lines of the 170S and 220, with independent suspension all around and four-wheel drum brakes, but incorporated the added refinements of hypoid bevel final drive, dynamically balanced wheels, and remote electrical control of the rear suspension ride height.

The conservatively styled sedan was soon joined by the 300S (Super), a model that succeeded in recapturing the elegance of the prewar 540K. Built in coupe and Cabriolet forms on a shortened 300 sedan chassis, the 300S...