1938 MERCEDES 230 Cabriolet B

No reserve Historical model of the brand Most attractive version of the Type 230 Nice condition, mechanics to be restored American registration title Customs cleared vehicle Chassis n° 5186384 Engine n° 429871 The sales of its luxury models having been hard hit by the depression which followed the Wall Street crash in 1929, the Mercedes-Benz brand, born only three years before and already renowned for its technical excellence and its luxury cars, is looking to relaunch itself by establishing itself on the niche of mid-range family cars. Thus, under the code W143, the Type 230 was created by Hans Nibel, one of the most gifted automotive engineers of his generation. Following his death in November 1934, Max Sailer, a factory driver and head of the brand’s racing division, took over the design office and ensured the development of a new range, which made its debut in February 1937 at the Berlin Motor Show. The Type 230 was to represent the bulk of Mercedes-Benz production during the difficult years of the mid1930s. It followed Nibel’s chassis design, with a box-section frame, and featured a four-wheel independent suspension and hydraulically assisted drum brakes that set new standards for driving comfort and safety. The Type 230 is powered by Mercedes’ 2229cc inline 6-cylinder engine (hence the name) developing 55 hp, which takes the car to a top speed of 115 km/h. The model would be offered in a wide variety of body styles, from two and four-door sedans to six-seat Pullmans. Two different types of chassis were used: box-section for the long wheelbase sedans and limousines allowing for more spacious bodies and a more elegant, upscale look, and oval tube frame for short wheelbase cars. Mercedes-Benz will also offer three convertibles: the two-door/three-seat A, the two-door/four-seat B (which is the model we are interested in) and the four-door/four-seat D. The model will evolve over time and will feature a more raked grille, as well as rounder and more wraparound front fenders that will improve its aerodynamics. While the four-speed transmissions of the first models were only synchronized in the first two gears, subsequent versions will receive fully synchronized transmissions. Competitively priced for a 6-cylinder engine car, compact and economical, and built to the high standards of the brand, the Type 230 met market requirements and would be produced in 24,500 units, all versions combined, before production was halted in 1939. The documentation we have at our disposal shows an American title issued in Pennsylvania dated on the 2nd of June 1988 in the name of Mr. Eric Lamerand, living in Tourcoing. This Type 230 Cabriolet B was then brought back to France, cleared through customs in Roubaix on the 21th of April 1989, and sold at auction on the 8th of December of the same year by the Poulain - Le Fur auction house. The chassis and engine numbers match, and if the car looks good (paint and interior redone), the engine appears blocked, and the hydraulic system (clutch and brakes partly dismantled).