Sweden is currently celebrating that King Carl XVI Gustaf has been 50 years on the throne.
The same year as he was crowned, 1973, a black Mercedes 280 S was delivered to the Royal Stables and then used for his first tour of the country.
This royal Mercedes is now up for bidding at Bilweb Auctions.
When the car was delivered on 2 March 1973, Gustaf IV Adolf was still king, which makes it possible that he used it during his last six months on the throne.
It was a sparingly equipped Mercedes 280 S that the Royal Stables had ordered: the inline six with a Solex carb, checkered cloth upholstery, no AC, steel rims with hubcaps. Maybe the Crown Equerry was on a tight budget this year?
Or did he just have to accept what Mercedes could deliver, since this new model - W116 in Mercedes language - had been in production for only six months?
The black 280 S was owned by the Royal Stables up until 1979. It would be exciting for a new owner to find out the details of its royal duties during these years. Which dignitaries has been sitting in the rear seat?
The service records shows regular maintenance up until 1983 and 160 000 kilometers - for an unknown reason it was taken to a Mercedes garage 450 kilometers from Stockholm - but presently this royal automobile needs a bit more care than a regular service.
”A rolling restoration object” is how Peter Sundfeldt, valuer at Bilweb Auction, describes the car. The latest MOT was done in 2010, the paint is worn with touch-ups and some rust and the cloth on the driver’s seat has been ripped. The rest of the seats, however, are in a good shape och should mainly need a thorough clean-up.
The car is driveable, but has only been driven a short distance before the auction.
Nevertheless should the royal provenience be a convincing incentive to undertake a restoration to show condition. The solid supply of spares for this classic Mercedes model facilitates the project substantially.
Bilweb Auctions has estimated the value of this royal car to between 120 000 and 150 000 SEK. The auction closes on 28 September.
