“It’s only original once” – it truly applies to this 1955 Mercedes 300 “Adenauer.”
Saved from both the gnawing tooth of time and the hands of heavy-handed restorers, it is a dream for the Mercedes enthusiast who desires an untouched car.
Niklasson’s Biltjänst in the small town of Vissefjärda, Småland, had been selling cars since 1945, and over the years the founder, Lennart Niklasson, gathered a number of interesting vehicles.
In 1973 he purchased this mighty Mercedes 300, whose early history still remains to be uncovered with the help of the Swedish National Archives.
The first owner is believed to have been a landowner in Skåne – quite plausible, since a 300 in the 1950s cost at least twice as much as a Cadillac.
When the model was launched in 1951 it became a symbol of Mercedes’ rebirth as a luxury car manufacturer after the Second World War. In the same way, Konrad Adenauer, Federal Chancellor throughout the 1950s, became a symbol of Germany’s reconstruction. He went through no fewer than six Mercedes 300s during his years in office and became so closely associated with the model that it was popularly nicknamed the “Adenauer.”
Back in Vissefjärda, Lennart Niklasson had the straight six 3-liter engine of his Mercedes rebuilt, but otherwise the car saw very little use.
“It was started once a year and driven around the workshop, but that was about it,” recalls Nils-Olof Niklasson, Lennart’s son.
“That’s also why it has survived so well – not least from ending up in the wrong hands.”
Now, after more than 50 years of slumber, the Adenauer awaits a gentle awakening: a technical overhaul, some polishing and general care. All indications suggest that the paint is the same as when it left the factory, as are the upholstery, wood inlays and chrome.
It does bear some blemishes – but only at a level that reinforces the car’s soul and authenticity.
“It’s only original once!”
Bilweb Auctions has valued the car at between SEK 420,000 and 450,000. The auction closes on September 11.
To the auction: https://bilwebauctions.se/en/septemberauktion-2-2025/mercedes-benz-300-adenauer-w186-54325
