1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 d Adenauer W189 Black

1961 Mercedes 300d “Adenauer”, Type W189
This is an excellent running example which has been well kept, but was stored for many years, and it took some shop time to get it up and going again. After rejuvenating the fuel tank, fuel pump and fuel lines, the drivetrain is now exceptionally smooth. It starts quickly and easily, and it idles nicely. The exhaust is louder than it should be – not enough to be oppressive, but the next owner will want to address this. The transmission shifts correctly and smoothly. Kick-downs occur properly at full throttle, and the anti-creep feature works.
This car goes down the road very smoothly and is impressively stable. It rides evenly and with supreme comfort. The chassis is amazingly stiff for a car with such a long wheelbase and no pillars. Steering is slow-geared (as befits a limousine), and is precise and accurate. My associate thinks the shocks might be considered weak, but to me they are just right for this sort of car. We heard no rattles, clunks or other noises that would indicate any worn out bushings or suspension components.
After long term storage, the brakes needed work. We rebuilt the front cylinders, replaced old brake hoses, and flushed with fresh DOT 3. The brake lines look good, and all the connections uncoupled and re-assembled easily. The brakes work well now, but with higher pedal pressure that may indicate a weak booster. The hand brake works great, and will hold the car on a hill.
The speedometer and odometer are not operating (cable is not turning). Please note: We filled-in eBay's template with the mileage recorded on the odo, which is not accurate. We do not know the actual mileage driven, though this car gives every indication of being a low-mile original.
The gas gauge works, though the low-fuel warning light stays lit all the time. The other gauges work, and there is an extra aftermarket tachometer installed down low on the dash (which we rather like). Other interior lighting all works, including the indicators, warning lights, glove box lamp and dome lamp. All exterior lighting works. as it should.
The body is in exceptional condition for an unrestored car. The steel panels are solid, with no apparent accident repair work or filler anywhere. There is a small rust patch inside the right rear dogleg (in the door jamb, see photo on link below), and there is rust-through is on the left-side longitudinal floor rail. This part is still available brand new from Mercedes-Benz Classic (“Side Rail” part# 1890100110), and it is a routine welding job to install. The trunk storage wells also show some typical rust. There is evidence of surface corrosion where the rear fender edges meet the body, at the plastic welting, and this has been cleaned and painted by the previous owner before it could get out of hand (again, see pictures). Overall, none of the corrosion looks really significant. The entire body is very clean, solid and has nice panel fit and tight shut lines. The massively strong frame is solid and the floor panels (save for the left side rail) are excellent. As a whole, the car is quite solid and straight. For the best look, please see all the pictures on the photo link provided below.
The interior is trimmed in cloth, which, along with the carpets, is in nice, clean condition. There are a few spots and stains here and there, and the pictures give a good representation of condition. The headliner is intact and secure. It has has some stains that may or may not come out, and some earing in the small fabric panels in the rear pillars. The main headliner fabric panels look quite good, and re-coloring them would work wonders.
The lavish wood trim is a mix of excellent older refinish on the dash top, door caps and arm rests, with a crackled patina in a darker finish across the lower instrument panel. Chrome on the dash is bright and clean, and the steering wheel looks fresh, with an excellent horn pad, chrome horn ring, and a nice leather cover that is smooth, grippy, and warm to the touch. Wood trim around the rear window (which commonly suffers ravages from condensation) looks very good, with no splits or warps.
The exterior presents well, but would take work to get up to show condition. The old paint is shiny and the body is straight, but there are scratches and small dents that are typical of an unrestored car. Condition of the chrome is a good match for the body: It's okay, but there is typical pitting on some of the cast pieces (like the tail lamps). The chrome on the bumpers and door handles is old and imperfect, or warm and patinated (depending on your perspective!) . Stainless steel moldings are nice, shiny and remarkably straight. Windshield is excellent. There are some scratches in the driver's door window from the window register, but in general the glass is excellent.