1939 Mercedes-Benz 230B Cabriolet

[Bill Wood]

Car: 1939 Mercedes-Benz 230B Cabriolet
Owner: John Hove
From: Jacksonville, FL

This Mercedes-Benz model is the first all steel body placed in series production. It has a straight 6-cylinder producing 55 ps (horsepower). Equipped with central lubrication operated through a pedal. Manual oil filter that turns every time the clutch pedal is pressed. The MB factory’s chassis code or Wagen number is W153. It replaced the wood framed W143. This particular car was shipped from the Stutgart factory in April 1940 to a dealer in Malmo, Sweden. Later sold to a Dentist in June 1940. Three months later the car had to be mothballed for three years due to the war. The second owner bought the car in 1952 and fitted a heater then available. He drove the car to 1963 when it was stored away. It was dismantled in 1976 but restoration never got started. Present owner bought the disassembled car in 1986 and concluded a complete frame up restoration in 1988. Imported to the USA in 1991 with its owner’s move.
The car has original interior red leather, instrumentation and wood trim as well as the Sekurit glass. The engine and gearbox are original, but restored. It also has the original fitted luggage, rubber trunk mat and tool kits. The original first registration documents from 1940 are also still with the car.
It is a multiple street class Concours winner in events such as National MBNA and Amelia Island. Only another three cars of the same body model are known to exist in the world.









Photos by Bill Wood
2000 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Nikon 900S
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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 03-18-2000).]