Description
This car is Lot 111 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at The Bond St Sale on Thursday December 11th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Wednesday December 10th from 13:00 until 20:00, and Thursday Dcember 11th from 09:00 at 101 New Bond St.
Lot 111
The ex-Peter Ustinov
1928 Mercedes-Benz 36/ 220 S-Type Four Seater Sports Tourer
Registration no. YX 5964
Chassis no. 35952
Delivered new to the UK
Owned by Peter Ustinov from the early 1950s to the mid 1970s
Gifted by Ustinov to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
Believed last used in 1987
Offered for restoration
"The S model, the masterpiece of Professor Ferdinand Porsche during his time at Daimler-Benz, and its derivatives are among the cars of the century which still fascinate us to this day. One reason for this is their sheer size, the result solely of the massive size of the engine with its 6, 800cc capacity, which was increased to 7, 065cc from the SS onwards.
"Their type codes mark their journey into legend and are themselves already legends. S for Sport, SS (from 1928) for Super Sport, SSK (also from 1929) for Super Sport Kurz (Short)... SSKL (from 1931 onwards) for Super Sport Kurz Leicht (Short Light)..." - Mercedes, Rainer W Schlegelmilch & Hartmut Lehbrink.
At the end of the First World War, both Daimler and Benz went back to producing cars. Trading conditions in the early 1920s though, were extremely difficult: the War had left Germany's economy in ruins and there was rampant inflation. Of the 86 German car factories operating in 1924, only 19 were in existence three years later. If the two great rivals were to survive, it would have to be in partnership. On 1st July 1926, Daimler and Benz completed their merger, the two companies having paved the way with a technical co-operation agreement in 1924. By this time, Paul Daimler, founder Gottlieb's son and the company's Chief Engineer, had moved to Horch, his place being taken by Professor Ferdinand Porsche. Like his predecessor, Porsche was an advocate of forced induction, and although he would leave Daimler-Benz in 1928, his legacy was a range of supercharged Mercedes cars that are the stuff of legend.
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft had introduced the world's first supercharged production cars, the 6/ 25/ 40hp and 10/ 40/ 65hp four-cylinder models, at the 1921 Berlin Automobile Show. (The three figures refer to nominal rated horsepower, horsepower un-blown and horsepower with blower engaged respectively.) On his arrival early in 1923, Porsche busied himself further developing the blown four and eight-cylinder racers designed by Paul Daimler, and the 15/ 70/ 100hp and 24/ 100/ 140hp supercharged, six-cylinder, production models that would debut at the Berlin Automobile Show in 1924. After the 1926 merger these were re-classified as types 400 and 630. That same year a 'K' (Kurz - Short) version became available for the first time, on a wheelbase reduced from 3, 759cm to 3, 403. 6cm.
The Type 680 26/ 120/ 180 Model S made its winning debut at the Nürburgring's opening meeting on 19th June 1927, the two works cars entered being driven by Adolf Rosenberger and the legendary Rudolf Caracciola, with victory going to the latter. It would be the first of many victories for the Model S. The model represented a major advance on the 630K, featuring a new lower chassis whose front and rear elements were swept up over the axles, and a more powerful 6. 8-litre engine. The UK designation was 36/ 220. In the autumn of 1927 the 36/ 220 Model S production version was announced, replacing the 33/ 180 K. Although the Mercedes was in a class of its own, it and its competitors faced an uphill struggle for sales as the Depression took hold and only 174 of these remarkable cars had been built when production ended in 1930.
This car, chassis number '35952', was formerly owned by the late Peter Ustinov (1921-2004), the much-loved British actor, raconteur and humanitarian. '35952' was ordered on 31st May 1928 by British Mercedes Ltd and sold new to Mr A W Dowding (see copies of factory order book entries and letter from Daimler-Benz on file). The car was ordered without a body for completion in the UK, although the original coachbuilder is not known. Subsequent owners are likewise unknown until the car's acquisition in 1950 by a gentleman from Little Paxton, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, who is listed as owner in an old-style logbook. According to Mercedes-Benz Club correspondence on file, he later sold the car in September 1950 and it was acquired by Peter Ustinov in June 1951. However, there is other correspondence on file that offers alternative ownership histories prior to Peter Ustinov's acquisition.
Loaned to the National Motor Museum Trust in early 1973, at which time it carried a home-made two-seater body, the Mercedes had been on show since 1955 in the old Montagu Motor Museum.
In the mid 1970s Peter Ustinov donated the Mercedes to the recently created National Motor Museum Trust. Subsequently the NMM restored the car in time for Lord Montagu to drive it in the FIVA International Rally of 1986 celebrating the Centenary of the Motor Car. The following year the Mercedes was entered for Lord Montagu to drive in the 60th Anniversary running of the Mille Miglia (competitor number '24'); it is believed that this is the last time it ran.
The aforementioned restoration included a new reproduction four-seater tourer body by Rod Jolly of East Boldre. The body is a copy of one pictured in the book The Car of Kings by Herbert Lozier but is wrong for the chassis. The car in the book is a long chassis example whereas this car has the short chassis. As a result, the rear door opening is tiny and the padding has had to be removed from the driver's seat and the phaeton cowl cut back, because it was impossible to get behind the steering wheel.
A recent condition report reveals that various works had to be rushed in order to get the Mercedes ready for the 1987 Mille Miglia. As a result, the engine never received the full rebuild it needed and this omission will need to be rectified by the next owner. The engine starts and runs but there is no measurable oil pressure.
The bulkhead has never been fitted correctly as it was rushed for the Mille Miglia, while the running boards are only loosely attached for the same reason. The gear selections are very tight but this is only because new internals were made post-event. The wiring harness was not fitted, the electrics merely being wired to make them usable. The fuel tank and fuel system will need a clean out. Operation of the starter motor is hit-and-miss and it does not perform correctly.
Offered with a comprehensive history file, this wonderful example of Mercedes-Benz's 1920s supercar, formerly owned by one of the foremost stage and screen actors of his generation, richly deserves to be returned to its former glory by an enthusiastic new owner. A potentially most rewarding project.
The National Motor Museum has completed a rigorous vehicle review process prompted by its plans to significantly enhance and update displays, which was aligned with its Collections Development Policy and guided by the Museums Association Code of Ethics and Disposal Toolkit.
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All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
