1931 Mercedes-Benz 10/50PS Stuttgart 260

1931 Mercedes-Benz 10/50PS Stuttgart 260

From the time of the merger of Daimler and Benz in 1926 until the advent of technical director Hans Nibel's advanced 170 in 1931, it was the Stuttgart in its various forms that comprised the bulk of Mercedes-Benz production.

Built in 2.0-litre (200) and 2.6-litre (260) forms, the Stuttgart was a well-engineered if rather conventional car that represented the last of the old technology rather than the first of the new. A six-cylinder sidevalve engine provided the power, while the channel-section chassis featured live axles and mechanical brakes. The gearbox was a three-speed unit with floor change (four speeds on the 260), the radiator was flat-fronted, and the steel wheels were of the artillery type. Top speed of the 260 was in the region of 90km/h. Body styles on offer included a saloon, roadster, tourer and three cabriolets (A, B, and C) while the chassis was available separately for bodying by independent coachbuilders. Total production of the Stuttgart 200/260 models had amounted to a little over 13,000 cars when they were dropped in 1933.

This stylish Stuttgart roadster is just the sort of model that would have appealed to the sportingly inclined Mercedes-Benz customer. Unfortunately, nothing is know of its early history. Finished in two-tone red/black with black interior, the car was restored between circa 1998 and 2005 .

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & mercedes-benz-publicarchive