Chassis No. 180.030.8518164
Engine No. 180.924.Z.8504444

Mercedes returned to its position as the leading German luxury car manufacturer following World War II and, as such, it was only natural for a luxurious two-door convertible to be found on the model range. With a lavish price to match its level of appointment when new, only a scant few individuals were able to enjoy what the car had to offer, as only 2,178 examples were ever produced.

According to a copy of its Data Card, this 220 S Cabriolet was completed on 15 December 1958 in Medium Blue over Light Blue Metallic. The car was reportedly purchased by Jesse Torregrossa of East Dorst, Vermont. Under her care for the next 25 years, the late Clayton Durgin purchased the car on 1 April 1983 for $5,600. Durgin earned a degree in engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and applied the same skill and enthusiasm learned at Bausch & Lomb and General Electric to the Mercedes-Benz he collected, restored, and showed.

After his acquisition of the cabriolet, Mr. Durgin kept a handwritten ledger noting the date and total cost of the restoration process. Progress was slow initially but increased following his retirement from General Dynamics in 1990. While a great deal of work was completed by himself, the refinishing of the bodywork in its original specification of Medium Blue (350) over a Light Blue Metallic (353) was handled by Warren Wolf of Royal Coachworks of Burlington, Vermont, a shop whose impeccable work had previously earned them First in Class at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The beautiful two-tone lacquer paint and color-coordinated dark blue Haartz soft top pair wonderfully with the red leather interior and extensive interior wood trim work.

As it stands today, the car remains in splendid condition, a testament not only to the careful use and storage but also to the quality of work performed by Mr. Durgin. The car comes complete with numerous period photographs from Mr. Durgin, receipts, and even paint samples requested from Mercedes-Benz to match the original livery, all meticulously recorded in the detailed handwritten ledger. This 1958 Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet is likely one of the finest examples currently available, with minimal effort needed to return the car to award-winning eligibility.