1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 N Cabriolet A · beige / tabakbraun · 5.000 km · Manual · No reserve
1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 N Cabriolet A · beige / tabakbraun · 5.000 km · Manual · No reserve
Lot 079: 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 N Cabriolet A
W 142
When Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new Type 320 of the W142 series in the spring of 1937, Europe was still enjoying a deceptive calm. Dark political clouds were already gathering on the horizon, yet on the grand boulevards of the continent’s great capitals, elegance, comfort and refined motoring remained very much in fashion. It was precisely for this world that the new 320 had been created. Succeeding the successful Type 290, it neatly bridged the gap between Mercedes-Benz’s smaller six-cylinder models and the marque’s prestigious eight-cylinder automobiles.
Beneath its long bonnet lay a newly developed 3.2-litre inline six-cylinder engine. On paper, its 78 horsepower appeared modest, yet it was more than sufficient to propel the large Mercedes effortlessly along Germany’s still-young Autobahns. More important than outright performance was its remarkable refinement. The engine ran with scarcely a trace of vibration, giving the car precisely the sense of effortless authority expected of a Mercedes-Benz.
The W142 was equally advanced beneath the chassis. Its already proven fully independent suspension, working in conjunction with a rigid oval-tube frame, delivered an exceptional level of ride comfort. Long-distance journeys became considerably more relaxing, while the precise steering and carefully tuned suspension endowed the car with road manners that were remarkably secure by the standards of its day.
Few Mercedes-Benz model series were offered in such a wide variety of body styles. Alongside the conventional saloon, customers could choose from Cabriolet A, B and D versions, Pullman limousines and numerous special coachbuilt bodies. The open models in particular ranked among the most elegant German automobiles of their era. Outstanding craftsmanship, the finest materials and an almost limitless range of bespoke appointments ensured that no two cars were ever quite alike.
In 1938, the Type 320 underwent a comprehensive revision. The wheelbase was extended, engine output increased to 80 horsepower and numerous technical details were further refined. Externally, the car remained faithful to its elegant styling, while gaining an even more imposing presence. It is this later version that many enthusiasts regard as one of the most harmonious Mercedes-Benz designs of the pre-war period. Before passenger-car production was curtailed by the outbreak of war, a larger 3.4-litre engine was introduced in 1939, while power output remained unchanged.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, the civilian career of the Type 320 came to an abrupt end. Many examples were requisitioned by government authorities and the military, while production increasingly shifted towards wartime requirements. The W142 also served as the basis for a military Kübelwagen developed for the German armed forces. By the time production ceased in 1942, just over 7,000 examples had been built, around 5,100 of them for civilian customers. By later standards, that was a modest figure. Measured by its significance, however, it was anything but.
The W142 was neither the most spectacular nor the most expensive automobile of its time. It never needed to be. Its true strength lay in the perfect balance of elegance, technical sophistication and long-distance comfort. For that very reason, it remains one of the finest large Mercedes-Benz models of the pre-war era—an automobile that embodied the pinnacle of classic German grand touring, just before an entire age came to an end.
This Mercedes-Benz is part of the Sammlung Sonderklasse, one of the largest private Mercedes-Benz collections in Europe. The entire collection will be auctioned from 5 to 7 November 2026 in Feldkirchen an der Donau, Austria. All 83 cars are offered without reserve.
The collection also includes around 1,000 automobilia items and several fully furnished rooms, which will be auctioned on 6 and 7 November by Ni-Cola Classics. Please note that if you want to bid on automobilia, you must register in advance at nicola-ac.de. You can also view all lots at https://auction.nicola-ac.de/
The car auction starts on Saturday 7 November at 14:00, and you can bid in person or online. The cars can be viewed on Thursday 5 November from 10:00 to 18:00. Please note that if you want to bid on this car, you must register in advance with Humer Granner at https://hg.auction/auktionen/auktion-november-2026/.
You can order the catalogue at metropole-auction.com. It also serves as your admission ticket for two people. The catalogue does not replace registration with the auction house.
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