Quote:
Originally Posted by RWebb
wow - what model year is it?
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DON MINKOFF
1956 300S Coupe Story
It was 1962 and my father Donald Minkoff was a salesman for General Mills products and called on grocery stores in the Los Angeles area. He would from time to time see a 1956 300S coupe at the dealership and just fell in love with the car. Once he found out the price of the car his dream of someday owning one seemed impossible. It might as well have been a million dollars. But he still dreamed one day of owning a 300S.
The 300S was the ultimate car, fast, very affordable (to some), road able for sporting moods, yet elegant enough for more luxurious events. The 300S was built to order only. You could either order a cabriolet, coupe or roadster. Notable owner’s of these models were, The King of Jordan, The Prime Minister of Thailand, Lord Rosebury of England, Prince Alphonso of Hohenlohe, Gary Cooper and Bing Crosby.
The 300S was completely hand built with over 1,000 highly skilled man hours applied to each and every car. All components were hand fitted to each car and each piece bore an individual stamped identification number. In seven years of production (1951-1958) Mercedes Benz built only 760 300S automobiles. Of these, only 200 were the 300SC model, the “C” designating fuel injection and only 98 were coupes. Roughly 60% of all Mercedes Benz 300SC’s have survived.
My father, realized his dream in 1972 a decade after seeing his first 300SC. A real estate developer he purchased one for $3,100.00 with 100,000 miles on it and in need of restoration. Over the next 6 years myself, my father and many highly skilled craftsmen restored it to show condition. We were still assembling the car the night before it was to be trailered to the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegence. The year was 1978 and it was my father’s first time showing the car at this prestigious show. Miraculously the car won 1st place in class and was chosen as one of the 10 most elegant cars.
Over the years my father has acquired many other Mercedes, including a 1957 300SL Gullwing and a 1960 220SE cabriolet.
My father passed away in September of 2010 and I am keeping his legacy alive by looking after his most prized possessions.