Some call it the Maybach of its day
Built under the W189 codename, the Mercedes-Benz 300d Adenauer stood out as the carmaker's flagship between 1957 and 1962.
Sales brochures mentioned it under the Type 300d name, and despite being way more affordable than the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, the Merc offered better performance (180 hp, compared to the RR's 155 hp output) and due to the advanced technology borrowed from the 300 SL Gullwing, it was widely considered a driver's car.
The Adenauer label was attached after Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany commissioned six custom cabriolet, hardtop saloon, and landaulet versions of the W189 for parade purposes.
The model currently under auction on Bring a Trailer is not only in almost-mint condition but also said to drive "better than some other contemporary luxury cars and rides very nicely," according to the seller.
Fitted with a 3.0-liter in-line six plant, this 1959 Type 300d also features a four-speed manual, Bosch fuel injection, and a stock wood-adorned interior.
At the time of writing, the current offer stands at $23,817, with four days left before bidding is closed.