Chassis No. 96474

Engine No. 19190

Body No. 807207

The Mercedes-Benz 170, introduced at the 1931 Paris Motor Show by technical director Dr. Hans Nibel, was designed to offer both quality and affordability in equal measure during the global economic crisis. Priced at RM 4.400, it was nearly RM 1.600 cheaper than previous models yet featured advanced engineering like independently sprung front and rear wheels and a six-cylinder engine. Initially offered as a four-door saloon and Convertible C, a sporty two-seater Roadster was added in 1932. The Roadster was designed for racing and touring, including a foldable chrome-framed windshield with electric wipers, a convertible top with weather cover, and rear space for luggage or two extra passengers.

A copy of its original commission sheet shows that the car was ordered by a factory owner Paul A. Gütermann of Freiburg, Germany, on 4 December 1933 with delivery through the official Mercedes-Benz dealership in Freiburg. It is unknown how long Güterman owned the car, but by 1984, the car was in the care of enthusiast Dr. Wulf Liestmann of Duisburg, Germany. Photos from 1984 show the car in its current livery of two-tone blue and grey being used on a rally with the Mercedes-Benz Veterans Club Germany (MVC) that primarily focuses on pre-war cars. Furthermore, the Roadster featured on the cover of a 1999 issue of MVC magazine MVC Depesche, selected as an attractive reference model for the marque. The car remained in his care until it was sold to a collector based in Portugal in 1999. From there, the car changed hands in 2013, with the current owner later acquiring the car in 2017.

Rarely seen today, this sporting Roadster remains a charming example of early German motoring. It provides the ideal entry point to the Mercedes-Benz Veterans Club and to the Mercedes marquee, just like it offered to buyers when it was new.