For sale is a 1936 Mercedes Benz 200 Cabriolet "C" short. This vehicle has been owned by a local family since 1980 and has been stored & unused in a heated garage since purchase. I am a new car dealer and acquaintance of the owners; however am not by any means an expert in pre-war Mercedes vehicles. Therefore I will attempt to describe to the best of my abilities but can certainly offer and encourage any prospective buyers to arrange for a personal inspection.

Vin Tag:  As evidenced from the pictures, the vin tag is affixed with flat head screws. In a search of similar Mercedes pre-war vehicles on the RM Auctions site, this appears to be consistent. If any of the information is not legible, it appears to be as follows:

Leistungs PS = 40

Hubraum (ccm) = 1949

Eigengewicht (kg) = 1320

Aufstrag Nr = 227992

Wagen u Motor Nr = 135194

Ownership/History:  There is a large file with letters and correspondence betwen prior owners ranging in topic from restoration details to specifics about transfer of ownership. A newpaper article which is included indicates that the vehicle was brought to the US by a serviceman and subsequently restored by his father Wally Bishop Sr. The father had made a name for himself as the creator of a comic strip, Muggs & Skeeter, which was a daily in NY Times; Wikipedia seems to confirm this reference.

The vehicle was sold in the early 1960s to a K. Bialynski in Rochester NY who did some research on the vehicle. The file includes an original letter from Daimler Benz AG which states that "your car was delivered to the Reichspropaganda Ministerium in Berlin" and "left the factory for Berlin on August 26, 1936." The letter further states that the price was 6400RM and that a total of only 105 (coupe and convertible) of the model were produced between 1933 and 1936.

The vehicle was subsequently sold to another individual in Buffalo and then in June of 1969 sold to an individual in Greensburg PA. The current family then purchased the vehicle in Feb 1980 and placed it into storage.

Although the file contains various communications between the varying owners, there is stricly speaking not a unrefutable chain of ownership to connect this vehicle to the letter from DB-AG. There are a number of details that appear to confirm this: the vehicle still wears the color change referenced in the 1950s newspaper article, the vintage reproduction repair manual (auf Deutsch) referenced in one of other letters from DB-AG is within the files, there is also the remains of a Nazi "fender flag" that was apparently left in the glovebox when originally transported to the US, etc. Given the relative obscurity of the vehicle, certainly at least in the US, and the documentation provided, I would believe that this vehicle in fact was delivered to the office of Dr. Joseph Goebbels. I will reserve judgement and comment on whether this enhances or detracts from the collectibility of this vehicle. 

Overall Vehicle Condition:  The vehicle was obviously restored at some point, presumaby in the 1950s as mentioned in the newspaper article, however at this point the vehicle will require a complete restoration. I was told the vehicle "ran when parked" like so many others; however, clearly will require investigation before attempting to operate. However, there are some positive aspects of its condition. Other than surface oxidation there appears to be no rust on the vehicle; the undercarriage and frame appear very solid. Also, in using a flashlight to look into the gas tank, the fuel tank appears to have been drained prior to storage. 

- Interior:  The interior appears to be complete and largely servicable. The only work we performed on the interior was a quick vaccuum and wiping down of the seats. From what I can tell the original gauges are in place as well as the wood dash & other wood trim, door handles, window cranks, rear grab handles, dome light, etc. The steering wheel is a bit corroded however and certainly the carpet would need to be replaced. The crank windows do operate as does the "safari" windshield. The seat material appears to be ~1950s style vinyl.

- Exterior:  The exterior appears to have a few modifications but, similar to the interior, is largely complete. The only work performed was to attempt to polish the chrome and buff the paint. Portions of the paint cleaned up very well; however there are imperfections, cracks, etc. Although the pictures look fairly presentable, the vehicle would need to be repainted. The chrome polished up fairly well and is presentable but certainly not show quality. The notable imperfections that I see are that a rear bumper bracket is incorrect, the main headlamp lenses were converted to more modern style and the front fender 'side markers' are not original to the vehicle. Two of the apparently original side markers are present; however the one is damaged. The convertible top is also quite old and brittle and is missing the the rear window; we have not tried to open which presumably will cause damage to the top. 

 - Mechanicals:  Again, to be clear, the vehicle will require a thorough restoration. The mechanicals, like the rest of the vehicle, appear to be largely complete. The vehicle is missing a battery and fuel pump. The only work we performed was to remove the top head, soak in oil overnight, and the engine turned freely. The vehicle turns, rolls and sort of stops. The tires hold air but certainly would not be roadworthy. 

Although certainly a project, this is a very rare vehicle with at least a somewhat interesting story behind it. I would welcome any questions and/or if anone wishes to inspect the vehicle prior to the auction close. The family has placed a reserve on the auction and I would prefer to let the auction run its course. 

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All vehicles are sold "as-is" and without warranty. Some vehicles will have factory warranty remaining (will be stated in our description). All cars come with one master key unless otherwise stated. Vehicles come with books and/or manuals only if pictured in photo gallery and/or if stated in the ad.

* We make every effort to present information that is accurate. However, it is based on data provided by the vehicle VIN decoding and/or other sources and therefore exact configuration, color, specifications & accessories should be used as a guide only and are not guaranteed. Under no circumstances will we be liable for any inaccuracies, claims or losses of any nature. Furthermore, inventory is subject to prior sale and prices are subject to change without notice. Prices do not include taxes, registration fees, finance and/or documentation charges, or shipping fees. To ensure your complete satisfaction, please verify accuracy prior to purchase.

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From the President of Sendell Motors:

Thank you for choosing Sendell Motors!!

Below is a short history of our company. I hope we will have the opportunity to serve your needs, whether looking to purchase a vehicle or for any parts and service needs. We have a great team of people who are dedicated to providing excellent customer service.

My grandfather, Edward W. Mohler, opened Mohler Motor Co, a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury store.  He sold and serviced cars, trucks and garden tractors in the downtown area of Greensburg, known as the "point".  After many years and changes, my father, William G. Mohler moved the business to Route 30, and started selling Buicks and later Renaults.

From the early 1970s I worked at the Buick dealership with my father.  In 1987, I decided to expand our operation and purchased the building and land at our current location.  The dealership that I acquired was called Sendell Motors.  The name stayed, and I moved the Buick franchise to the new location.  Since that time, the business has continued to change and expand many times, adding Oldsmobile in 1990, VW in 1993 and most recently Mitsubishi in 2001.

The main dealership was significantly remodeled in 2001, adding a dedicated VW showroom, doubling the service capacity and making significant improvements to the collision center. Also, in 2006 an additional 3 acres was purchased for new and used vehicle storage and a new showroom for Mitsubishi was completed.

With Sendell Motors, and the Mohler Motor Company prior, 4 generations of the Mohler family have been in the business of selling and servicing vehicles in Greensburg for more than 70 years. We look forward to serving our customers for many years to come!

Bill Mohler, President