Mercedes-Benz 170 V

The 170 V was Mercedes-Benz's best seller of the late 1930s, with more than 75,000 built between 1936 and 1942. This 1938 car is a largely untouched example of the front-engined W136, powered by the 1,697cc side-valve four-cylinder and a four-speed synchromesh manual gearbox driving the rear wheels.

It sits in Padova, Italy, as part of a collection of cars restored by its former owner, an engineer and enthusiast who bought it in 1982. It has not changed hands since. The paint and interior are described as patinated rather than refreshed, and the car has been used only sparingly in that time. It has never been registered for road use in Italy.

The car has stood for some years and will need light recommissioning before it returns to the road. The battery has been disconnected, the carburettor covered and the exhaust capped. The original Eigentumsbescheinigung (certificate of ownership) and a customs document of the period remain with it. The page shows the price in euros, marked as accepted, which suggests an offer has been agreed.