Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 300 › 300 c long wheelbase (W 186) · Rare specification · 1956–1957 Extremely Rare

Mercedes-Benz
300 c long wheelbase (W 186)

Long-wheelbase 300 c saloon for chauffeur use.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · MERCEDES-BENZ 300 C LONG WHEELBASE (W 186) 1956–1957
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
62BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
62 Built
Years
1956–1957
Engine
front-mounted, longitudinal inline six · 2,996 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,996 cc
Power
93.2 kW / 127 PSFactory: 125 hp · converted
Top speed
160 km/hFactory: 160 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The long-wheelbase 300 c was a special version of the saloon made for the federal chancellor's office after Konrad Adenauer asked for more space. It entered the regular sales programme in June 1956. The body was lengthened by 100 mm and the rear seats were moved back, which added 140 mm of rear legroom. The factory archive counts 62 saloons.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityExtremely Rare 62 · Built1,2
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productionlong-wheelbase saloons 621,2 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The archive gives production from May 1956 to July 1957. The special design became part of the regular programme in June 1956 and the first cars were delivered in August 1956. Sliding roof and partition wall could be specified as on the short 300 c, and the list price in June 1956 was DM 25,000 with the manual gearbox and DM 26,500 with the automatic.

The Ponton-focused club site records that Adenauer used six different 300 models during his time in office. The long wheelbase of this version became standard on the following 300 d (W 189), which used a wheelbase of 3150 mm.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 300 c long wheelbase (W 186).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 186 II / 186.920, with automatic transmission: 186.9211
Layoutfront-mounted, longitudinal inline six1Source: Configuration "front, longitudinal; vertical"; cylinders "6 / in-line".
Cylinders61
Displacement 2,996 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,996 cc1Tax classification: 2975 cc.
Bore 85 mmFactory: 85 mm1
Stroke 88 mmFactory: 88 mm1
Compression ratio7.4 - 7/51Value as printed in the source.
Valvetrain1 overhead camshaft; camshaft drive: double roller chain1
Fuel system2 Solex 32 PAIAT compound downdraught carburettors with automatic choke1
Power 93.2 kW / 127 PSFactory: 125 hp · converted1Rating: manufacturer
Power at 4,500 rpm1
Torque 221 Nm / 22.5 kgmFactory: 22.5 kgm1Source unit is "mkg".
Torque at 2,600 rpm1

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed manual transmission (change-speed gear)1
Gears41
Gear ratiosI. 3.44; II. 2.30; III. 1.53; IV. 1.0; R. 3.081
Final drive4.671
Driven wheelsrear wheels1

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassiscruciform oval-tube frame with centre reinforcement1
Front suspensiondouble wishbone; coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser1
Rear suspensionsingle-joint swing axle; double coil springs, electrically engageable torsion-bar suspension1
Brakeshydraulic, with vacuum booster, acting on front- and rear wheels; four-wheel drum brakes1
Steeringrecirculating-ball steering1
Body constructionsteel unit body1
WheelbaseNot yet verified
Length 5,155 mmFactory: 5,155 mm1
Width 1,838 mmFactory: 1,838 mm1
Height 1,600 mmFactory: 1,600 mm1
Front track 1,480 mmFactory: 1,480 mm1
Rear track 1,525 mmFactory: 1,525 mm1
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 160 km/hFactory: 160 km/h1
0–100 km/h 17 s1
Fuel tank 72 LFactory: 72 L1
Fuel consumption 12.5 L/100kmFactory: 12.5 L/100km1Mercedes-Benz archive figure in litres per 100 km: 12.5 l (DIN 70030: at 3/4 of top speed, not more than 110 km/h, plus 10 %)

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The factory type is 186.016, or 186.017 with sliding roof (design name W 186 IV). The overall length is 5155 mm, which is 100 mm more than the 5055 mm of the short 300 c, and the rear seats sit 40 mm further back. Engine and running gear are those of the 300 c: M 186 II (186.920, or 186.921 with automatic gearbox), 2996 cc, 125 hp, single-joint swing axle, 5 1/2 K x 15 rims. Note that the archive page prints a wheelbase of 3050 mm, the same as the short car, which does not agree with the 100 mm extension described in the series text, so no wheelbase is recorded here.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    300 c long wheelbase / W 186 IV, 1956 - 1957 Level A Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • Units produced : 62
    • Engine type : M 186 II / 186.920, with automatic transmission: 186.921 (Specifications)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 6 / in-line (Specifications)
    • Total displacement : 2996 cc (tax classification: 2975 cc) (Specifications)
    • Bore x Stroke : 85 x 88 mm (Specifications)
    • Compression ratio : 7.4 - 7/5 (Specifications)
    • Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft (Specifications)
    • Fuel system : 2 Solex 32 PAIAT compound downdraught carburettors with automatic choke (Specifications)
    • Rated output : 125 hp at 4500 rpm (Specifications)
    • Rated torque : 22.5 mkg at 2600 rpm (Specifications)
    • Gearing : 4-speed manual transmission (Specifications)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.44; II. 2.30; III. 1.53; IV. 1.0; R. 3.08 (Specifications)
    • Final drive ratio : 4.67 (Specifications)
    • Driven wheels : rear wheels (Specifications)
    • Frame design : cruciform oval-tube frame with centre reinforcement / steel unit body (Specifications)
    • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Specifications)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : single-joint swing axle (Specifications)
    • Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic, with vacuum booster, acting on front- and rear wheels; (Specifications)
    • Steering : recirculating-ball steering (Specifications)
    • Length : 5155 mm (Specifications)
    • Width : 1838 mm (Specifications)
    • Height : 1600 mm (Specifications)
    • Front / rear track : 1480 / 1525 mm (Specifications)
    • Maximum speed : 160 km/h (Specifications)
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 17 s (Specifications)
    • Fuel tank: position / capacity : in the rear / 72 l (Specifications)
    • Fuel consumption : 12.5 l (Specifications)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – 300 c long wheelbase Level A
    • 62 long-wheelbase saloons
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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