bugnbox

Took the Rometsch 320 out to the San Marino Motor Classic. It drove on and off the field under its own power and was very well received by the crowd!

Some updates on my 1940 Mercedes. The history picture is coming a bit more clear , but there are still puzzle pieces out there to find. Built March 15th 1940 and delivered to Berlin as a long wheelbase Pullman Limousine Coachwork designed by Johannes Beeskow most likely while he was with Erdmann and Rossi, but completed by Rometsch in Berlin in 1948 Came to the US at some point in the 1950's and settled in Albuquerque NM. Moved to Michigan in the late 60's and barn stored until 2021. Now in California. Preservation and revival are coming along nicely. Hope to fire the engine within the next week and then move on to brakes, etc. Location and fabrication of a few missing parts is also coming along nicely. Looking forward to getting it out to an event or two later in the year (hopefully) Still searching for more period photos and history (hopefully names of past owners, etc).

I think it might be wise for me to keep it here in the US...just in case! That is a little scary to think about though. Im hopeful that I can dredge up some history on the car but I am finding it a little difficult. It seems that the cars produced at the Mannheim plant like mine have minimal records available...most were destroyed during the war. If there is anyone out there that might be able to help with research, please let me know,

After the first bath… Further info discovered, it’s got the 3.4 engine, which is cool. A few of the missing parts have been found but I am still searching for a front bumper and a hood ornament/radiator cap. Some Rometsch records have surfaced that possibly refer to the car. While it’s not 100% in my mind, it may have been built for the publishing director of the Berlin newspaper Der Kurier . Looks to have left the Mercedes factory in black, but painted red by Rometsch at the time of the coachwork. Wheels were repainted at some point in yellow and whitewalls fitted (my assumption was that this was done in the US in the 50’s or 60’s). Still cleaning, fixing and researching … and enjoying every moment of it!

Just research for the moment and some gentle reassembly of loose parts and a little work to make it roll and steer easily . The plan is to display it “as-found” at an upcoming concours event and then the decision to restore or preserve must be made. im in no hurry, I’ve waited my whole life to find a car as special as this. No need to rush anything!

I’d rather he remain ignorant…it suits him. 😉

The photo came from an automotive historian in Brazil. He did not recall the source , but it was in his digital archives. I think the original is in the Beeskow scrapbook at the Pinakothek museum of Art in Munich… or at least that is my hunch. Hopefully I can find someone there that can help search for it and any other information.

The period photo was marked as such.

I’m quite confident that I will be able to find its history on my own, in fact this is one of my favorite parts of classic car ownership , that discovery and quest for history. To pay someone else to do it would be like paying someone to eat my birthday cake for me… I appreciate the thought , but this is the part I want to truly savor . The latest discovery is that it’s believed that Rometsch did the coachwork in 1948. Still chasing who it was done for, and further proof of the above, but I’m getting closer .

Just found this period photo of the car!!

Taillights are very odd… maybe late 30’s Opel?

Oh definitely, I agree that it must have come over with a US Serviceman, it’s doubtful that it would come any other way. The chassis is 1940, all the data tags and numbers match up. I’ve not investigated the transmission as of yet. I agree on the thought that the coachwork may have been post war. The design looks very similar to the work that Johannes Beeskow did for Erdmann and Rossi pre-war, and I know he joined Rometsch post-war…may have been in his back pocket as a project during that transition? im very hopeful that the Rometsch records will turn up something concrete on the dates. I also understand that Beeskow’s personal photo album of all the cars he was involved with , is now in the Volkswagen archives…access to that album could really be beneficial ! I’d be willing to bet that it’s in there somewhere .

Thanks for understanding the quest! I think at least with the coachbuilt body and that its a 320 and not a 170 or whatever...the chances do come up a notch, but it is a needle in the global haystack for sure. Im patient and persistent and if I can get a few others on the hunt with me, maybe there is something out there. The history as I know it so far is that it was in a small town in Michigan since around 1969 and prior to that was in Albuquerque New Mexico. Prior to that...its all a mystery.

This was built at Mannheim according to the tag, so thats a bummer if the original records are gone. I am curious to see what Mercedes comes back with though, I am sure they must have some information. I have posted a walk around video of the car on YouTube . There is a previous video as well that tells the story of how I found it. Ever since this car has entered my life, from the first photo forward, it is just driving me crazy to figure out its story. Im pretty savvy and connected in the car world, but this one really has me stumped...and that is absolutely keeping me up at night! Im hopeful that the Rometsch archives will turn something up...and somewhere out in the world there has got to be some images of this car from back in the day.

Here is another photo of it (along with the guard dog I have sent the chassis number and details to Mercedes and am waiting for whatever they can provide, but I am really wondering if someone in Germany (or elsewhere) might have some vintage photos of it anywhere...and any knowledge of who it was originally built for.

The car does exist today, in fact it is in my garage right now. Just discovered and recovered from over 50 years of hibernation.

Here is a curious one for you all. I have searched for hours upon hours online trying to find an image of this car from the past (including viewing auto show videos and such) and have come up with NOTHING! It is a 1940 Typ 320 W142 Cabriolet with coachwork by Rometsch.