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Classic Cars in Rhodesia
Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1936 Taken to Rhodesia around 1950 by Tiny Rowland of Gatooma. Later shipped  back to Stuttgard, the story goes that some Mercedes-Benz officials had visited Rhodesia and on seeing the car had proclaimed it to be one of the best examples around and had then offered Mr. Rowland a new Mercedes in exchange for it. Restored by the factory and put into the Mercedes-Benz Museum, it still carried its Rhodesian number plates for a few years but recently they were removed.
Model 540K
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours              
Registration Numbers H-3000/SRH References Automobilist Vol 21/3; Autocar 9 May 68; Car Apr 82, Oct 82; Photo source unknown
 
 1936 Mercedes

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Noted in Harare
Model 170D
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours              
Registration Numbers ABA-2888/ZIM
 References Viv Westbury
 
170D170D
190D
 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1952? Owned at some stage by Chris Erlank in Chinoyi.
Model 220S
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours              
Registration Numbers
References
 
 220S220S
 


Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1955
 This £4000 car was written off on the Borrowdale road when fairly new. The car was being driven by rally driver Richard 'Dick' Judge, who was killed in the accident.  Judge was a salesman for Ace Motors in Salisbury. The engine was apparently sold to someone in Northern Rhodesia to be used in a boat. The body and tubular chassis lay in Ian Taylor's paintshop before being sold out of Rhodesia. Probably the car owned by George Vardell who also had a 190SL convertible.
Model 300SL Gullwing
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours              
Registration Numbers
References Unknown Rhodesian Newspaper
 
GullwingGullwingGullwing

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year   In immaculate condition, with extra brass plated '3 pointed start' badges on the front side panels. Owned at some stage by George Fardell (also owned a 300SEL 6.3)
Model 300SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Roadster with hardtop
Colours              
Registration Numbers
References Nick Wood
 
 

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year   Owned by Daniel Brits, a fireman on the Railways in Bulawayo.
Model 300SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours              
Registration Numbers
References Randal Kennerley
 
 

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year   Fitted with spotlights on the roof. Beaten around on farm roads and was
therefore quite rough, had apparently been used in Northern Rhodesia for poaching. Acquired at some stage by Chris Foreshaw and taken to Knysna, South Africa. Later sold through House of Sports Cars in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Model 300SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours Cream with red hardtop            
Registration Numbers
References Nick Wood, Peter Grove
 
 

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1958 Acquired in 1975 by Peter Grove from Piet Strobel. The car was in poor condition when acquired and was rebuilt by Peter. Sold in 1980 to the owner of Academy Brushware, Johannesburg. Later taken to Germany by this person.

Photos show the car as found, under restoration and after the rebuild
Model 300SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Roadster with hard and soft tops
Colours Astral silver with red upholstery
            
Registration Numbers
References Peter Grove
 
As foundRestorationRestoration300SL

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 195* Acquired new in the 1950s by Mr. Lionel Taylor, Director of Norton Motor Company in Southern Rhodesia, he was also on the Board of Lonrho and farmed at Eiffel Flats, using Farmall tractors which I am told he preferred to modern machiness. Believed to still have been owned by Mr. Taylor in the 1980s.
Model 300SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours White            
Registration Numbers RH-10/SRH
 References Car Oct 82;
 
 

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1956 Originally delivered to Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, to a Lady medical doctor. The car then went to Rhodesia, then South Africa (still with its original owner) where it was acquired by Hans-Georg Bosch in 1978. Sold to someone in Germany in 2010.

Model 300SC
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours Cream            
Registration Numbers TP-10848/SAF References Hans-Georg Bosch
 
300SC300SC

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1957 Owned for around 1 year by Norman Reader in Bulawayo
Model 300
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours
           
Registration Numbers S-7538/SRH
 References PJ Ryan
 
Merc 300

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1959
Model 300
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours
           
Registration Numbers AAH-3137/ZIM
 References
 
300

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1958 Ordered through Norton Motor Company of Rhodesia by a Mr. Ryan. Ordered white but delivered in battleship grey. Bosch spotlights added by the Norton Motor Company. Fitted with optional single front seats. Later inherited by his son PJ. Taken to South Africa in 2002. Restored in 1990 and cosmetically tidied up in 2005. In 2008, to celebrate its 50th Birthday, the car was driven through Swaziland, Mocambique, Malawi, Tanzania to the Equator in Kenya and then back taking in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. 
Model 219
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Battleship grey, white roof added 2 years later, now light green with white roof.
            
Registration Numbers S-2132/SRH, 155-240-N/RHO, DRG-184-MP/SAF, OLDLADY-GP/SAF
 References PJ Ryan
 
219

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year   Modified with 220 sedan headlights. Owned by Pete Brewer in the 1970s and as late as 2001. Pete owned Meyrick Park service station.
Model 190SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Convertible
Colours Silver with red interior            
Registration Numbers 250-917-K/RHO
 References Nick Wood
 
190SL
 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1959 Acquired second hand by Mike Lindley, a Rhodesian Policeman, from the Norton Motor Company in 1969. The car had previously been owned by a farmer who bought the car new in 1959. Mike later took the car to East London, South Africa (c1990s). Taken to the UK in 2002, then in 2004 it went back to South Africa, now owned by Colin Meyer of East London, who had known Mike when he lived there.
Model 190SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Convertible
Colours White            
Registration Numbers 190SL-R-EC/SAF
 References Colin Meyer
 
 190SL190SL

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned in Rhodesia by Keith Jenner in the 1960s.
Model 190SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Convertible
Colours Red            
Registration Numbers S-829/SRH
 References Colin Meyer
 
190SL

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1960
 Owned by Albert Oberholzer in 1989. Currently owned by Kevin Whaley in Harare.

.
Model 190B
Chassis No. 121-010-10-014537
Engine No. 121-920-10-014475
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Maroon            
Registration Numbers 200-069-Q/RHO
 References
 
190B

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1960
 Fuel injected coupe of Bichard, ex Murray
Alexander, now under restoration.
.
Model 220SE
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Coupe
Colours Yellow
            
Registration Numbers 197-427-*/RHO
 References
 
220SE

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by Guy Edmonds of Harare. Has been owned by his family from new.
Model 190D
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours White with red interior
            
Registration Numbers AAN-5753/ZIM
 References
 
190D190D

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by J Peters of Harare.
Model 190D
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Grey
            
Registration Numbers
References
 
190D

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Noted in Harare in 2014.
Model 180D
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Red
            
Registration Numbers
References
 
180D

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Noted in Harare in 2014, no engine.
Model 190D
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Blue and white
            
Registration Numbers 93-068-K/RHO
 References
 
190D

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1961
 Acquired from a Mr. Comline, a surgeon, by Jeremy Bromley around 1971. Car had engine problems, engine was rebuilt by Herbert Bachmeyer, a technician with the Norton Motor Company. Used by Jeremy's wife as daily transport till 1980 when they left for Australia. The car was sold to a farmer.

.
Model 220B
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Light Blue
            
Registration Numbers 117-297-W/RHO
 References Jeremy Bromley
 
220SE

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Noted for sale in Bulawayo

.
Model 230
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours Red
            
Registration Numbers
References
 
230230

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1963
 Acquired by Colin Meyer of East London, South Africa in 2010, car is ex Rhodesia and was supplied by the Norton Mortor Company.
Model 220SE
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Coupe
Colours White
            
Registration Numbers ND-1963/SAF
 References Colin Meyer
 
220SE

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1967
 LHD. Taken to Rhodesia by a German mechanic employed by the Norton Motor Company. Sold to a Mr. Ryan. Still in Harare but a non runner. 

Model 250SE
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Coupe
Colours
           
Registration Numbers 79-782-T/RHO
 References
 

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year   Noted in Harare in 2014
Model 280SL
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours Cream            
Registration Numbers ABD-4632/ZIM
 References
 
280SL

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Believed to have been imported into Zimbabwe by Ron Wollaron. Being restored in 2016 owned by Donald Mutukwa who also owns a MKVI Bentley and another Mercedes.
Model 300
Chassis No. R-186-011
Engine No. 3501907
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours Brown? over beige now black with a red roof
            
Registration Numbers OYH 2
 References
 
Merc 300300

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by Joe Kennedy of Australia, acquired in Zimbabwe. Believed to have come from the Congo
Model 300D (W186)
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style 4door cabriolet
Colours Grey with black cabriolet hood
            
Registration Numbers SH-614?
 References Bruce Beckley
 
300

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by Tim O'Leary of Harare in 2010. Photo shows car on 2010 Mutare run.

.
Model 350SL
Chassis No.
Engine No.
Coachbuilder  
Body Style
Colours
           
Registration Numbers AAA-4777/ZIM
 References
 
Merc 350SLMerc 350SL

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1963
 Six Cyl inline, petrol, twin carbs. Owned by Brian Goodwin between 1977 and 1981.

.
Model 220S
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Mercedes green with white roof
            
Registration Numbers 87-719-W/RHO
 References Brian Goodwin
 
220S220S220SMerc 220S
                                                                                 Near Lake Kyle with curio sellers








 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Noted for sale by Msasa Auctions in Harare.

.
Model 220S
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Black            
Registration Numbers 357-783-T/RHO
 References Viv Westbury
 
220S220S

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by Robin Hurst, currently for sale.

.
Model 220S
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Light blue
           
Registration Numbers
References
 
Hurst
 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by Mohammad Moosa in 2016

.
Model
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Black
            
Registration Numbers 141-975-V/RHO
 References Mohammad Moosa
 
Merc

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by Donald Mutukwa
Model
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours
           
Registration Numbers ABW-6868/ZIM
 References Viv Westbury
 
M-B
 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Two Mercedes 230S noted on a farm in Zimbabwe in 2012 - Both vehicles are believed to be for sale.

.
Model 230S
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours
           
Registration Numbers
References
 
230s230s

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned by Maurice Beckley of Bulawayo.

.
Model 230S
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Black
            
Registration Numbers 10-496-H/RHO
 References
 
230S

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1969
 LHD, Automatic - Acquired by Marc Sweeck from Radio personailty John Matinda for $5000 on 11 February 1980.

.
Model 250D
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours White
            
Registration Numbers 5-180-E/RHO
 References Marc Sweeck
 
250D

 

Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Acquired new by Albany Kennedy who worked in Zambia, registered in January 1970 in Rhodesia. Sold in the same year to Simon Goldberg of Goldberg Bros., Penhalonga, Rhodesia. parked at Dulys Mutare for some 15 years before being acquired by Ali Bhadella on 26 September 2011.

.
Model 280SE
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours White
            
Registration Numbers 30-356-V/RHO, AAJ-2135/ZIM, ACG-7599/ZIM, 280-SE/ZIM.
 References Ali Bhadella
 
280SE280SE


Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year
Owned in Umtali, Rhodesia by John Mutter- The car originally had twin unit headlights but these were damaged and replaced with standard units.

.
Model 280S 6 cylinder
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours White
            
Registration Numbers
References John Mutter
 
280SE 6 Cyl


Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1972
 Owned by Maurice Hill from 1974 to 1981.

.
Model 280SE
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours White
            
Registration Numbers 134-048-D/RHO
 References Mike Hill
 
280SE


Make Mercedes-Benz History          
Year 1991
 Delivered in the United Kingdom, owner unknown. Later taken to Zimbabwe where it was owned by Patrick Chirinda of Harare, then Franjo Meglic of Harare. Acquired by Ali Bhadella of Mutare in 2012.

.
Model 560 SEC
Chassis No.  
Engine No.  
Coachbuilder  
Body Style Sedan
Colours Dark blue
            
Registration Numbers 528-329-V/ZIM, AAJ-2335/ZIM, 560-SEC/ZIM
 References Ali Bhadella
 
560sec560sec

 

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