1940 Mercedes-Benz 170V Cabriolet A

This 1940 Mercedes-Benz 170 V Cabriolet B was delivered new on July 31, 1940, by Mercedes-Benz in Sofia, Bulgaria.
It is a fully documented example, complete with all original books and paperwork—an extraordinary rarity for a pre-war Mercedes of this type.

And then there is its condition. Quite simply: outstanding. This car was not merely restored; it was rebuilt body-off by a German specialist, a highly respected craftsman known for his meticulous work. Once in the Netherlands, it was refined even further by marque experts. What you see here is a car that stands at the very top of its class.

Mercedes-Benz introduced the 170 V in 1936, powered by a 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine. By today’s standards that may sound modest, but at the time it set a new benchmark. Its engineering was far ahead of its era: independent front suspension, hydraulic brakes, and a chassis layout that was considered cutting-edge. This was not a luxury toy; it was a technological statement by Mercedes-Benz during the crucial pre-war years.

After the war, the 170 V even became the backbone of Mercedes-Benz production in Stuttgart. And what does that tell you? That the design was so good—so fundamentally sound—that Mercedes had no choice but to continue building it. It was later succeeded by the 170 S, featuring a more powerful engine, a redesigned rear axle, and even more refined suspension. At the time, the British press described the combination of soft ride quality, precision steering, and minimal body roll as “almost unique,” as if a luxury cabriolet suddenly possessed the sharpness of a sports car.

The Cabriolet A and B versions represented the open-top offerings of the range, with the Cabriolet B—as seen here—being the larger, more elegant cabriolet-sedan. And they are scarce. Even in the postwar 170 S series, only a few thousand cabriolets were produced, compared with tens of thousands of sedans. Bodies like this survived only because true enthusiasts chose to preserve them.

The example before you has enjoyed a remarkable life: European in origin, with subtle influences from the Middle East—almost as if the car itself traveled through history and absorbed a bit of every place it passed through.

And now it stands here: fully restored, flawlessly finished, and ready for its next custodian. To us, one thing is absolutely clear: you are looking at a magnificent Mercedes-Benz that perfectly embodies what the marque once stood for—elegance, engineering excellence, and timeless class.

Interested? Contact Gallery Aaldering today. Active since 1975, we have decades of experience exporting our automobiles worldwide. Ask us about the possibilities.