Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Information

Delivered new to Franz Ferdinand, 8th Prince of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein (who died mere months after taking delivery), the car would soon end up in the ownership of industrialist Oscar Waldrich, owner of the HA Waldrich Maschinenfabrik company founded by his father. Scottish industrialist James Tennent subsequently sent his two sons, John Howard and James Norman, for apprenticeships at HA Waldrich in Siegen, Germany, during which time Howard noted frequently seeing Herr Waldrich being chauffeur driven in his 300 SL. Shortly before his return to Scotland, Herr Waldrich presented J. Howard with the 300 SL, which was sent back to the UK.

Registered as 'XGD 4', the 300 SL remained in the ownership of the Tennent brothers (and later, just Howard himself), until Howard's death in 1991, including a nine-year tenure at the Doune Motor Museum. From there, it passed to his two sons, Robin and John, until John bought out the share in 1995. The car was then used for the weddings of his three children and subsequently sold to 300 SL specialist Ivan Page-Ratcliff in 2006.