The 1929 Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer ‘Boat Tail’ is arguably the finest vintage car in the world, with numerous concours awards to its name.
Based on the 1927 Mercedes S-Type, the unique ‘Boat Tail’ was one of the most powerful automobiles in the world way back in the late 1920s. It was developed as the perfect road-going, race-capable car.
Originally owned by racing enthusiast and British Racing Drivers’ Club co-founder Earl Howe, this car was fitted with a revolutionary body which incorporated a lightweight and aerodynamic shell with unique aircraft-inspired aluminium side pods crafted by English coachbuilders Barker.
The car was a regular on tours, trials and competition events in the UK before new ownership in 1958 took it to America, where it has remained.
When it was first sold to American owners, the car was repainted in a dark maroon colour and the rear was renovated to sport an additional spare tyre instead of its distinctive ‘Boat Tail’. But its most recent owner has just completed a multi-year project of restoring the car to its former glory.
The majority of Earl Howe’s unique specifications were all but lost, until a host of photographs unearthed aspects of the original vehicle. They revealed the missing ‘Boat Tail’, numerous reflective surfaces, custom touring luggage and a red spotlight which was given to Members of Parliament to alert other road users to their status. Upon disassembly, patches of the Earl Howe car’s signature Peacock Blue paint were also discovered, and it has now been sympathetically recreated.
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