With the market for its luxury models hard hit by the post-Wall Street Crash Depression, Mercedes-Benz sought to establish itself in the medium-priced family car market sector with a range of new models designed by one of the most gifted automobile engineers of his generation - Hans Nibel.

Introduced in 1936, the Type 230 was fourth in this series of Nibel designs that would form the mainstay of Mercedes-Benz production in the difficult years of the mid-1930s.

The first of this line - the Type 170 - had appeared in 1931.

Although outwardly of conservative appearance, the revolutionary 170 embodied Nibel's advanced ideas on chassis design, featuring a box-section frame with independent suspension all round and four-wheel hydraulic brakes that set new standards of ride comfort and safety.

It was also competitively priced for a six-cylinder car and suited the prevailing market conditions, being compact and economical yet constructed to Mercedes-Benz's traditionally high standard.

The...