Often dubbed “the original S-Class”, Mercedes-Benz’s 170 S represented achievable luxury, with its six-cylinder engine boosted to 6.5:1 compression for 52 horsepower, competition-inspired double A-arm and coil-spring front suspension, and a four-speed manual gearbox, with synchromesh in all four gears.

While it may have lacked the impressive size and technology of today’s S-Class models, it did set the path in that direction, with very comfortable interior fitments and by being both sporty and easy to drive.

Available body styles included the Cabriolet A, which, like many of the 170s, charmingly aped the larger 300 model of the same period, with the chrome beltline trim, handsome rounded rear deck, and curved front wings echoing the 300 S Cabriolet—albeit in scaled-down form.

With individual headlamps mounted on the wings, flanking an impressive tall radiator shell, it also boasted a clear heritage back to the company’s glorious pre-war models.

In sum, it was, and remains, a beauti...