One of 931 Nurburg 500s built, chassis number ‘559’ was sold on 17th July 1935 to its first owner, His Royal Highness Rama VIII, King of Siam (Thailand), at that time resident in Lausanne, Switzerland. Eighth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, Prince Ananda Mahidol had been elected king under his country’s constitution on 2nd March 1935 following the abdication of his uncle, Prajadhipok (Rama VII). At the time of his accession, Rama VIII was nine years old and attending school in Lausanne; he visited Thailand for the first time as monarch aged 13 and did not return to his country again until December 1945. A frail and tragic figure, the young king was found shot dead on 6th June 1946 in his bedroom at the Grand Palace, only a few days before he was scheduled to return to the University of Lausanne to complete his law degree. A long-wheelbase example, ‘559’ is fitted with Pullman Limousine coachwork, with opening Landaulet rear section, of the type typically favoured by Heads of State. Delivery took place at the Mannheim factory on 24th October 1935, with Swiss importer Hirzel & Stüber’s invoice being issued on 30th October 1935. On 12th January 1950 the car was sold to a Mr Georges Bauer in Geneva, and is it believed to have had one further owner in Switzerland before being sold at the beginning of the 1960s to a Mr J Dumontant in France. Sold in 1980 to the current owner in Switzerland, ‘559’ has since been completely refurbished, the engine and chassis being restored in 1995 and the coachwork in 2005. Offered with assorted correspondence, owner’s manual, roadworthiness certificate and Swiss Carte Grise, this car represents a rare opportunity to acquire a magnificent Mercedes-Benz limousine with well-documented royal associations.
