This 1954 Mercedes-Benz 220 is one of 1,278 Cabriolet A models bodied by Sindelfingen Karosserie between 1951 and 1955. Chassis 3503688 was selected for use in Hiro Yamagata’s Earthly Paradise exhibit and was refurbished in 1996 prior to being hand-painted by the artist in midnight blue with a tropical-themed motif. The car was on display in various museums located in Los Angeles, Austria, Italy, and Japan.

Born in Japan, Hiro Yamagata is a Los Angeles-based silkscreen artist popularized for his use of vivid color and laser installations. For an upcoming series titled Earthly Paradise, Mr. Yamagata sourced several 220 A Cabriolets to use as the subjects of his latest work, which centered on the merging of technology and nature. The cars were refurbished and later refinished in roughened matte white acrylic prior to being hand-painted with nature-themed schemes derived from photographs captured by the artist on the island of Fiji.

Earthly Paradise opened to the public in the fall of 1994 at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery with eight cars on display, and a total of 24 cars were planned for the series. A Scarlet Macaw parrot is showcased on the hood, while a blue peacock adorns the rear bodywork. Two rows of lawn-style seating are painted among the palm trees, and other details include pink hibiscus flowers, a rainbow, and multi-colored birds. A Hiro Yamagata signature is present on the left-rear fender.

The W187 rode on a 112″ wheelbase and features a coil-sprung independent front suspension with a leaf-sprung solid rear axle. The three-spoke steering wheel features a chrome horn ring and frames VDO instrumentation consisting of a clock, a 160-km/h speedometer, and gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level. The trunk compartment houses a three-piece set of luggage retained via leather straps.

The 2.2-liter M180 inline-six features a single overhead camshaft and a Solex downdraft carburetor to produce a factory-rated 80 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a column-shifted four-speed manual transmission.

The Ron Sturgeon Collection