Mercedes-Benz has long represented a great choice for enthusiasts that want a beautiful, well-engineered automobile that will actually crank on a cold morning. As the world’s oldest automaker, the brand’s history is littered with numerous important open and sporting cars like the famed White Knights, the dominating Silver Arrows, the elegant 540K series and the blue-chip 300 SL Gullwing and Roadster.
The level of appreciation for the Mercedes-Benz marque continued to grow in 2015. While there were no headline sales such as the Mercedes-Benz W196R that sold for a world record £19,601,500 at Bonhams’ 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed sale, this year still provided many great offerings that represented the brand well.
Auction Editor Rick Carey traveled across the globe to bring readers a glimpse of what was hidden inside the tents and fine hotels that hosted various collector car auctions. Not everything that crossed the block was as-advertised and Carey broke down these cars to find out the truth behind them.
Listed in chronological order, Rick Carey’s reports on the 75 Mercedes-Benz analyzed in 2015:
Lot # 139 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980428500094; Engine # 1989807500682; Silver-Grey/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,237,500 – Chrome Rudge-style centerlock wheels, Dunlop blackwall tires, Becker Mexico AM-IM, dual outside Talbot mirrors, two tops with the original shipping crate for the hardtop, books and tools. – Orderly, clean engine sitting in a superficially resprayed compartment. Good chrome, older paint and well-preserved original interior. A quality driver. – Pleasingly presented without excessive flash and glitz, this is an unusually satisfying 300SL Roadster in its original color and with the factory interior. It would be hard to ask for more, even at this price.
Lot # 213 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412012342; Engine # ; Maroon, Maroon hardtop/Beige vinyl; Brown cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. No Reserve – Automatic, Becker Europa radio, A/C, whitewall tires, hardtop with heated rear window, soft top, documents and service history. – Some minor dings, paint has dull areas and chips, dinged chrome, undetailed engine compartment with overspray from the repaint, dirty chassis, driver’s seat looks overstuffed when it was redone, weathered interior trim pieces. A barely driver quality cosmetic restoration. – This fits the definition of ‘just a car’, but not the price. It would have been reasonably bought at $75,000, not $110K hammer. The estimate range – for its condition – is Absolutely Fabulous, but maybe it had the desired effect on the bidders chasing a No Reserve deal. They didn’t get it.Lot # 238 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500594; Engine # 1989805500621; Silver/Blue Plaid; Estimate $1,450,000 – $1,650,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,350,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,485,000. – Rudge-style centerlock wheels, Dunlop SP blackwalls, blue leather fitted luggage, belly pans, tool kit, owner’s manual. – Presented in reverse of its original colors, with silver paint, body color painted wheelwells and blue seats, but beautifully clean and correct. Clear evidence of careful husbandry, a consistently maintained and refurbished as needed Gullwing that has never had, or needed, a full restoration while being ministered to by recognized experts. Orderly but not overdone underhood. – Sold by Bonhams here in Scottsdale a year ago for $1,078,000, subsequently reupholstered in blue plaid instead of the leather it had then (the leather comes with it.) Even considering commissions and the recent work the seller cleared $200,000, but the new owner also got full value for the price paid.Lot # 244 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010024330; Engine # 12192810002250; Pearl Gray/Green leather; Green top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500. No Reserve – Blaupunkt radio, fitted luggage, wheel covers, whitewalls, well documented. – Freshly restored, uniform gaps and lines, chrome has only trivial flaws, fresh, correct interior, engine is correct down to the hose clamps. High quality and hard to fault. – A very good, honest 190SL with two long term owners in Canada. The catalog opines that the 190SL ‘offers most of the thrills of its big brother’ which is a bit of a stretch, like comparing a Pinto with a Thunderbird: they both drive at highway speeds. In any event, this is what a sound, honest 190SL is worth today, and maybe even a bit of a good value for the new owner.
Lot # 1.1 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupe; S/N 10702412020680; Brown/Beige leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,400. No Reserve – Automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, alloy wheels, Michelin radial tires, sliding sunroof. – Decent older repaint with edge chips. Tired, tom leather, faded dashtop. Aged body seals. Tired but sound. – New leather is a must (but a few sheepskins would cover up the tears and escaping padding, which is what usually is the case with cars like this.) With over 200K miles service is a valid concern. It would make a good airport car (‘Go ahead and steal it’) and it’s barely more than half the price of the golf cart.Lot # 5022 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 12104010019587; Ivory/Red leather; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000. No Reserve – Clarion AM-FM, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, two tops. – Freshly restored with excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Sharp and crisp underhood with polished cam cover. Underbody is better than new. Both door fits are off, though. – Attractively restored and presented even with the erratic door fits, this result is a representative number for a 190SL today.Lot # 5075 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500606; Silver/Blue plaid; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,100,000. With Reserve – Becker Mexico radio, chrome Rudge-style centerlock wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, hinged steering wheel, fitted luggage. – Better than in Monterey, with a new interior and thoroughly detailed. – Reported sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction last August for $1,193,250 with the Blue leather interior it wore then now accompanying it in a box, it looks better with plaid (and will be more comfortable.) Why the consignor decided to take a $200,000 hit after just five months is a mystery but the buyer got the advantage of a very good Gullwing for a moderate price.Lot # 5076 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet A; S/N 1880100020253; Dark Red/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $585,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $643,500. With Reserve – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, 4-speed, fog lights, Becker Nurburg radio, heater. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Underbody is like new. Beautiful blonde burl interior woodwork. A wonderful specimen. – Even at this price the new owner got plenty of Fifties Mercedes-Benz performance, luxury and exclusivity for the money. It would still have been a realistic acquisition at another $50,000, it’s that good.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Two
Lot # 5086 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet B; S/N 172436; Black, Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000. With Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, dual sidemount, Bosch headlights and fog lights, dual Bosch spotlights, Trafficators. – Restored to concours standards and showing little or no subsequent use. Beautiful paint, chrome and interior. – This is an extraordinary quality restoration for a side valve six cylinder Manheim Cabriolet B, fully worthy of its mighty (and mighty expensive) eight cylinder overhead valve supercharged big brothers from Stuttgart and Sindelfingen. Prewar M-B style and luxury at an affordable (?) price.
Lot # 057 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Convertible; S/N 19804210003060; White, Black hardtop/Red; Black top; Estimate $1,750,000 – $2,250,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,550,000. With Reserve – Euro headlights, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, – The last version of the 1,858 roadsters built, one of 218 with four-wheel disc brakes and the alloy engine block. A European model imported in the 1970s, it was in one family for 30 years. Front bumper does not fit well, chips on the passenger side trunk lid, driver’s seat split and surface cracked, scratched hubcaps, cracked steering wheel. Desirable and sound, but aged and flawed. – A desirable, sound and usable 300SL Roadster, but aged to a point where it’s on the cusp of the restore-or-preserve quandary. The bidders settled on the side of restoration and left some headroom at the reported high bid for the work this Roadster needs.Lot # 062 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300C Sedan, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 1860176500835; Strawberry Red Metallic/Tan leather; Black top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,250. No Reserve – Full-length Webasto sun roof, Becker Mexico radio, fog lights,. Limited ownership. – Enormous car in an eye popping color. Canvas roof needs replacing, driver’s seat has been re-dyed, windshield is chipped, interior wood is good. Good bodywork and paint, decent chrome and trim. A well maintained car that has received work as needed but never been restored and it shows. – A $35,000 car, maybe $50,000 with the rare sunroof and benign history, but far beyond retail at the price it brought here.Lot # 114 1967 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Cabriolet; S/N 11202312009493; Light Metallic Blue/Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $225,000 – $300,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $315,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $346,500. No Reserve – Automatic, air-conditioning, tool kit, fitted luggage, pushbutton radio. – Concours-quality restoration, with even metallic paint in the correct tone. Very well fitted interior leather, excellent wood trim. Laser straight, panel fit excellent, correct and immaculate engine compartment. The result of a 3-year restoration by specialists and scored 98 points at an MBCA meet. Better than new cosmetically. – This result is 280SE 3.5 cabriolet money. Even for a 300SE so diligently and correctly restored the result it brought is a serious escalation in value inappropriate to the quantity and specifications of the 300SE, on the order of a 50% premium. Gooding sold a cosmetically restored 5-speed here four years ago for $112,750; this one is much better, but 3x the value?Lot # 119 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980406500280; Engine # 1989806500289; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $1,550,000 – $1,850,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,250,000. With Reserve – Becker Mexico radio, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, Rudge-style centerlock wheels, Dunlop tires, red fitted luggage. – Sold new to movie director Howard Hawks. Mechanically overhauled recently at Paul Russell’s. Flawed paint on the hood and cowl and cracked on the left rear hood corner. Good, lightly stretched older upholstery. Very clean underbody. Engine compartment is orderly on top but oily and grungy down deep. – Reported sold at the Rick Cole auction in Monterey last August for $1,595,000. The reported high bid here is more appropriate for its condition.Lot # 149 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002530; Grey, Grey hardtop/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,700,000 – $2,000,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,425,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,567,500. With Reserve – Nardi woodrim steering wheel, Becker AM-FM, chrome wheels, Michelin XVS tires, two tops, two pieces of fitted luggage, original handbook pouch with handbook, spare parts list, service book, Becker radio manual and more. – Stored since the early 90’s, three owners from new. Multiple flawed old repaint with chips, edge flaws and surface deterioration. Generally sound chrome. Good lightly sun bleached original interior. Original underbody. An honestly ageing 300SL. – The result here represents only a small, nearly negligible, premium for this 300SL Roadster’s survival, completeness and originality. It should be regarded as an astute acquisition by a bidder who kept his or her paddle under tight control to avoid creating a bidding contest.
Lot # S611 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Coupe; S/N 11102412001426; Silver/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000. With Reserve – Automatic, Kelly Explorer tires, power windows, Becker Europa radio, VDO gauges, dash clock, locking glove box. – Tired paint and interior. Strong chrome. Used but fairly tidy engine bay. Cracking steering wheel. Showing close to 100,000 miles both on the odometer and in its condition. In preserved condition, but you wouldn’t say carefully preserved. – There are too many flaws on this 280SE to justify paying much if any more than the reported high bid for it. Making it the car it deserves to be requires expensive attention to every aspect and the seller’s hope of getting more for it than the reported bid is vain.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Three
Lot # S710 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010025509; White/Red; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $112,750. With Reserve – Hard and soft top, bumper guards, Becker radio, canvas top, wheel trim rings – Car was recently repainted and looks excellent except under the hood where the paint is cracked and chipped. Engine has been rebuilt and is very tidy under the hood. Undercarriage has been recently powder coated and looks great. Trim is pitting and cracked all over the car. Interior looks great aside from the pitting trim. An attractive car missing the final touches. – 190SLs are a hot commodity and the consignor prepared this one to appeal under the lights of the auction arena. The bidders weren’t misled, however, and discounted it appropriately for its myriad faults but the superficial work doesn’t give much confidence in how well the rest of it was done.Lot # SN818 1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible; S/N WDBBA45A4CB012884; Red/Gray vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $6,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,150. No Reserve – GT Champion tires, power windows, Alpine CD stereo. – Decent, somewhat tired old repaint. Dull chrome front bumperettes look like they are going to pop off over the next bump in the road. Dull exterior plastic. Rear bumper fit is off. Clean, lightly worn interior. Relatively low 66,456 miles showing on the odometer, which roughly corresponds to the condition. Not the most collectible 107 chassis Mercedes. Solid, lightly used old car to cruise around in. – Sold here a year ago for $7,260. A year doesn’t make a lot of difference in a 380SL like this.
Lot # K62 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC Coupe; S/N WDBCA45E5MA572783; Black/Black leather piped in Gray; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $5,500 plus commission of 9.09%; Final Price $6,000. With Reserve – Cooper tires, sunroof, tinted windows, power windows, power heated seats, factory stereo, AMG wheels. – All original. Decent paint with some scratches and swirl marks. Dull exterior plastic. Lightly worn upholstery. Cracked dash in several places. Very rough-looking gauges. Reasonably well kept and looks like a car with significantly fewer than the 176,000 miles on the odometer, but I still shudder at the thought of the service bills that could start piling up as soon as this late W126 gets home. – A remarkably well maintained big Mercedes with ample open road power and luxury but now with dated style. It’s a car with little appeal and the seller should be entirely happy to get this much for it.Lot # L107 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412022729; Gold/Dark Green vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $59,400. With Reserve – Automatic, body color hub caps, Michelin narrow whitewalls, power steering, power brakes, VDO gauges, dash clock, later cassette stereo, two tops.. – Very good paint with a small chip on the nose and a big one on the hard top. Very good, lightly worn interior. New exhaust. An older restored car that’s been kept well and enjoyed. – Gullwings and 190SLs are dragging later SLs along behind them into fairly elevated price territory. This one, however, was left behind, bringing a price more appropriate to 2012 than 2015.
Lot # 138 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540K Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 105384; Engine # 105384; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,900,000 – $3,500,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,750,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,025,000. With Reserve – Black wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual rear spares, mother of pearl instrument travel, spotlight, dip beam light. – Change to 540K engine endorsed in correspondence from M-B. Especially handsome bodywork combining the style of a Special Roadster and the weather protection of a Cabriolet. Known history through its assignment to Dr. Gavin, a M-B director, in 1938 then from its appearance in Paris in 1953. Continuous history since 1957 including use by M-B in 2005 for model introductions. Exceptionally attractive for a cabriolet, even with the top down. An older restoration with good but not concours paint, bright chrome, good interior and top and sound interior wood. Chassis has been repainted assembled since the restoration with some shadows from inattentive application. Clean, chrome detailed engine. – Sold by Worldwide in Houston in 2006 for $1,650,000 and a little aged since then but still nearly concours quality, a car that needs no excuses for its Cabriolet A body, which is every bit as attractive as a Special Roadster.Lot # 187 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002753; Engine # 19898010002817; Red, Red hardtop/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $875,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $962,500. With Reserve – AM-FM, two tops, chrome and body color wheels, whitewalls, Talbot fender mirror, two tops – Good older repaint with a few edge chips. Good upholstery. Rusty soft top frame. Body color wheelwells. Good chrome. Clean engine dropped into an unrestored engine compartment. A usable driver quality 300 SL roadster. – The difference between a superb 300SL Roadster and a merely sound driver is, at least in dollars, small, like the difference between this car’s estimate and the price it brought. The RM Sotheby’s bidders weren’t fooled by a shiny paint job and applied a big discount to this car. It less discount than the car warranted.Lot # 201 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210407503335; Engine # 1219217503378; Grey, Red hardtop/Red leather; Grey cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Recent restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000. No Reserve – Becker AM-FM, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, two tops, Solex carbs. – Engine compartment and inside the doors is coated in a light film of dirt-retaining preservative. Good older point, chrome and interior. Chassis redone like new. A usable driver restored in Portugal. – The fascination with 190SLs has brought cars crawling out of hiding places, through restoration shops that could find a place on quickie TV restoration shows to catch the wave. This is one of them, a car that might prove to deliver a satisfying ownership experience, but also might not. It would have been a better bet at $150,000, even in today’s hot 190SL market.
Lot # 126 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 121040109500421; Engine # 121921109500449; Grey/Fawn leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $247,500. With Reserve – Blaupunkt multiband radio, hubcaps, trim rings, radial whitewall tires, Solex carbs, occasional rear seat, fitted luggage – Freshly, accurately and thoroughly restored. Excellent clearcoat paint, attractive leather, sparkling chrome. Engine compartment is done like new. Every panel fits and lines up perfectly. The clearcoat is a little much, though. – Many 190SLs seen at auctions today are rushed to completion to get to market before the 190SL bubble deflates. This is not one of those. It is a thoroughly and correctly restored car with desirable accessories and presented in an attractive, subtle color that accents the 190SL’s body lines. It brought a reasonable price in the current market.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Four
Lot # 149 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304410009469; White, Black hardtop/Black vinyl; Black top; Estimate $75,000 – $90,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $47,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,700. No Reserve – 4-speed, two tops, black steel wheels with body color hub caps, Toyo Premium Touring tires, wood center console, Becker Europa radio, VDO dash clock. – Decent paint with a small scratch on the right rear and many visible scuffs and scratches around the top and window trim. Excellent carpets, but worn seats with a rip in the driver’s side headrest. Desirable 4-speed and pretty colors but just a driver. – Was there a dead rat in the glove box? Did it catch fire on the block? This is a $65,000 280SL on its worst day and an exceptionally good value at the price it brought today.Lot # 159 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210402502940; Engine # 121921101021937; Silver/Black vinyl; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Modified for competition during restoration 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $82,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,200. No Reserve – Bucket seats, 5-point belts, braced rollbar, Hellebore woodrim steering wheel, later 14-inch M-B alloy wheels, hydraulic clutch, dual brake master cylinders, alternator, Weber 40DCOE carbs, no bumpers. – Good, clean, orderly 190SL race car. Sound paint, stripped interior. – Turn back the clock to a decade ago when 190SLs were just Teutonic T-birds and modifying one for historic racing or track days was a reasonable economic decision. That was then, this is now, and this is a sound 190SL begging to get its road touring equipment back and lose the go-fast stuff. The price leaves it as a realistic project.Lot # 182 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupe; S/N WDDAJ76F45M000157; Engine # 15598060000131; Crystal Laurite Silver/Semi-Aniline Black leather; Estimate $170,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $174,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $191,400. No Reserve – 5,439cc/617hp supercharged V-8, 5-speed ‘Speedshift’ gearbox, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, air conditioning, power windows. – Very good paint and interior. Clean engine bay. Looks, feels and smells new with 7,400 miles. Thoroughly documented service history from Mercedes-Benz, CarFax. An all but new car with a reassuring service history. – Bought at a serious discount from its $450K MSRP, and more than good enough to still attract positive attention from onlookers and fast enough to attract attention from the police. The pointy nose is a matter of individual style, but the car is a lot of automobile for the money.Lot # 183 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K 4-Passenger Tourer, Body by Mayfair; S/N 123689; Engine # 123689; Red/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $800,000. With Reserve – RHD. Stainless steel spoke wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual rear spares, Raydyot dual spotlights, dip beam light. – Kommission #207792. Fresh paint, chrome and interior. Underbody is older with small undercoat chips. Good interior wood. Done to very good touring standards. – Sold from Bill Lassiter’s collection by Christie’s in 1999 for $266,500, then by RM at Monterey last August for $825,000 so it’s no surprise the consignor declined to accept less than that after addressing some of its shortcomings in the last few months. The problem is that the 4-seat tourer Mayfair body looks like an Alvis or a 3 1/4 Liter Bentley, not like a regal Sindelfingen M-B. It is rare. It is not desirable.
Lot # 15 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500580; Engine # 1989807500606; White/Green leather; Green cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,237,500. With Reserve – Rudge-style centerlock wheels, P4000 tires, Becker Mexico radio, white steering wheel, Euro headlights. – 27,249 mile car restored in 1992 with very good paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is spotless and accurate. Engine intake plenum is silver painted. Wheel wells are painted exterior color and show scant evidence of road use. – Few owners and a history of continuing attention are among this 300SL’s desirable attributes along with its attract6ive and unusual combination of white paint over green leather and a green top. It brought a representative price for its history, condition and presentation.Lot # 51 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230S 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 11101012103837; Gray/Tan leather with cloth inserts; Estimate $35,000 – $45,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve – 2308/135hp, automatic, dual carbs, steel wheels with body color hub caps, Michelin tires, VDO dash clock, Euro headlights. – Believed to be (and appears to be) the original paint and interior, including the wood, although the 86,281 miles on the odometer would lead you to believe that there should be more wear and tear than there is. Very clean underneath and no major flaws in the paint or interior. It’s a sound, pretty, driver-quality fintail Mercedes sedan. – An experienced Mercedes-Benz dealer/restorer was agog at the preservation of this finback, amazed at its survival in such good, attractive, well-maintained condition. ‘Rare’ hardly begins to describe its survival and it is the essence of a magnificent ‘barn-find’ without the dirt, grunge and rot so often concomitant with the category. Its over-estimate price was unusual for this year’s Amelia Island auctions, but fully deserved by the car’s condition. For rarity, it makes 190SLs look as common as Fords.Lot # 59 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet; S/N 11102512004187; Gray/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $240,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. No Reserve – 2778/160hp, automatic, Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection, power steering, power brakes, Phoenix whitewalls, dual mirrors, black vinyl top boot, power windows, air conditioning, Becker Europa stereo, power antenna, VDO dash clock, fog lights. – One of just under 1,400 280 SE Cabriolets and just 200 with the more attractive ‘low grille’ body. Restored about ten years ago and still with very good paint and interior. Used but tidy engine bay. Lightly scratched but presentable chrome. No show car, but an attractive hand-built Mercedes cabriolet that you’d be happy to be seen in. – Still elegant, stylish and exclusive this 6-cylinder 280SE brought an appropriate price for the age of its restoration and post-restoration miles. It won’t run like the 3.5 V-8, but it looks just as good, for half the money.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Five
Lot # 66 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210003123; Red, Black hardtop/Beige leather; Black top; Estimate $1,600,000 – $2,000,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Post-block sale at $1,159,091 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,275,000. With Reserve – 2996/250hp, body color steel wheels and hub caps, disc brakes, hardtop, Becker Grand Prix stereo, VDO dash clock, tool roll, jack, owner’s manual. – Never fully restored, but maintained and freshened when necessary, although the interior is original and has seen plenty of wear. The 18,428 miles on the odometer are represented as actual. Very good paint and chrome, stiff original soft top. Recent brake and fuel system service. A genuine disc brake, alloy block late 300SL in good, honest condition. – Like the XKE sold a few lots earlier (#63) this alloy block, disc brake 300SL Roadster has never been neglected into advanced deterioration yet its sale had to be closed at a post-block negotiated deal 38% under the low estimate. It is a car that can, with some not insignificant careful recommissioning, be driven and enjoyed with the pride of continuing the sympathetic, caring ownership of its four owners in over half a century. A rewarding and satisfying car, and transaction.Lot # 73 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe; S/N 11102612000148; Gray, Black roof/Black leather; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. No Reserve – 3.5/230hp, automatic, BF Goodrich narrow whitewalls, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, power windows, dash clock. – Recent restoration and MBCA concours winner just last year. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Very good, detailed engine bay. Gorgeous and impossible to fault. – Excellent driver’s cars even with the automatic (or maybe better with the automatic) and avidly sought by collectors, but this is a strong price even for a very good coupe.
Lot # 503 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet A; S/N 12803010002703; Cream/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $87,500 plus commission of; Final Price $87,500 – Column-shift 4-speed, steel wheels with full wheel covers, Michelin narrow whitewalls, Hella driving lights, Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo, wood dash and window trim, fitted luggage. – One of just 1,112 220SE Cabriolets built. Paint on the hood is a lighter shade than the rest of the car, and both paint jobs are old. Tired chrome with pitting on the grille. Very good top. Good interior upholstery, but the wood is starting to crack a bit throughout. Largely original, but the cosmetic attention that it has gotten was a while ago and not done to very high standards. – Sold here four years ago for $84,700, at the reported high bid it should have been released to be sold so the auctioneer and ring men could do their jobs and look for a few dollars more. This is a car that should have been sold.Lot # 643 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Roadster; S/N 11304312004713; Maroon,, Maroon hardtop/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500 – Automatic, two tops, black steel wheels with color coded wheel covers, Hankook narrow whitewalls, dual mirrors, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, Panasonic CD stereo (original AM-FM included), VDO dash clock. – Restored about ten years ago. Crack in one headlight lens. Presentable older paint and chrome. Dull window trim. Used engine bay. Very good interior. The restoration is showing its age, and now it’s just a driver quality 250 Pagoda. – And it sold for driver quality 250 Pagoda money after being bid to $47,500 at Auburn Fall seven months ago. Neither buyer nor seller need to have any regrets except for the seller who might wish to revisit the decision to turn down the bid in Auburn.Lot # 685 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine; S/N 10001212001468; Silver Metallic/Dark Blue leather; Rebodied or re-created, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000 plus commission of; Final Price $130,000 – Bosch fuel injection, modern computerized fuel management system, fuel exhaust, steel wheels with full wheel covers, Michelin XW4 narrow whitewalls, wood dash trim and window trim, Becker Europa stereo but newer JVC speakers in back, air conditioning, dash clock, power windows, rear division, rear quarter window curtains. – The only LWB 600 that was converted to a stretch limousine. The work was commissioned during ownership in the Middle East. Sold new in Canada, so it presumably never spent any time ferrying around dictators, just sheiks. Restored in the United States in 2003 with several tasteful upgrades. The expensive hydraulic system, which operates most of the stuff throughout the car, was rebuilt during the restoration. This car is a bit hard to pin down because it’s a 600 Pullman and the work is all very good, but it’s a bit of a mutant and the work wasn’t done by Mercedes. – Even if it is unique and upgraded, the extra inches in this 600 don’t necessarily add value, and for a car in this condition the reported high bid should have been enough to take it home. RM offered this 600 at Hershey in 2007 with almost exactly the same result, bid to $135,000, no sale.Lot # 715 1957 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet A; S/N 1800306510626; Dark Blue/Brown leather; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $71,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $78,100 – Column shift manual, steel wheels with full wheel covers, Coker Classic thin whitewalls, Hella driving lights, locking filler cap, wood dash and window trim, Becker Mexico radio, dash clock. – Cracked marker light. Slightly dull but presentable paint. Tired chrome. Original, presentable engine bay. Very good seat upholstery, but the carpets are falling apart and the interior wood is tired, cracking and beyond hope. Dry, sound, original Texas car that’s a fairly impressive survivor, but beyond ‘preservation.’ – There was no premium for originality here, with a 3- car going for 3- money, but a year ago at this auction it was bid to just $56,000 and it sure hasn’t gotten $15,000 better in twelve months and two weeks.Lot # 722 1966 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupe; S/N 11102112088928; Blue,, Silver roof/Dark Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,650 – Automatic, wheel covers, Cooper Trendsetter tires, wood dash trim, Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo, dash clock. – A largely original California car. The blue paint is dull and lightly scratched, as is the chrome, but the silver roof is very good. Pitted window trim. Very good interior, aside from the wood around the windshield trim that is cracking and beyond saving. Tidy but used and never detailed engine bay and undercarriage. A reasonable survivor that can be driven as is for some time before falling into restoration project territory. – This 250SE would be a better value at $20,000 all-in than at this price, but the difference isn’t enough to cause much pain.
Lot # F263 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412008017; Silver, , Dark Gray hard top/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $81,000. With Reserve. Automatic, steel wheels with color coded wheel covers, Michelin Rain Force tires, Becker Mexico radio, VDO dash clock, air conditioning. – Repainted in the early 1990s. Engine overhauled last year and transmission resealed. Paint is excellent and looks almost new rather than the 20-plus years advertised. Chrome is a little tired but presentable. Very good interior. Engine bay is thoughtfully original but cleaned up. A maintained car that’s never been fully restored but has gotten the attention it needed when it needed it. – This result would have been top price three years ago, but Pagoda SLs have since been market stars and this is now a reasonable amount to pay. The clues the car left about its ownership were positive and the new owner likely has plenty of enjoyable miles awaiting.
Lot # F052 1973 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible; S/N 10704412006064; Yellow/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $14,000. With Reserve. Chrome wheels, Pirelli P400 Aquamile tires, woodgrain console, wood shift knob, later Alpine cassette stereo, air conditioning, VDO dash clock, two tops. – Restored in 1997. Chip on edge of passenger’s side door and ding on left rear fender. The rest of the paint is fairly dull. Lining on the inside of the hard top is a little loose. Very good interior. An eye-catching color for a 107 Mercedes, but nothing to write home about. A pretty, comfortable and usable cruiser. – 1973 was the first year for the 450SL in the North American market, where these cars thrived. The 147,340 miles on this otherwise presentable example likely deterred buyers who are spoiled for choice with so many R107s available. That said, the $14,000 high bid was well below market value for a car in this condition. The seller then took it the Mecum’s Spring Classic in Indianapolis where it got real and was sold on a hammer bid of $6,500, $7,020 with commission. Bad decision, lesson learned.Lot # F221 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL 4-Door Sedan; S/N WDBCA39E7LA556345; Black/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 12.50%; Final Price $4,500. No Reserve. BF Goodrich Touring T/A tires, sunroof, heated seats, power seats, power windows, tinted windows, wood dash and window trim, dash clock, JVC CD stereo. – Good paint with the usual small chips on the hood and nose expected from a car with 127,373 miles on it. Straight body. Lightly worn but complete and sound interior. Tidy engine bay and undercarriage. – High luxury. Low purchase price. Offered here on Thursday as T031, bid to the same price.Lot # S058 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412006465; Signal Red, Red hardtop/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $61,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $65,880. With Reserve. Automatic, black steel wheels with color-coded wheel covers, Pirelli tires, VDO dash clock, Becker Mexico TR radio, two tops. – One repaint. Newer transmission. Small dent in front bumper. Very good paint. Tidy original engine bay and undercarriage. Good original interior other than the driver’s seat, which has numerous small rips in the upholstery from use and age. A cosmetically refreshed Pagoda that’s been used for fun and nothing serious, but still presents very well. – W113 Mercedes-Benzes make great classic drivers thanks to their durability, comfort and adequate if not tire-squealing performance, so this one is great for someone who wants a casual, pretty classic to have for fun. These cars turned 50 a couple of years ago and prices have shot up, pulled along by 7-figure 300SLs and ludicrous prices for 190SLs. This price for a mediocre car is appropriate.
Lot # 201 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002439; Engine # 19898010002477; Anthracite Grey/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,842,500. No Reserve. Chromed steel wheels with hub caps, Michelin blackwall tires, dash clock. – Matching numbers. Class win at Amelia Island in 2004. Very clean, detailed engine bay. Excellent paint, chrome and interior.. Color changed during restoration. A top notch example that needs nothing. Not done yesterday, but still a showable car that could win trophies. – A long-time California car before being restored by Mark Allin in the early 00’s In the Andrews collection since 2010 since it was acquired in 2010 at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction in 2010 for $671,000. While certainly not the rarest car in the Andrews collection, it was one of the star lots given the amount of attention it got. Bidders recognized it as the top notch, correct example that it is and bid it up to a generous price even for such a stellar 300SL Roadster.
Lot # 1033 1984 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Roadster; S/N WDBBA45A9EA012419; Silver/Blue leather; Silver top; Estimate $10,000 – $14,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,900 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $5,390. With Reserve – Aftermarket radio with CD player, power windows, power antenna, climate control. – The paint is old, chipped and scratched everywhere. Brightwork is old and scuffed. Driver’s side rocker panel trim is being held on by duct tape and there is a noticeable dent on the hood. The original interior is old and faded. The engine compartment is grungy. A sad neglected Mercedes that has racked up 116,120 miles. It wasn’t even washed before the sale. Someone was trying to jettison this car, and one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. – The money paid here was a bit under market for a dirty old 380SL (the least desirable of the R107s), but one unexpected trip to the mechanic could make that savings evaporate. This is a M-B with no good surprises in store for its new owner, even at this price.Lot # 1036 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Roadster; S/N 10704412048632; White/Red leather; White top; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $5,750 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,325. No Reserve – Automatic, radio, air conditioning, power windows. – The paint is decent with a few scattered chips. Driver’s side marker light is cracked. Brightwork is very clean. Driver’s seat has a tear and the engine compartment has been maintained but not detailed. Showing 115,452 miles but presents like a car with much fewer. A good driver. – Just about any Mercedes with an SL in its name has a loyal following and strong value, including the typically more affordable R107. You wouldn’t guess that by looking at this transaction, however, as the bidders were put off by the numbers on the odometer. Every now and then a no reserve lot can result in a tremendous deal, and that’s happened here. The buyer has at least as much as the purchase price left over to do some cosmetic work or take care of any unexpected maintenance and should be pretty thrilled with this purchase.Lot # 1116 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412021203; Midnight Blue, Blue hardtop/Parchment leather; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $38,000 plus commission of; Final Price $38,000. With Reserve – Automatic, rear window defroster on the hardtop, air conditioning, radio, power steering, power brakes. – Paint is fair with some fading, small scrapes on the doors and a large scratch on the driver’s side rear. Chrome is fair with some scratches and pitting around the windshield. Engine bay is decent and tidy but used. Interior is poor with very worn and discolored seats. The floor carpeting on driver’s side is also coming apart. Worn out dashboard. Restored 20 years ago and regularly enjoyed since if not maintained. It needs another round of restoration. – This late 280SL is a pretty worn out car but doesn’t have originality to use as an excuse. No Auburn bidders found themselves smitten with this car, and while the seller may think ‘This is a 280SL’ all the bidders can see is the neglect, use and age. It was bid to an appropriate price and the seller shouldn’t expect to get more until its many cosmetic (and mechanical?) shortcomings are addressed. Until then it’s just a 280SL beater, a car that could well be left in JFK economy parking with the keys in the ignition daring someone to steal it to collect the insurance.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Seven
Lot # 1122 1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Roadster; S/N WDBBA45A4CB012884; Red/Gray vinyl; Estimate $12,000 – $16,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $8,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,075. With Reserve – Automatic, fog lights, air conditioning, power windows, aftermarket stereo. – Mostly original one-owner car with newer seats and convertible top. Good original paint that is lightly faded and has one touch up on the trunk and one on right side of hood. Chrome is dull. Rubber seals are cracking. Front left rubber bumper is cracked. Other than newer seats, the interior is worn and rear vinyl is worn and torn. Engine is clean but not detailed. Showing 66,457 miles, it is still presentable enough to enjoy as is, but the next owner couldn’t be blamed for freshening it up. – Made from 1980 to 1985, the 380 was the least powerful of the R107s, although it was 120 pounds lighter than the 450SL that it replaced. The 380 is also the least coveted of the R107s, and is valued at around half the previous 450SL or the later 560SL. This one sold at Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale sale in 2014 for $7,260 and in January of this year in the same venue with just one fewer mile on the odometer for $7,150 ($6,500 at the hammer). After a few months of insurance and some transport costs, the seller made a bit of a profit here and should be grateful to be rid of it.Lot # 1176 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450SL Convertible; S/N 10704412021634; Red/Tan; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $6,000 plus commission of; Final Price $6,000. With Reserve – Air conditioning, aftermarket radio, Burled wood accents, power windows. – Paint is fair with fading and a number of chips. Chrome is good with one small ding on the driver’s side window trim. Engine bay is clean with a new battery, but the painted surfaces in there are cracked and peeling. Interior is fair with seats showing mild wear and discoloration. Undercarriage has been undercoated and shows mild wear. Car is missing the driver side mirror glass. This is a vehicle that has been recently cleaned up to bring to auction. A tired old car with condition that matches the 108,094 miles on the odometer. – Six figures on the odometer and lots of flaws proved to be sufficient deterrents for this car, and the bidding just never went anywhere. This isn’t a rare car (four of them in this sale alone), so potential buyers had no problem taking a quick look at this one and moving on.Lot # 2106 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412014748; Blue Metallic/Tan vinyl; Dark Blue top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $57,500 plus commission of; Final Price $57,500. With Reserve – Automatic, steel wheels with color-coded wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, Becker Mexico radio. – Paint is good with one small chip on the nose and two thin scratches on the trunk. Front and rear chrome is fair with some light pitting. Engine bay is very good, clean and detailed. The interior is very good and shows almost no wear. The top has been replaced and fits well. Undercarriage has undercoating and is clean with very little wear. This vehicle has a Florida title that brands this as a rebuilt vehicle. It’s an obvious red flag, but it appears to be a very solid car overall. – An ordinary 280SL burdened by a rebuilt title should have sold well before the reported high bid. Consignors sometimes think that holding on to try to drag out the last bid is good strategy. It isn’t. If there is bidding by two or more it is far better to lift the reserve at a reasonable amount and hope the pursuit of the now loose and selling car will encourage the bidders to stay in the game.Lot # 2126 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712004266; White/Dark Blue leather; Blue top; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $272,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $299,750. With Reserve – Automatic, wheel covers, leather and wood dash, Becker radio with power antenna, removable center console seat pad, dash clock, power windows, power top, power steering. – Paint is fair with numerous swirls on the trunk, a large scratch just above driver’s side headlight and chips just behind driver’s door and rear with touch ups. Chrome is fair with scratches and pitting on rear accent pieces. Engine bay is very good, clean and well detailed. Top has been replaced and is in good condition and fits well. Interior is good with slight wear on the driver’s seat. Underbody has been undercoated and is clean with little wear. A largely original four-owner hand-built Mercedes that’s been cared for quite well and shows 50,539 believable miles. – While nearly a third of a million dollars is a lot to pay for an old, series-built M-B, the 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet is an automobile of rare distinction, quality, luxury and performance for which this much money is the order of the day.Lot # 2141 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412000728; Gray/Red vinyl; Estimate $75,000 – $85,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 plus commission of; Final Price $55,000. With Reserve – Automatic, color-coded wheel covers, Pirelli narrow whitewalls, woodrim steering wheel, aftermarket radio. – Bad, dull paint with numerous scratches and chips with shoddy touch ups. Chrome is fair with some dulling and some pitting. Engine bay is quite used and dirty with some oxidation on the headers, although the motor is reported to have been rebuilt. Interior is fair with mild wear and discoloration. The undercarriage shows wear and some early signs of corrosion. Heavily used and quickly cleaned up for sale. – This Pagoda SL isn’t good enough to enjoy as is and will require quite a bit of expensive work to get it presentable, so the Auburn bidders were wise to keep that in mind and bid it to a perfectly appropriate price. The seller would be lucky to get a bid that high again and should have cut it loose if there was money on the block.
Lot # F184 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible; S/N WDBBA48D4KA098238; Black/Black leather; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $54,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $58,320. With Reserve. Chrome alloy wheels, Pirelli blackwall tires, two tops, automatic, Becker Grand Prix radio. – 8,154 miles and all original with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Clean, dry original underbody. An extraordinary find. – There is little if any appreciable premium in this result for this 560SL’s originality and low miles. The new owner could have expected to pay this much for a used but very good example with ten times the miles.Lot # F197 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412019338; Dark Olive Green, Dark Olive hardtop/Cognac leather; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $64,800. With Reserve. Wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Frigiking A/C, Becker AM-FM, two tops, books, tools, owner’s manual. – Underbody quickly repainted assembled. Good repaint on the body but not so good on the hardtop. Very good new upholstery and carpets. A sound and desirably equipped boulevard cruiser. – This is a sound buy in a sound, attractive, fully-equipped cosmetically restored 280SL.
Lot # 210 1967 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Convertible; S/N 11202312009508; Engine # 18998712001298; Cream,/Dark Brown leather; Dark Brown cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. With Reserve. 2996/160hp six-cylinder, Bosch mechanical fuel injection, color-coded hub caps and trim rings, Michelin Rain Force tires, column-shift automatic, bucket seats, VDO dash clock, Becker Grand Prix radio, burled wood dash, power windows. – Very good paint with a chip above the right headlight. Good older chrome. Lightly worn top with very lightly scratched plastic rear window. Very good, lightly worn interior. A tiny bit of fluid on the valve cover but otherwise very clean engine bay. A car that’s received quality maintenance restoration over the last few years but hasn’t been done top to bottom. – This was the first lot of the day with the potential to be a six-figure transaction, at least according to Bonhams’ presale estimate. While it missed the mark by 10%, this was still a very healthy number for a very good but far from concours quality 300SE convertible, a rare and magnificent car notable for its self-leveling pneumatic suspension. Collectors would rather have a V-8 280SE 3.5.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Eight
Lot # 217 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210401002014; Engine # 12192110020404; Dark Grey, Dark Grey hardtop/Dark Red; Black cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $81,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $89,100. With Reserve. Weber carbs, two tops, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, AM-FM. – Mediocre repaint, especially on the hardtop, dirty underbody and engine compartment. Good upholstery but pitted interior and dash chrome. An auction car represented as two owners from new. – 190SLs have been bringing some bizarre prices in mid 6-figures and in this context this results is a return to a semblance of reality. It’s still expensive for an auction-restored Weber-carbureted 190SL, but not like some other recent transactions that defy rationality for a 105hp boulevard cruiser.Lot # 235 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 LWB Kombination Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 408153; Engine # 408153; Burgundy, Red/Beige leather, Red piping; Beige cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $850,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $704,545 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $775,000. With Reserve. Luggage, steel wheels, recessed rear deck spare with chrome cover, backup light, Bosch head and fog lights, radio, mother of pearl instrument panel, banjo spoke steering wheel, opening vee windshield – Factory replacement engine. Poor old repaint, pitted, peeling chrome, dirty, dry underbody, cracked, worn interior but complete and good as a pattern. Sound body. Runs and drives but the starter failed, is being rebuilt and will be supplied to the buyer when it is completed. Filthy engine. 1953 Connecticut inspection sticker. Runs and drives. – Bid to $650,000 on the block, closed later at this price. An unusual combination of a Mannheim L-head chassis with Sindelfingen open sporting coachwork. It was offered at the Dragone brothers auction two years ago where it was reportedly bid to $850,000 although no actual bidding was apparent during the sale. The result here is unusually strong for a Mannheim M-B, especially in contemplation of a complete and expensive strip and rebuild and the seller should be very pleased to get this much for it.Lot # 274 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010025037; Engine # 12192110002980; Black,/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $135,000 – $150,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $141,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $155,100. With Reserve. CD stereo, body color wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, whitewall tires, comes with its original unrestored hardtop. – Lightly soiled but very good original upholstery. Excellent repaint and chrome. Old undercoat with some rusty fasteners. Pitted door handles. Orderly engine compartment has been competently restored, then driven a little. Weber carbs. A sound and very presentable cosmetically restored driver. – Cataloged with Solex carburetors, they have been replaced by appropriate (and more reliable) but incorrect Webers. Described as a 2 year restoration, it must have been sitting in a corner of the shop for most of that time and then rushed to completion before being driven enough to take off whatever restoration luster may have been present. It’s a mediocre 190SL, but that is even at $155,100 factored into the price.
Lot # 144 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 113042120006973; White,/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800. With Reserve. Automatic, Euro headlights, Grundig multi band radio, hubcaps, trim rings, blackwall radial tires. – Mostly original with a decent repaint and sound original interior. Grungy engine compartment. Represented as 76,911km (47,790 miles) from new and one owner. A decent but not impressive driver. – An intriguing but ultimately disappointing 230SL that brought appropriately lackluster bidding for it. In the end the buyers got it right.
Lot # 2470 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 121042107501915; Ivory/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. With Reserve. Becker Europa radio, body color wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, whitewall radials. – Excellent paint, chrome and top. Exceptionally attractive interior. Underbody was done a while ago and shows limited use but age and some surface rust where water has sat. Engine compartment is clean, sharp and nearly like new. A very fine example, but with a 1957 chassis number. – Described as a fresh restoration, it must have taken a while for it to be done for the underbody to look like this and creates the impression it was sitting for years, then quickly finished up to catch the 190SL freight train. The bidders weren’t fooled, nor was the seller, who got out while the getting was good. An astute transaction on both sides.
Lot # 158 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Roadster; S/N WDBBA48D2GA041947; Red, Red hardtop/Black leather; Estimate $25,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750. No Reserve. Automatic, later alloy wheels, Michelin blackwall tires, Clarion CD stereo, A/C, P/W, two tops, original books and manuals. – Good repaint, upholstery and chrome. Very clean underbody. 36,772 miles from new and a clean CarFax. – This is an unusually good example of a great driving M-B. Most have been driven into the ground exactly because they’re such user-friendly automobiles, so finding a low miles, exceptionally clean example like this is rare and the St. John’s bidders recognized it as such. It’s no bargain, but it’s not expensive, either.
Lot # 109 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Alloy; S/N 1980435500786; Engine # 1989805500728; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $5,500,000 – $6,500,000; Older restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $4,500,000. With Reserve. Rudge centerlock wheels with polished rims and painted centers, Michelin XWX tires, fitted luggage, hinged steering wheel, multiband radio. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Underbody is like new with neat, tidy undercoat. – Opened at $3 million but didn’t close even at the reported high bid. It’s been a regular, selling post-block at RM’s Amelia Island auction in 2003 for $750,000, then crossing the block here in 2004 at a reported high bid of $770,000 and at RM London in 2012 with a reported high bid of $3,866,640. It could have found a new home at the high bid here, and now will wander through the market searching for an elusive better offer.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Nine
Lot # 114 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupe; S/N WDDAJ76F05M000530; Crystal Laurite Silver/Red leather; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $495,000. No Reserve. – First owned by Petersen Publishing owner Robert Petersen, now with its second owner and only 134 miles from new. – Sold by Gooding & Company at Amelia in 2013 for $225,500 with 123 miles and now sold for its new cost of $455,000. Depreciation has ended and appreciation has begun even if appreciation will probably subordinate experiencing its triple digit performance in favor of preservation of the triple digit odometer.
Lot # 220 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412003756; Ivory/Black vinyl; Black top; Estimate $175,000 – $205,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. No Reserve. Automatic, wheel covers, Phoenix narrow whitewalls, dual mirrors, VDO dash clock, Becker Europa II radio, air conditioning. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and engine bay and underbody. Represented as a two-owner car, it’s had a recent body-on full restoration and today is a very pretty restored Pagoda that’s better than most and needs nothing. – Pagodas have enjoyed popularity in the market recently, and the 280s are the quickest, most developed and most desirable of them. This 280’s equipment and condition combined with the venue brought a strong result even though the bidders weren’t misled by the optimistic estimate.Lot # 232 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712002871; Dark Blue/Tobacco leather; Dark Blue top; Estimate $375,000 – $425,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000. No Reserve. Automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, dual mirrors, light brown leather boot cover, wood dash and A-pillar trim, Becker Europa radio, Behr air conditioning, VDO dash clock. – Used but very clean engine bay. Very good paint and chrome. Even gaps. Very good, plush interior. Exquisite interior wood. A high quality recent restoration by Road Scholars in North Carolina that’s seen a bit of very light use. – A beautiful car that caught the bidders’ attention and brought a full retail price.Lot # 314 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712001038; Engine # 11698012000836; Light Blue/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $300,000 – $375,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000. No Reserve. Automatic, wheel covers, Hankook narrow whitewalls, floor shift, wood dash and A-pillar trim, Becker Europa II radio, power windows, Behr air conditioning, fog lights. – Very good paint. God older chrome. Slightly dull plastic rub strips. Lightly worn top. Tidy used engine bay and undercarriage. Lightly scratched window trim that’s also starting to pit lightly. Very good interior with light signs of age. A recent cosmetic restoration and mechanical servicing has left this car looking quite pretty. It is represented as having just two owners and 54,864 believable miles. – A clean, unpretentious, quality car with long term single family ownership in California and all the good things that description implies. While far from a show car, it is a sound, attractive example that can be used and enjoyed with both confidence and pride at a price that is appropriate for the car.Lot # 324 ; 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002552; Engine # 19898010002603; Red, Black hardtop/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000. With Reserve. Chrome wheels, body color accented hubcaps, Dunlop blackwall radial tires, two tops, Talbot mirror, Becker Mexico AM-FM, belly pans, full tool roll, fitted luggage, original M-B tire pressure gauge – Four owners from new and probably 34,725 original miles. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Freshly restored better than new inside, outside, topside, and underside. Seats are lightly stretched but still sound and attractive. – A benchmark 300SL Roadster bought for a price that reflects increasing introspection on the part of 300SL buyers. It would be hard to better (without the involvement of celebrity owners) the fully documented ownership history, limited miles and fastidious restoration of this automobile. The price it brought is reasonable. (photo: RM Sotheby’s)Lot # 345 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980404500080; Engine # 1989804500093; Black/Green leather, Plaid cloth; Estimate $1,500,000 – $1,800,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,450,000. With Reserve. Green fitted luggage, hinged steering wheel, black center wheels with polished rims, bias ply blackwall tires, belly pans. – Restored better than new with lovely engine compartment, beautiful paint and chrome and attractive interior. – Sold here by RM in 2012 for $1,171,500 in comparable crisp, sharp condition and showing just 34 more miles on its odometer now than it did three years ago. It is difficult to understand why the consignor didn’t accent the reported high bid if there was money anywhere close.
Lot # 55 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Coupe; S/N 180037119509647; Engine # 180924119502539; Ivory/Beige leather; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $62,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,750. No Reserve. Column shift 4-speed, dual Solex carbs, wheel covers, whitewalls, locking filler cap, wood dash and window trim, dash clock, Becker Europa radio. – Discoloration and grease marks on the driver seat, but otherwise very good interior. Paint drip on the passenger door but otherwise very good paint. Tidy engine bay and undercarriage. A 1990s restoration that has reportedly been driven just 1,000 miles since, but it shows its age. – Sold by Mecum in Kansas City in December 2012 for $64,660, then by RM from Don Davis’s collection in April 2013 for $77,000. In all cases this M-B brought a top price for an imperfect car. 2220Ss have been in the spotlight lately, but the truth is that post-war Mercedes-Benzes of all types have been moving up in price. At this amount, at least for the moment, there isn’t any room left to fix some of the cosmetics.
Lot # 8 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe; S/N 11102612003256; Tobacco Brown/Saddle leather; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. No Reserve. Floor shift automatic, wheel covers, Douglas narrow whitewalls, sunroof, power windows, wood dash and windshield trim, Behr air conditioning, Becker Europa II radio, VDO dash clock, fog lights. – Fit is off on the plastic rub strips on the front bumper. Chrome is shiny but older. Trunk fit is off. Big chip in the driver door edge. Otherwise very good paint. Advertised as recently restored but it presents more like a sound older job. Interior is excellent other than worn shifter and some original switchgear, and the right knob for the air conditioning is missing. A few issues to address on a highly desirable hand-built car with desirable options. – Low-grille 280SEs have become a quick way to communicate class and sophistication for collectors, and Cabriolet prices have more than doubled over the past three years. Coupes have been on the move lately as this price attests. It’s interesting to note that essentially the same money could have bought a 930 in similar condition at the same sale, and the oversights in some of the details are not reassuring. This is a generous price for a Tobacco Brown driver quality 280SE 3.5 coupe.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2015 – Page Ten
Lot # 27 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210426501758; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000. No Reserve. Hubcaps, trim rings, Kleber blackwall radials, Weber carbs. – With the first owner until 2013. Sound but microblistered paint, good original upholstery. Scratched right front fender. Delaminating windshield. Dirty original underbody. Sound chrome. A sound largely original car that needs paint. – In the quest for originality it doesn’t get much better than this and the fact it brought barely low six figures shows that the fascination for 190SLs may be recognizing the reality of their numbers and performance. Restoration will squander much of the value in this 190SL.Lot # 61 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002486; Engine # 19898010002525; Anthracite Metallic/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000. With Reserve. Chrome center, polished alloy rim wheels with body color accented hubcaps, Toyo radial tires, Talbot mirror, bumper overriders, original owner’s manual, build sheet copies, 300SL commemorative wristwatch. – Excellent recent repaint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment and underbody restored better than new. Sharp, crisp gauges, dashboard and steering wheel. A beautiful restoration for screenwriter Frank Darabont in an attractive color combination. – A particularly good looking color combination that beautifully complements the 300SL Roadster’s lines, even if it is a color change from the way it was delivered, this is an impossible to fault example with about 1,000 miles since restoration. It is a good value for a collector who wants a quality combination of cosmetics and performance.
Lot # 215 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SE 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 11202210004361; Engine # 18998510000145; Black/Saddle leather; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $45,100. Reserve. 4-speed, sliding sunroof, Becker Mexico radio, wheel covers, air suspension, narrow whitewalls, wheel well moldings. – Fair old repaint with some dirt inclusions. Orderly but aged engine compartment and underbody. Very good original interior, dashtop and wood. Suspension and fuel system freshly rebuilt. A freshly resuscitated survivor in very good and usable mechanical and cosmetic condition. – With only 170hp this is not one of Mercedes-Benz’s better performing coupes, but it is no slouch, either, and is built to the highest standards of quality and luxury. Freshly sorted with careful attention to mechanical details it should be a rewarding car to own and drive, especially as this realistic price.
Lot # 150 1951 Mercedes-Benz 170 DA OTP ‘Police Special’; S/N 130139/51; Engine # 13034/51; Green, Dark Green fenders/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $27,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,250. No Reserve. 40hp 4-cylinder diesel, heater, clock, Bosch headlights, fog lights and spotlight, folding windshield, rear-mounted spare set into body, side curtains. – Poor older repaint, sound upholstery superficially installed, dull brightwork, grimy chassis, underbody and engine. A sound but tired project looking for home. – Rare is one thing, but rare and desirable is another and this Mercedes is barely desirable, just interesting. Its price reflects both its below-mediocre condition and is a realistic interpretation of its value. On a Mercedes-Benz show field, however, it will make an immediate impression.Lot # 274 1958 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet; S/N 180030Z8518726; Engine # 1800111301; Light Ivory/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. With Reserve. Column shift 4-speed, Becker Europa multiband radio, heater, Hella fog lights, halogen headlights, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls. – Good paint, poor door and trunk fits. Good upholstery. Poor interior wood, especially the cracked, poorly fit dashtop. Stiff, cracked windshield seal. Ugly old underbody covered up with some casually applied shiny undercoat. Cracked hood badge. Orderly unrestored engine compartment. Road grimy chassis and running gear. A rather forlorn car with some lipstick. – The seller should be overjoyed to get this much for a car with so many needs and shortcomings. The new owner may feel some remorse.
Lot # 118 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 10901812006395; Black/Black leather; Estimate $480,000 – $650,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $375,000. With Reserve. Automatic, power windows, power sunroof, alloy wheels, Vredestein blackwall tires, air conditioning, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, Hella fog lights. – Euro-spec car bought new by Steve McQueen’s Solar Productions. Mediocre recent paint, original interior and chrome. Loose left rear door trim. Clean, orderly chassis and underbody, The quality of the 2013 repaint by Kienle is not up to the standards expected of this shop’s reputation. – This is a $50,000 car on its best day ever. The Steve McQueen provenance (and the original upholstery where Steve’s buns rested) adds significantly, but attributing a factor of ten to thirteen to its value stretches the McQueen Effect beyond the limits of its elasticity.Lot # 127 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500053; Engine # 1989824500153; Metallic Dark Strawberry Red/Black leather; Estimate $1,275,000 – $1,575,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,100,000. With Reserve. Black center Rudge wheels, Pirelli Cinturato tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, hinged steering wheel, Halda Speedpilot, power antenna, Talbot mirrors, belly pans. – Old, tired repaint, peeling on the right rear body and overspray underhood and in the body side vents. Fair chrome. Sound, surface cracked upholstery, worn carpets. Cosmetically tired but sound; too good to restore. – This is a nice old Gullwing, used and yet apparently carefully maintained by Paul Russell’s shop, with charming patina. It is a car that Dr. Fred Simeone and Miles Collier would passionately argue should never be restored. If it could be bought by a sympathetic new owner anywhere close to the reported high bid it would be a car to own and drive proudly, and beggar the shiny paint/bright chrome/seductive upholstery restorationists’ negative comments.
Lot # 208 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Coupe; S/N 1880145500025; Engine # 1989805500027; Dark Blue/Grey leather; Estimate $600,000 – $800,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $550,000. With Reserve. Wheel covers, wide whitewalls, US headlights, fog lights, Becker Mexico AM-FM – Restored years ago by Charles Brahms to showroom condition and ageing well with 55,530 miles from new according to the catalog. An outstanding example. – Crammed into a ‘Heavy Classics’ space at Sotheby’s, across the aisle from the 300Sc Cab, this beautiful 300Sc coupe got scant attention, an afterthought, which it does not deserve, but an excellent opportunity for an astute collector to experience a superlative quality automobile’s performance, luxury and presence at a reasonable price. It is surprising that RM|Sotheby’s didn’t make this deal happen if there was money anywhere in the area code.Lot # 220 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Roadster; S/N 1880156500069; Engine # 19998006500071; Dark Blue/Tan leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $975,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,072,500. With Reserve. Bosch Euro headlights and fog lights, chrome wheels, wide whitewalls, fitted luggage, Becker Mexico AM-FM. – An older restoration by Charles Brahms that has been meticulously maintained and preserved. Excellent paint, chrome, interior woodwork, upholstery and trim. – This is a million-dollar car, bought for a million-dollar price. The consignor may have hoped for a bit more in the image-conscious New York City market, but took real money for a real car.Lot # 223 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing ‘Sportabteilung’; S/N 1980405500640; Engine # 1989805500659; Silver/Red leather, plaid cloth; Estimate $5,000,000 – $7,000,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $4,200,000. With Reserve. Rudge wheels, Michelin XVS tires, hinged steering wheel, no belly pans, Hella halogen headlights, Marchal fog lights. – One of four Gullwings prepared and modified for competition by the M-B Sportabteilung department, one of two known survivors. No known factory racing history but driven by Stirling Moss with Georges Houel as co-driver in the 1956 Tour de France Auto, finishing second overall, and later by Houel in France, then dormant for many years. Belly pan (hanging on the wall) signed by Moss. Good recent repaint, scuffed old bumper chrome, fair interior with sloppy fits. Polished aluminum intake plenum and runners. Repainted engine compartment with dusty corners. Old undercoat in wheelwells. A sound and usable driver. – The catalog remarks on the ‘Sportagbteilung’ Gullwings’ record as a ‘little-known chapter’ and that goes a long way to explaining the difference between the bidders’ opinion of its value and the consignor’s expectations. This is a car that should have made a number of appearances in historic events and concours (despite the mediocrity of its cosmetic restoration) to help build recognition of its history before bringing it into the market. Now it’s been exposed and declined by the buyers.
I can’t exaggerate how much I learn from your commentaries.
Rick, Which auction house that will be at Monterey in 2016 would be the best one to offer a mid-1950’s sports racing car that is actively being raced? I’m thinking Rick Cole or Bonhams.