Mercedes-Benz automobiles are long known as an obvious choice for enthusiasts that appreciate a high level of craftsmanship and demand reliable service. With an unrivaled history that includes the famed pre-war White Knights and the dominant Silver Arrows, these cleverly engineered products from the world’s oldest automaker continue to make a solid case for buyers.
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.
Lot # 0979 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Convertible; S/N 11304312004720; White/Blue vinyl; Dark Blue cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – 4-speed, two tops, white steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, store brand all season narrow whitewalls, Blaupunkt AM/FM radio, VDO dash clock. – A few tiny cracks around the hood but otherwise very good paint and chrome. Near perfect newer soft top. Wood console is original and a bit dry and both the steering wheel rim and cap have numerous cracks, but the rest of the interior is very good with likely newer seats and carpets. Very clean but not highly detailed underneath. A car that’s gotten cosmetic attention that left it a shiny museum piece, but never fully done over. On display at a museum in China from 2006-2015. – Reported sold by Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas last year for $49,500. That result, even for a flawed 250 Pagoda, was downright cheap, and the one here in Scottsdale is still quite a bargain.Lot # 1004 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Convertible; S/N 11304210015913; Light Yellow, Light Yellow hardtop/Green leatherette; Black top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500 – 4-speed, two tops, Blaupunkt multiband radio, body color accented hubcaps, trim rings on green steel wheels. – Repainted assembled with erratic masking and areas of light orange peel. Engine compartment has been given a pressure washer detailing and has rusty brackets. Good original interior with impressively sharp dash and gauges. Peeling old undercoat in the wheelwells. A superficial cosmetic redo of a basically sound and well preserved SL. – This combination of manual transmission, both tops and decent presentation could have brought more as the 113-series floats upward toward softening 190SL values. The underhood presentation is appealingly original, if aging, as is the original interior. All things considered the WestWorld bidders sensibly restrained their enthusiasm with a result that this price is fair to both the buyer and the seller.Lot # 1084.1 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 1210426500100; Gray, White hardtop/Red; White top; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – Dual Webers, white hard top, hub caps and trim rings, whitewall radials, wood shift knob, Becker Europa radio, VDO dash clock. – All original with major mechanical repairs. Rebuilt motor. New brakes, tires, both tops and exhaust. Cracked, ripped original seat upholstery. No carpets. Dull but charming original paint with just the right amount of scratches and chips. Cracked whitewalls. Dry, clean and complete underneath. With the mechanical overhaul, it’s usable as it sits, although the serious rips in the seats are unfortunate. – A premium for originality was paid for this car, but it was not excessive (at least as premiums for tired, dirty cars were going in Scottsdale) and the seller endured the time and expense of getting it running and drivable again, so this was a relatively sound buy, at least as far as 190SLs are concerned, and $19,250 more than the non-running 190SL in even dirtier condition at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction. The Webers are not correct, however, and a set of rebuilt Solexes would be a good investment.Lot # 1375.1 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 24539; Black, Black hardtop/Red leather; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000 – Becker ‘High Fidelity’ radio, body color wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewall tires, dual outside mirrors, two tops. – Very good paint, chrome and upholstery. Sharp engine compartment. Underbody painted assembled over old, peeling undercoat. Thin windshield frame and window sill chrome. – This 190SL’s restoration isn’t as good, or as thorough, as the price it brought indicates. Even with both tops it is an expensive 190SL as their prices slide slowly back to earth.Lot # 1379 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 1210428500718; Red/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, body color wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, two tops. – Repainted over old paint with shrinkage cracks all across the cowl. Thin windshield frame chrome, along windowsills and on interior handles. Wheel wells repainted over old, peeling undercoat. An auction car. – Represented as 39,062 miles and stored for 36 years, this 190SL was rushed through a superficial cosmetic restoration to catch the 190SL wave. While the wave is subsiding this car caught just enough of it to achieve a strong result, one that is better than its presentation.
Lot # 34 1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K Transformable La Baule, Body by Saoutchik; S/N 35813; Engine # 60793; Dark Blue, Blue/Burgundy leather, moiré cloth; Tan cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $885,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $973,500 – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, copper brake drums dual windshields, dual sidemounts with mirrors, opening vee windshield, Bosch headlights. – No known history after the chassis was delivered by M-B to Saoutchik in 1928 until well into the last half of the 20th century. Excellent older paint and cosmetics. Body wood trim is heavily varnished and starting to craze. Underbody and engine are nearly concours quality. The interior with its moiré cloth inserts, like the endpapers of a fine book, is gorgeous. About as close to concours as an old restoration can be. – Very special and elegantly appointed but bulky disappearing top coachwork attracts attention and is typical of most 630Ks, which would need all the horses of the supercharged 6.3 liter six to haul it around. The lack of history or provenance is disappointing, and more than a little unsettling, for such an epic automobile and the gaping hole in its history makes the buyer’s decision to pay this much a tribute to the appeal and allure of the chassis and drivetrain.
Lot # 204 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 11603612006349; Milan Brown Metallic/Bamboo leather; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. – Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, alloy wheels, Euro headlights, air suspension, aftermarket Nardi woodrim steering wheel, cassette stereo, front and rear headrests, window sticker and delivery documents included. – Excellent panel gaps and factory paint is hardly aged. Glass and trim are like new. The engine is very clean and the interior is like new. In better condition than a two year old used car and showing 30,015 miles. – This remarkably well preserved 6.9 is still capable of surprising alacrity and doing so with comfort and security. Its brown livery reflects the subdued tenor of the late Seventies. It brought a reasonable price here with a realistic premium for its originality.Lot # 215 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412006311; Engine # 13098310002908; Anthracite Grey Metallic/Dark Gray; Estimate $150,000 – $180,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500. – Automatic, narrow whitewall tires, Becker Mexico radio, factory air conditioning, hardtop. – Smooth panels with factory gaps. Excellent paint. The front bumper has been repaired at some point and the grille is a bit wavy. The engine has been detailed, but not restored, with a few incorrect finishes. The interior has been well restored decently although the seats were overstuffed. Full restoration completed in 1990 for a Japanese collector. A good looking car overall but falls down on correctness. – One of two Pagodas in the sale, this car brought a huge result considering its good but unexceptional condition. The factory air conditioning adds to the value, but that doesn’t explain the over-market result here.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2016 – Page Two
Lot # 242 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster; S/N 130894; Engine # 130894; Red/Red leather; Estimate $10,000,000 – $13,000,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $9,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,900,000. – High door, long tail, lefthand drive, inset exposed spare tire, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, Bosch headlights, dual spotlights, driving light. – Owned by its first owner, Reginald Sinclaire, son of one of the founders of Corning Glass Works, who stored it in the parking garage of the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs until the Fifties. Restored by Mike Fennel for the most recent owner in the 1980’s and in that collection ever since. Original engine, chassis and body. The restoration, while aging gracefully, is still in excellent condition, almost too good to restore again, and the car is clean, crisp and sharp with very good paint, barely used upholstery and bright chrome. – The star of the show, if there ever was one, with a charming history of long term ownership by its first and its most recent owners. This is an advantageous price that discounts its older restoration but puts a marvelous automobile still more than suitable for touring in its new owner’s hands. Restored examples might be (and have been) worth more than this, but none have such a solid history.Lot # 273 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104210020375; Grey-Blue/Tan leather; Gray top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. – Dual Solex carbs, electronic distributor, halogen headlights, K&N air filters, hub caps and trim rings, coco mats, dash clock. – Smooth panels and even paint with a scratch on the driver door and chips on the trunk. Very good chrome and glass. Excellent top. The chassis and engine are very clean and correct. The interior presents as new. Numbers matching and finished in its original colors after a nut and bolt restoration 10 years ago and a 2006 190SL Group Best in Show winner. Aside from a few small flaws, it’s a beautiful car and still showable on a local level with several upgrades to make it a more satisfying weekend driver and tour car. – After a couple years of hardly believable prices, sometimes well over $200,000, for good restored 190SLs that encouraged more and more good ones to come to market, prices seem to be settling. The enthusiasm for them has brought many examples to auction with rushed, superficial, ‘restorations’ designed to look good on the block but not much else. This one is not one of those cars but rather a meticulous older restoration that has been kept up and should be a highly satisfying acquisition for its next owner. It is an astute buy of a quality car.
Lot # 59 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500282; Engine # 1989807500289; Silver/Black; Estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $720,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $792,000 – Blaupunkt AM-FM-Multiband radio, hardtop only, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – Barn car, California black-plate last stickered in ’92. Dull old repaint, bird poop stained, shrunken filler, dented right door. Complete but grungy underhood. – The attraction of grunge, so often seen at recent auctions, didn’t save this 300SL’s value from the recognition that it will be a long and expensive process before it can be driven. After restoration it will, in the present market, be solidly into low 7-figures, but it will take all the difference to realize that potential and the time that will elapse injects another not inconsiderable risk element. The result here is surprisingly realistic.Lot # 60 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N ; Black, Ivory hardtop/Red leather; No top; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $67,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,250 – Multiband radio, hardtop only. – Barn car. Bad old repaint, sound original upholstery. Bird poop stains on the hood and roof. Complete but scruffy underhood. Sound body. – The lady friend companion’s counterpart to the 300SL Roadster sold just before it, grunge brought a superior result for this 190SL and leaves the new owner with the difficult decision of deciding how much restoration is enough, without going all the way and ending up seriously underwater. 190SL values are off their recent peaks, which does not bode well for the buyer of this barn car.
Lot # 120 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500587; Engine # 1989807500496; Red/Tan leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $820,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $902,000 – Rudge centerlock wheel with body color centers and polished rims, Michelin blackwall tires, Talbot outside mirror, hinged steering wheel, fitted luggage, air conditioning added. – Very good color changed paint, chrome and interior. Replacement engine block. Broken driver’s outside door latch handle. Deck lid emblem was rechromed over small pits and the rear and quarter window lock trim is dull. Engine is orderly but the chassis is covered in road grime. A good used car with fresh cosmetics. Wade Carter estate. – The car collectors’ faith in what might be is evident in the generous price paid for this sound but needy Gullwing. Its history of seventeen years with Wade Carter and for some time before that with John Calley offers some confidence in its underlying quality, but it also has a replacement block. The executors should be grateful to Bonhams for getting this much.Lot # 126 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 121042109500296; Engine # 1219216502973; Dark Grey/Green leather; Green cloth top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $170,000 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, side-facing rear seat, two tops, luggage. – Freshly restored and beyond perfect. Great paint, smooth inviting interior, brilliant chrome. Underbody is like new. – The restoration of this 190SL missed nothing, except the boat. That is, the 190SL boat has left its high value cruise route and is now settling back to doing bargain weekend runs. Many much less fastidious restorations have brought more when the 190SL Frenzy was in full swing, but that time is past and this car arrived in the market dressed up but seeking a value no longer prevalent. It might get more by waiting, but the trend is not encouraging.Lot # 153 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 1880155500016; Engine # 1999805500019; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $950,000 – $1,150,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $800,000 – Column shift 4-speed, chrome wheels with body color accented hubcaps, Becker Mexico AM-FM, fog lights. – Engine compartment is neat but not fresh. Chassis is lightly road grimy. Paint, chrome, upholstery and interior wood are very good. Radio panel wood doesn’t match the dashtop and glove box door. Underbody shows age and use. An attractive car that was restored two decades ago and has been driven sparingly since. – It’s hard to characterize a 300Sc Roadster as a ‘driver’, but that’s what this old restoration is. 300Sc Roadster buyers aren’t, as the moderate interest here shows, drivers. This one is too good to restore, but not good enough to show, placing it in a value-limbo that the high bid here shows.Lot # 167 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 154083; Engine # 15083; Black/Parchment leather; Black cloth top; Estimate on request; Older restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,970,000 – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, Bosch headlights, dual spotlights with mirrors, dip beam light, chrome exhaust headpipes, dual inset rear spares, mother of pearl instrument panel. – Built for one of the Embiricos brothers. Concours restored for Don Williams in the 1980’s with consistently excellent cosmetics including beautiful interior wood and a tight fitting and sleek top that looks far better it is up than piled up over the rear deck when it’s down. – Top up this is one sleek, sexy 540K, a car that should never have its top retracted and piled up in a disorderly stack behind the seats. A later 540K with oval chassis members and sodium-cooled valves, it is one of perhaps 32 built in this Cab A configuration. Viewed from most angles with the top up it erases any thoughts of Special Roadsters and is by any measure a sound value at this price.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2016 – Page Three
Lot # 07 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster; S/N WDDAK76F18M001557; Pure Black/Red leather; Burgundy cloth top; Estimate $360,000 – $425,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $360,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $396,000 – 5.4/617hp supercharged V8, 5-speed paddle shift automatic, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, carbon ceramic brakes, red calipers, power windows, climate control, factory radio, CarFax documented. – One of 106 2008 Roadsters. Two owners. Like new with 2,000 miles and recently serviced. – This was a half-million dollar car when new, so this transaction still shows used car depreciation on a used car. The buyer would prefer it be considered a future classic.Lot # 57 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210427501199; Engine # 1219217501258; Ivory/Burgundy leather; Burgundy cloth top; Estimate $190,000 – $240,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 – Becker Europa multiband radio, white steel wheels, body color accented hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, luggage in the trunk and behind the seats. – A sharp, fresh restoration with great cosmetics and particularly sharp but not overdone engine compartment. A real showpiece. – White car, whitewall tires, white accented hubcaps sounds like it would be bland, but it is not. Instead it’s an unusually effective color for the 190SL body, even better with the rich Burgundy interior. Yet even that wasn’t enough to offset the slumping desire for 190SLs, another chic collectible that has fallen from grace as supply caught up with and now exceeds demand.
Lot # 138 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500387; Engine # 1989807500392; Silver/Burgundy leather; Burgundy cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $950,000 – Hub caps and trim rings, Michelin Harmony tires, fire extinguisher, racing lap belts, VDO dash clock, Becker Mexico stereo, Euro headlights, fitted luggage, 3.25 rear axle. – Original engine, transmission and body as documented on the chassis card. Tidy used engine bay. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Other than a few spots of dirt and grease under the hood, it looks show ready and has won its class at Amelia Island and Hilton Head. With the consignor for the past 42 years and fully restored in 2002, although the restoration doesn’t look anywhere near that old. – This is an exceptional 300SL Roadster, but with its older restoration it could have been sold with only slight, if any, regret by its owner of 42 years. The difference between $1 million and $0.95 million has no real effect upon the consignor’s retirement.Lot # 161 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500397; Engine # 1989805500396; Ivory/Red leather; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,500,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,265,000 – Body color Rudge centerlock wheels, Michelin XWX tires, hinged steering wheel, fitted luggage, Becker Mexico radio. – Excellent paint, fresh, inviting interior, brilliant chrome. Better than new with very little use since it was restored. – This Gullwing hits pretty much all the hot buttons and brought a hot button price.Lot # 188 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 408371; Two Tone Red/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $3,000,000 – $4,000,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,800,000 – 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts, Bosch headlights, dip beam lights, dual spotlights with mirrors, trafficators, raked vee windshield, set back radiator, chevron grille guard. – Plain white instrument panel, older gauges, very good interior wood. Upholstery is lightly surface creased. Paint and chrome are very good. An older concours restoration by Mike Fennel in the early 90’s with an attractive and understated livery and a provenance that is hard to match: James Melton, Otis Chandler, Axel Wars and General William Lyon. – The vee windshield and set back radiator are characteristics of the famed Special Roadsters and are known to have been ordered on only this and one other Cab A. The caliber of the Mike Fennel restoration is apparent from the way it remains some two decades later. The different between the reported high bid and the low estimate seems like it could have been bridged to make a sale work.
Lot # 478 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712001947; Metallic Blue/Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $245,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $269,500 – Automatic, Behr air conditioning, power windows, Becker Europa AM-FM, body color accented wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, fog lights, power steering, power brakes. – Superficial recent clearcoat repaint largely unmasked with overspray in the engine compartment. Curdled dashtop wood varnish. Weak trim chrome. Filthy original engine compartment. Mostly sound original upholstery except for some seam pulls and sun rotted rear seatback. Why it was painted is an enigma. – A truly disappointing 3.5 that is in no way usable as it is yet brought a restored car price. The buyer must see in his or her mind’s eye the spectacular thing it can become, but only after spending a quarter million dollars on it. A truly disappointing 3.5 that is in no way usable as it is yet brought a competently cosmetically restored car price. The buyer must see in his or her mind’s eye the spectacular thing it can become, but only after spending a quarter million dollars on it. There is no way even to start on this car without ending up with it ‘while you’re at it’ in a pile of parts, each of them needing hours of careful attention. It would not have been reasonably bought at the low estimate. At this price it is a hopeless project that will end in tears and recriminations.Lot # 487 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 11102610000524; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $96,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $105,600 – 4-speed, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, Euro headlights, fog lights, Behr air conditioning, headrests, Becker Europa AM-FM, wheel covers with body color accents, narrow whitewalls, power windows – Painted assembled with some detail oversights. Good original interior and redone wood, dirty dash bezels, clear gauges. Red paint dust residue on the shift lever boot. Sound major chrome but the usual thin Mercedes trim brightwork. Engine compartment has been cleaned up but not restored. Doors and trunk fit impressively flush and evenly – In 2004 this car sold for $14,580 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. Some of its cosmetics may [probably] have been redone since then. It’s difficult to argue with its technical specs, particularly the 4-speed, and impossible to argue with its price today. It is a potentially great car, largely left alone but maintained, that exudes confidence in its care and presentation.Lot # 489 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet; S/N 11102512001849; Light Ivory/Cognac leather; Brown cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $137,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $150,700 – Automatic, power windows, power steering, power brakes, Becker Grand Prix AM-FM, body color accented wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, headrest seats, air conditioning. – Sound clearcoat repaint with some body shop flaws. Very good fresh upholstery, trim, carpets, instruments and dashboard burl wood facing. Dashtop wood is done but not very well. Underbody is original and very good for its age. – The 280SE six is forty horsepower down on its V8 counterpart 280 SE 3.5, but the difference in performance is unlikely to be noticed the way these cars are used today. And 160hp isn’t exactly chopped liver. The Ft. Lauderdale bidders recognized the trade-off and accorded this sound and competently presented 280SE Cab with a superior price.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2016 – Page Four
Lot # 526 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300d 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 18901110001967; Dark Grey/Red velour; Estimate $50,000 – $65,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $45,100 – 4-speed, Becker Mexico radio, split front seats, body color accented wheel covers, whitewall Silvertown tires, sliding sunroof. – Fair old paint, worn interior, cracked varnish on the interior wood, erratic chrome. All there, an honest, solid, dry, well preserved car with a single owner since the early 90’s. – Fairly nasty, but with plenty of potential, albeit realized at great cost, this ‘Adenauer’ still has class and distinction. Similarly nasty Rolls-Royces of the period sell for more and are destined to sit outside mediocre restaurants trying to impart class to their over-priced menus. This is a better automobile and can still be driven with some pride, particularly at this price.Lot # 719 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 9500074; Black/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $94,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $103,950 – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, no radio. – Weber carbs. Good repaint, chrome, older interior and top soiled over the bows. One touched up chip on top of the left front fender. Engine and underbody are older and grimy from use. – This car was sold by Christie’s from Bill Lassiter’s collection in 1999 for $27,600 in much the same condition as it is in today but now having a replaced interior now attractively worn in. It is a sound and usable car bought for an appropriate price in the declining 190SL market.Lot # 724 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet; S/N 12803010003229; Burgundy/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – Becker Mexico radio, 4-speed, Hella fog lights, body color accented hubcaps, whitewalls. – Very good, paint, chrome, upholstery, top and interior wood. Exterior color overspray inside the wheelwells. Well restored with some subsequent use and quality upkeep keeping it in credible condition. – A very good example with a restoration that is holding up very well. The result is in line with the pre-sale estimate but could have been significantly more without being expensive, it’s that good a car.Lot # 728 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412023673; Ivory, Ivory hardtop/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $75,000 – $85,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,200 – 5-speed, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, aftermarket leather rim steering wheel, body color accent wheel covers, Euro headlights, Pagoda hardtop and soft top, Frigiking air conditioning with a rotary compressor. – Top of the engine is cleaned up for the auction but the rest of the grimy bits are grimy. Sound repaint, original chrome and redone interior. A driver quality SL that shows reassuring care but far from the best out there. – The desirable and rarely seen 5-speed works wonders to take full advantage of the 280SL’s 180hp. Neither the 5-speed nor the A/C are factored into this price, which could have been well into the pre-sale estimate without being expensive.Lot # 731 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 11304212019539; Silver-Grey, Silver-Grey hardtop/Black leatherette; Estimate $45,000 – $55,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750 – Automatic, hubcaps, trim rings, Pirelli P300 tires, Clarion cassette stereo, two tops, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – Fair older repaint with a few flaws, dust motes and cracking corners. Weak chrome on the hardtop and window sills, sound major chrome. Paint chip on the right rear corner. Pitted interior top brackets. Good upholstery and carpets. Dirty original underbody. Cosmetically maintained to mediocre standards in driver condition. – This is a pretty tired 230SL, but it is well equipped including both tops and could have brought another $5-7,000 without being excessive.
Lot # 415 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet; S/N 12803010950977; Black/Red leather; Black top; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000. With Reserve. – Wheel covers, whitewalls, Hella driving lights, red leather boot cover, Column shift, VDO dash clock, wood dash and door trim. – One of 1,112 built. Fully restored in 2002. Represented as numbers matching. Very good older paint and chrome. Rocker trim isn’t flush. Excellent interior. Very clean, lightly run in engine bay. An older high quality restoration that’s holding up well and only showing a few signs of general age. – This is a strong result for a $100,000 car.Lot # 420 1940 Mercedes-Benz 230B Cabriolet; S/N 446561; White, Green/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $132,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $145,200. No Reserve. – White steel wheels with hub caps and green trim rings, Silvertown wide whitewalls, Bosch headlamps, central Amber driving light, single spotlight, trafficators, suicide doors, tan cloth boot cover, floor shift. – First registered in Switzerland. Full ownership history. Restored from 2006 to 2009. Comes with original luggage. Dirty tires. Decent but not great repaint. Very good and clean engine bay and underbody. Very good interior. Dull original steering wheel. An attractive classic cruiser in eye-catching colors. It’s not an immaculate restoration, though, and 10 years after the work was done you couldn’t call it much better than a very pretty driver. – It’s the M-B star on the front of this boring, underpowered Mannheim Benz that makes its reputation and its value. 55hp is not a lot, but a burger or gauleiter would have been gratified to have such a ride in 1940. Today, not so much, and the seller should be gratified to get this much for a usable but not attractive relic.
Lot # T167 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Convertible; S/N 12013769; Dark Blue/Beige vinyl; Dark Blue top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $54,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $59,400 – Automatic, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, Learjet 8-track stereo. – Chipped old repaint. Good major chrome and most trim except around the top boot cover and taillights. Interior has been replaced and is vinyl, not the leather claimed by the car card. Underbody is original, as is the dashboard. Cracked steering wheel spokes. Missing its radio tuning knob. – This isn’t the best 230SL, but it’s good enough at this price and has strong potential.
Lot # 31 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 154146; Engine # 154146; Maroon/Beige leather; Brown cloth top; Concours restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,800,000 – Chrome wire wheels, body color accented knockoffs, blackwall Michelin tires, dual spotlights with mirrors, outside exhaust headpipes, Bosch headlights and single fog light, dual rear spares set into the deck, white steering wheel and shift knob, mother-of-pearl gauge panel, opening windshield, fitted luggage. – Restored recently and shown at Pebble Beach in 2014, one of only about ten with this setback radiator style Sport Cabriolet A body. Excellent paint, chrome, interior, top, gauges and engine. A concours restoration with no evidence of age or use. – Offered by RM in Arizona in 2015 with a reported high bid of $3.1 million. It is 10% lower here, not unrealistically in the present market.
Lot # 623 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Convertible; S/N 11304312003135; Red/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. No Reserve. – Automatic, wheel covers, Michelin tires, VDO dash clock, Becker Mexico stereo, two tops. – Fairly dirty used engine bay with generic red hoses cut to fit. Scratched window trim. Good paint. Clean trunk. Worn, cracked steering wheel. Good upholstery. Wood dash is a bit dry and tired. Slightly dirty underbody. Delaminating windshield. A shiny repaint almost hides the fairly tired car underneath, but not quite. – Sold at WestWorld in 2015 for $40,700. The car card plays up ‘mostly original parts’, a clever way of capitalizing on not doing much at all with it before it came to the auction. The seller came out largely whole after owing it seventeen months; the buyer didn’t look very close before holding up the paddle.Lot # 626 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 12104210022389; Dunkelgrun/Bamboo leather; Tan top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500. No Reserve. – Green wheels with hub caps and trim rings, tan boot cover, VDO dash clock, both tops. – Spent it’s life back and forth between Europe and the US, 60,837 documented miles. 2,000 miles on full restoration. Good paint and chrome. Slightly uneven hood gaps. Small crack on the right front fender. Very good, lightly worn interior. Paint bubble right below the passenger’s side window. Lightly used. Better than many 190SLs, but the boom a couple of years ago prompted many top notch restorations, and this car isn’t up to that standard. Still, it’s completely usable and needs nothing serious. – The decision to push this 190SL through a less than meticulous restoration probably was a good one in order to catch what’s left of the 190SL boom rather than spending more on a better, but longer, restoration and then selling further into a softening market. The transaction is realistic both for the car and for the timing.Lot # 716 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210426503045; Dark Blue/Cognac leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. No Reserve – Body color wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, fender mirrors, heater, no radio, Solex carbs. – Very good paint and chrome. Seat covering is loosely fitted. Orderly and clean engine compartment. Underbody has old, peeling paint and undercoat. A pretty but superficial older cosmetic redo. – Bid to $125,000 at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction in 2014, then sold by Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas four months later for the very same price. The odometer has added 108 miles since then. This is the third time it has been bid to exactly the same amount, and the seller is fortunate to get this much for it in a weakening 190SL market.
Lot # 128 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980404500120; Engine # 1989804500134; Candy Apple Red/Tan leather; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,500,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000 – Dual Heuer Autavia stopwatches, hinged steering wheel, GM Harrison air conditioning, Rudge centerlock wheels, Firestone bias ply blackwall tires. – Superficial repaint over old paint. Sound old upholstery and carpets. Dirty engine compartment with an old polish job on the intake runners. Dirty original underbody. Sound body. Choice, but not original enough to preserve. DB 353Gl (Light Blue Poly) paint tag. Offered by its second owner, Jim Hall. who bought it from the first owner, George ‘Buck’ Tilp. Recently serviced so it can be driven but not road-ready. – This is an appropriate result for this car’s condition but with no premium for originality or its long term ownership by Jim Hall. On that basis it represents a good value for a Gullwing with its history.Lot # 133 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002756; Engine # 19898010002839; Fantasy Yellow/Dark Green leather; Dark Green cloth top; Estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,100,000 – Rudge centerlock wheels, Michelin X tires, VDO dash clock, Euro headlights. – Beautifully detailed engine bay. Excellent paint and chrome. Fuel filler door doesn’t fit evenly. Rocker trim doesn’t fit flush with the body. Excellent top. Excellent interior. Unusual but absolutely gorgeous colors. Reportedly one of just five finished in Fantasy Yellow. Would be a solid concours car if someone were to address those fitment issues. Engine was replaced at the factory before delivery and the car was retained by Mercedes for promotional purposes before going to its first owner in 1963. Full restoration starting in 2013 and recently finished. – The seller may expect more for this exceptional 300SL but will be hard pressed to find it unless someone falls in love with the color scheme.Lot # 154 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Coupe; S/N WDDRJ7HA4EA011147; Solarbeam Yellow/Black Alcantara; Estimate $425,000 – $550,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $420,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $462,000 – 6208/622hp V8, 7-speed paddle shift, black painted AMG wheels, ceramic brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, wings, carbon fiber console, aluminum filler cap, gullwing doors. – Bonkers car finished in an appropriately bonkers color and in showroom condition with only 315 miles. One of just 132 Black Series cars delivered to the U.S. – These cars started at $275,000 when new, although nobody probably ever paid that little. It’s still just about the fastest and most insane Mercedes you can buy today in addition to being very rare, so it’s only natural that it’s not going to depreciate like your average C-Class. Even so, the result here is a big premium and evidence that Black Series AMGs are instant collectibles. How it could languish for two years with negligible miles being put on it is difficult to conceive; this is a car to be driven enthusiastically, like its F1 Safety Car counterpart, the best-sounding vehicle on the F1 circuit.Lot # 228 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500089; Engine # 1989807500117; Metallic Blue/Parchment leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,650,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000 – Rudge centerlock wheels, Dunlop blackwall tires, Euro lights, pushbutton multiband radio, fitted luggage – Restored in 2005 and recently freshened. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is restored like new with factory finishes. Underbody is painted like the outside and shows a few miles but is still clean and nearly fresh. The restoration looks like it was completed 11 weeks ago, not 11 years. – Sold by RM in Arizona in 2008 for $742,500. The price it brought today is indicative of the growth of 300SL Roadster prices in the last eight years and the impressive maintenance this car has received.
Lot # 27 1904 Mercedes-Simplex 28-32HP Rear Entrance Tonneau; S/N 2406; Engine # 4309; Royal Blue, Red coachline/Red leather; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,805,000 – RHD. B.R.C. bullseye acetylene headlights and kerosene sidelights, double chain drive. – Known history from new with a reproduction body in the early 80’s after years on farm service in the UK hauling pig swill and as a stationary power source. VCC dated and multiple LBVCR participant. Good paint, brass is good but needs to be polished. Good upholstery. Chassis shows age but is better than just serviceable. Runs strongly and drives very well. – Sold by Brooks in London in 1999 for GBP 265,500 ($427,192 at the time) when it was at least as good as it is today, a delightful, powerful, commodious vehicle of impeccable quality. This is one of the quick – but expensive – ways to get from London to Brighton on a nasty November day. And who says buyers of antique cars are dying off?Lot # 51 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500251; Engine # 1989807500269; Anthracite Grey Metallic/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,150,000 – $1,350,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,050,000 – Chrome rim Rudge-style wheels, Michelin blackwall tires, white steering wheel, US lights, pigskin luggage, factory build sheet, owner’s manuals, tool set, wheel hammer, workshop manual, parts book, brake manual, original keys. – Represented as the original matching numbers engine. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Freshly restored and better than new. Engine compartment is freshly done with factory finishes and fittings. Better than new without being overdone. – The 300SL market is not what it was and the bid here was closer to appropriate than the seller’s expectations were.Lot # 96 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 1210407502449; Engine # 1219217502470; Ivory, Black hardtop/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500 – Hub caps and trim rings, Coker Classic whitewalls, Becker Europa radio, black cloth tonneau cover, VDO dash clock, CA black plate, two tops. – Titled as a 1958. Left front trim ring doesn’t fit straight. Driver’s side door sticks out at the bottom. Lightly worn original steering wheel, dash and switchgear. Very good newer upholstery. Dull bumpers. Lightly pitted original brightwork. Decent re paint. Light scratches on windshield. Has gotten serious cosmetic attention during the past few years, but never fully restored. Far from the best 190SL out here, but not bad. – After a sharp rise, 190SL values have settled and this price for a solid driver is as appropriate as it was a year ago.
Lot # T108 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 1210407502462; Red/White; Black top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000. With Reserve. – Power brakes, adjustable antenna, pushbutton radio, VDO dash clock. – Red paint was wet sanded and has been polished well. One very small scratch on the left front fender and a few other small ones near the driver’s door. Chrome was redone and is in very good shape. The windshield is delaminating. Engine compartment is clean with no leaks. Much of the rubber on the car is dry rotted and cracked. A stain is visible on the cloth that covers one of the top hoops, new carpet and a wrinkled driver seat. Gauges are clear and bright. An older body-off restoration that’s seen a fair share of enjoyment. – The reported high bid here wasn’t exactly generous for a 190SL in this kind of older restored condition, but it was enough to at least consider. These cars likely aren’t going to be getting more valuable any time soon, and that’s something the owner should consider before letting the car bounce from one Mecum auction to the next as he holds out for more. It was bought at Auburn Fall last September for $148,500 and isn’t likely to see that value again in the absence of some dedicated attention to its many and visible defects, and then it’ll represent an investment of $25-20,000 more, not an encouraging prospect.Lot #F77 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412006465; Signal Red, Red hardtop/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $95,000 – $115,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $70,000. With Reserve. – Becker Mexico radio, dealer air conditioning, VDO dash clock, power brakes and steering, wheel covers, soft top and pagoda hardtop. – Single repaint. Normal chips near where the hardtop mounts. The bodywork is good. Panels are flat and most gaps are even, although the hood has a tight gap when closed and has large chips and rub through in that area. Chrome is a bit dull and lightly scratched. Engine bay is clean but older. Window gaskets are noticeably worn. Carpet is faded, but seat leather is new and well installed. Gauges are clear and bright. A good mostly unrestored driver showing 76,535 believable miles. – Sold at Mecum Kansas City last year for $65,880. In the same condition other than the newer seat upholstery, but new seats don’t justify refusing the reported high bid, which is higher enough than last year’s appropriate result to be perfectly happy with. These cars haven’t gotten any more valuable since then, either, so if there was money close to the high bid it should have been taken.
Lot # F456 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 11102412002822; Blue/Blue leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700. No Reserve. – Automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, wood dash and window trim, dash clock. – Repainted during the past few years with the old color evident along the seam of the driver’s side door and over-spray visible in the wheel wells. Brightwork is cloudy and lightly pitted throughout. The seats and carpet are in good condition. The leather pad is pulling up from the rear window ledge. It appears to have shrunk. Dash and steering wheel are worn and cracked. The Interior wood trim is in excellent condition. Newly rebuilt transmission and fuel injection system, and represented as a one-owner car. Well maintained and a usable driver, but not one to be especially proud to own. – Along with the car the new owner received a long list of projects to undertake between now and the 2017 driving season, a satisfying to do list to contemplate and plenty of reason to stay off the streets and out of bars in the coming months. It’s not a bad price for it, either, although the hasty repaint is and will remain troubling.Lot # S678 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500548; Silver/Red leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,050,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,155,000. With Reserve. – Steel wheels with hub caps, VDO dash clock. – Originally ivory but now finished in silver. Very good paint and brightwork. The engine compartment has aged well and has little oil or grime. The underbody is the same story. The interior, is also original. The seats are very worn and stained, and the driver’s seat even has a rip on the top. Sills are very worn and the steering wheel is cracking. Very well redone on the exterior and worn well for the age inside. Repainted, but mostly original and represented with a recent service. – Cataloged here with an incorrect chassis number, 19804035500548, this Gullwing actually was sold by RM in Arizona in January of this year in the same tired condition for $1,155,000, exactly the same price it brought here.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2016 – Page Seven
Lot # 14 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500654; Engine # 1989805500701; Midnight Blue/Gray leather; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,600,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000. With Reserve. – Hubcaps, chrome wheels, Avon tires, fitted luggage, VDO dash clock, belly pans, tools. – Very good interior. Very good older paint. Very good restored underneath. Excellent chrome. Done to high standards by Hjeltness Restoration in California in the early 1990s. The car was seized by the Justice Department in the middle of restoration when the owner was arrested, but the restoration was finished and it passed through several sympathetic collectors and is still in like new condition. – Sold here in 2012 for $1,025,000, a car so good at the time that its nearly two decade old restoration was described as ‘Recent’. It’s still that good with the odometer showing only 130 more miles now than it did then. An outstanding automobile bought for an appropriate price.Lot # 20 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412022135; Blue, , Blue hardtop/Blue; Estimate $250,000 – $275,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000. With Reserve. – Automatic, wheel covers, Kumho narrow whitewalls, pagoda roof hardtop and soft top, Becker Europa radio, VDO dash clock, Frigiking air conditioning, kinder seat. – Windshield is delaminating at the bottom. Superb original paint and chrome. A few chips on the fender lips. Very light pitting on the hardtop frames. Interior is superb as well. Original underneath. Given a new top, tires, exhaust and suspension bushings among other things during a major service in 2012, but almost completely original. This looks like a car that’s six months old. – With all the rare, exotic significant automobiles to look at under the Gooding tents and gleaming catalogue pages, it would have been easy to miss this relatively common 280SL. The unbelievable level of originality, though, caught the right people’s attention. While the result was very expensive, the opportunity to find one this good and this original probably won’t come up again any time soon.Lot # 67 1957 Mercedes-Benz 220S Coupe; S/N 180037N7509637; Beige, , Cream roof/Red leather; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve. – Wheel covers, Silvertown whitewalls, Bosch driving lights, dash clock, column shift 4-speed, Becker Brescia radio. – Single owner for over 30 years. Very good chrome. Dry, cracking windshield gasket. Light pitting on the rear bumper. 1992 repaint in very good condition. Worn but sound original upholstery. Fantastic wood that’s likely been refinished. Scratches from the wipers on the windshield. Some paint flaking off the steel wheels. Very clean and original underneath, other than a replacement engine block fitted in 2009 along with a later cylinder head. An odd mix of restored and original condition. Represented as having been first purchased in 1957 for the then-Prince of Spain Juan Carlos, but no further history is advertised. – This is a nice enough 220S that has been maintained by only a few owners as a driver quality vehicle to whom the block and later head probably seemed like a worthwhile improvement in performance. It doesn’t have that effect upon later collectors, however, and even the price here at half the pre-sale low estimate is ample, if not generous.Lot # 153 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002507; Engine # 19898010002560; White/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,237,500. With Reserve. – Hub caps, Michelin Harmony tires, Talbot Berlin mirror, VDO dash clock, Becker Mexico stereo. – Small crack in the Talbot Berlin badge on the mirror. Small scrape in the front bumper and light pitting on it as well. Wheels could stand a good cleaning. Rear rocker trim isn’t flush. A few small dents in the right front hub cap. Light scratches on the left rocker trim. Big chip on the left front edge of the hood. Another on the front edge of the passenger’s side door. Very good lightly worn older seats and restored interior. Good top. Restoration by Scott Grundfor Company in original colors done 10 years and 500 miles ago, but the age is starting to show and this isn’t much more than a driver SL Roadster. – Two years ago, this car probably could have commanded a lot closer to $1.5 million, but after 300SL prices have settled this is a spot on result.
Lot # 209 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300d 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 189010120011696; Engine # 189980129500313; Black/Grey cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500. With Reserve. – Automatic, Blaupunkt multi-band radio, wheel covers, aftermarket air conditioning, Cibie driving lights, whitewalls, power windows. – Fair repaint over old paint. Good chrome and interior. Clean gauges with weak bezel chrome. Original undercoat in wheelwells. Good interior wood trim. Believed to be two owners from new and in condition appropriate to the 79,571 miles on its odometer. – A very satisfying car that suggests it is nothing more, or less, than it appears to be and is the pinnacle of luxury from its era. It isn’t sleek, it isn’t svelte, it doesn’t have a swarm of questionable power accessories; it’s just visual class stratification, both then and now, and is a highly reasonable acquisition at this price.Lot # 217 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet; S/N 1110231000089; Primer/Red vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $18,000 – $24,000; Incomplete restoration, 5 condition; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,800. No Reserve. – 4-speed, Becker Europa AM-FM, – Dusty, dirty, rusty. Tattered upholstery. Filled door bottoms. Boxes of unsorted parts. Engine hasn’t been out or had anything done. Needs everything is an understatement. – Touted as a one owner car, a qualification that means little in this condition, especially with the visibly wavy filled door bottoms. It was a cosmetic restoration gone bad, real bad, and it will be an expensive challenge to make anything out of it, especially at this price going in.Lot # 219 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304410014571; Red/Saddle Brown vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $0 plus commission of; Final Price. With Reserve. – Blaupunkt AM-FM, 4-speed, headrest seats, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. – Restored like new with some subsequent use and age. Very good paint and chrome. One rip in the driver’s seatback, otherwise the upholstery is sound and likely original. Underbody has been done to showroom condition with little evident subsequent use.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2016 – Page Eight
Lot # 222 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N WDB11603612005879; Engine # 11098512006994; Anthracite Grey/Black leather; Estimate $18,000 – $24,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,400. No Reserve. – Becker Grand Prix cassette stereo, alloy wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, Euro headlights, sliding sunroof. – Good older repaint with rust bubbling up along the left drip rail. Dull, oxidized window and roof aluminum trim. Good chrome and interior. – An impressive performer when new, particularly in the context of the late Seventies when it ruled the road. It might be a little difficult to justify it these days when even the most mundane full-size American sedan has more power, but it has panache and has been well maintained even with over 100K miles. It’s hard to argue with the price it brought, which hedges all these issues.Lot # 232 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304410003900; Green, Green hardtop/Tan leatherette; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. With Reserve. – 4-speed, Realistic cassette stereo, hubcaps, trim rings, Michelin X blackwall tires, – Mediocre old repaint, original interior, torn driver’s seatback bolster. Thin trim chrome, sound but scuffed bumpers. Orderly original undercoat in the wheel wells. A sound largely original driver. – A rather pleasing and honest car in condition appropriate to its age and the history represented but distinguished by its desirable 4-speed gearbox. This result is reasonable for its condition and specification.
Lot # 142 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500397; Red/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $750,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $825,000 – Becker Mexico AM-FM, body color wheels with hubcaps and dull polished rims, Dunlop SP Sport blackwall tires, Talbot mirror. – Excellent older color-changed paint, chrome and interior. 1958 engine. Underbody was restored like new, as was the engine compartment, and both now show a little age and minimal use. – Back in 1993 this 300SL crossed the block fresh from restoration at Auburn Spring on a reported high bid of $191,000. It has passed the test of time well and today still looks great. It should be a fine car for tours or spirited weekend drives while holding its own in the gathering points at the beginning or end of the day. The price it brought is entirely appropriate to its history and condition.Lot # 162 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupe; S/N 11102110079804; Light Yellow, Black roof/Brown leather; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – 4-speed, Behr air conditioning, Becker Europa AM-FM, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, white shift knob and steering wheel, Euro headlights. – Underbody resprayed with sealer while assembled. Exterior repainted over old paint and poorly matched on the cowl panel. Filled body panels. Bad window sill chrome on both doors. Worn window channels and seals. Tired, used and fluffed up with a superficial repaint many years ago, it’s a used car. – A seriously needy 220 that brought a price recognizing its many needs.Lot # 231 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet; S/N 12803010002524; Engine # 12798310000081; Black/Parchment leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $130,000 – $150,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $90,000 – 4-speed, Blaupunkt multiband radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Hella fog lights, service records. – Bought new by Theodore Roosevelt III. Quickly repainted over old paint and badly repaired dings in both doors. Sill molding doesn’t match the rear fender contour. Original upholstery is surface creased and sound. Good newer top. Cracked fog light lens. Tired interior wood with scrapes, cracks and varnish loss. Decent chrome. Original, dirty, undercoat in the wheel wells. Poor hood fit with a vast rear gap. Said to be recently mechanically serviced with a rebuilt FI pump – Famous family history notwithstanding, this is a tired 220SE with many needs and only limited credit for preservation. Its high bid here is modest, but has room for unexpected issues. The bidders were conservative, and it could have brought a price into six-figures without being expensive.
Lot # 635 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 11304210015581; Ivory, Ivory hardtop/Red; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $59,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $64,900 – 5-speed, hub caps and trim rings, Blaupunkt AM/FM pushbutton and 8-track stereo. – Two-owner car bought new in Saskatchewan. New top, brake master cylinder and muffler. Repainted at some point with a little bit of orange peel right below the windshield. Otherwise good and shiny. Aged but very well kept and recently detailed engine bay. Some paint flaking off the wheels. A few light scratches on the front bumper as well as a few big ones. Fantastic original interior other than the wood trim on top of the dash, which is dry and cracking. A great survivor showing 52,486 believable miles, although it would be even more special if it still had the original paint. – The old paint, scratched bumper and dried out wood did this otherwise well-preserved old 230SL no favors but all of that and some more can be readily addressed at this price, a good value in a 4-speed/hardtop 230SL.
Lot # 166 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010025586; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $140,000 – $160,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $92,500 – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, Solex carbs, no radio. – Sound but superficial old repaint with corners not attended to and cracks under the windshield posts. Good upholstery but worn old carpet. Good chrome and new top. The engine has been redone but not the compartment it sits in. Cracked fuse box cover. Underbody repainted over old undercoat. A superficial, rushed old cosmetic redo. – Hastily restored to look good from 20 feet away, the closer you get the more issues appear and up really close they are myriad. The estimate range reflects a fully restored car, which this isn’t, and even the reported high bid here is generous.Lot # 180 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe; S/N 11102612001771; Silver-Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – Automatic, Behr air conditioning, power windows, Becker Europa AM-FM, fog lights, wheel covers, Michelin narrow whitewall tires. – Good repaint except for two blemishes on the front of the hood. Bright major chrome; badly pitted side window and vent frames. Clean and detailed engine in an unrestored compartment. Good refinished interior wood and new upholstery. Clean underbody. A competent superficial cosmetic redo to presentable driver condition. – 111-series Mercedes are wonderful driving machines but this example is only superficially redone to look good from ten feet and deserves no more than the price it brought here.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2016 – Page Nine
Lot # 187 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300c Cabriolet D; S/N A1860336500040; Grey/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $93,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $102,300 – 4-speed, wheel covers, no radio, wide whitewalls, Bosch fog lights. – Decent repaint, sound older reupholstery and top. Weak, pitted trim chrome. Bad steering wheel with pitted, peeling chrome. Driver’s door window fit is uneven. Old, dirty underbody and chassis. Superficially cosmetically refreshed, but that’s all. – While this 300c isn’t a paragon of presentation it has most of the important correct pieces that make restoring one such a challenge. It is disappointing, but no more than the modest price it brought. The new owner got, assuming an intelligent approach to its restoration, a rare and high quality car that is a good value.
Lot # S101 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 1210409502307; White, White hardtop/Black vinyl; Tan cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – Hub caps and trim rings, Coker Classic whitewalls, VDO dash clock, Becker Europa radio, both tops. – Chips and scuffs at the bottom edges of the hardtop. Handful of small chips at the left edge of the hood, decent older chrome. Wiper scratches on the windshield. Good interior, but worn door panels. A little dirty underneath. An older restored driver with an incorrect VIN on the car card. – 190SL prices may have fallen off after their big surge, but this is downright cheap even for a flawed car. This is an attractive driver for project car money, but it is a huge hit for someone along the way, having sold at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2011 ($50-80,000 estimate) for a bank account draining $143,000 in a charity sale (donated by Sheryl Crow) for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.Lot # S114 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Convertible; S/N WDDAK76F28M001809; Black/Black leather; Estimate $395,000 – $425,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $325,000 – 5439/617hp, supercharged, automatic, carbon ceramic brakes, carbon fiber interior trim, carbon fiber seats, airbrake. – No visible wear to be found. Like new and showing only 2,047 believable miles. – This was a half-million-dollar car when new, and other recent results for these cars show them to still be depreciating. As a limited production supercar, though, it likely won’t take too long before SLR McLarens start selling for huge money alongside other 2000s exotics. It was reported bid to $230,000 at Auctions America’s Burbank sale in 2013, then sold by Russo and Steele in Scottsdale in 2014 for $338,800Lot # S133.1 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet; S/N 12803010002722; Dark Gray, Light Gray/Red leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $112,750 – 2195/134hp, 4-speed, wheel covers, Coker Classic whitewalls, Hella driving lights, column shift, Becker Mexico radio, VDO dash clock. – Restored in 2003. Dull bumper chrome. Good older paint. Doors do not fit flush with the body. Good top. Interior wood is scratching in several spots. Frankly, this restoration looks older than 2003. It is a gorgeous car for what it is, but could stand to be restored again to fully appreciate it. – Definitely on the low side for a cabriolet, but if the seller is the same person who bought the car at Mecum Monterey in 2014 for $97,200, then letting it go at this price won’t feel too bad even though the result doesn’t beat inflation after paying the entry fee and seller’s commission.Lot # S187 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet; S/N 180030N7551500; White/Tan leather; Brown cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000 – 3-speed (?) manual transmission, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, driving lights, column shift, later cassette stereo, VDO dash clock, wood dash and door trim. – Recent mechanical service and new brakes. Lightly pitted bumpers. The rest of the brightwork is fairly dull. Decent older paint. Heavily pitted door handles. Passenger’s side door sticks way out at the bottom. Uneven trunk gaps. Rocker trim isn’t on straight. Discoloration on the underside of the top. Sound, lightly worn interior. Plenty of dirt and wear underneath. A thoroughly enjoyed older restoration that’s on the verge of tired. – The car card says this 220S has a ‘desirable 3-speed manual transmission’, a claim that is hard to buy since, ‘desirable’ or not, there is no evidence of M-B ever putting anything other than a column-shifted 4-speed in the 220S. The bidders looked at the used, neglected condition of this 220S and concluded it had more problems than they wanted to assume.Lot # T31 1965 Mercedes-Benz 190C Sedan; S/N 11001010067150; Red/Beige vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $8,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,075 – 1897/90hp, 4-speed, hub caps but no trim rings, store brand narrow whitewalls, bucket seats, column shift, VDO dash clock, aftermarket air suspension. – Chassis was undercoated at some point but has seen a lot of use since. Tired old respray with several chips and crude touch ups on the hood. Dirty wheels and tires. Cracked window gaskets. Scratched up window frames. Dull, scratched brightwork. Very cracked steering wheel rim. A few small stains on the beige carpet. A humble sedan in humble condition. – And bought for a humble (but appropriate) price. This is the base for M-B’s 190SL Roadster which even off the top of its market still commands serious money. Put a couple of Webers and a strong camshaft on this 190 sedan and enjoy all the thrills of a 190SL with room for the kids and grandkids for one tenth the price.
