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 2014. While impossible to top 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 73 Mercedes-Benz analyzed in 2014:
Lot # 194 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500594; Engine # 1989805500621; Silver-Grey/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $1,100,000-$1,400,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $980,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,078,000. Matching numbers, steel wheels, leather upholstery, Talbot mirror, full provenance, tools. No luggage. – Presented in reverse of its original colors, with silver paint 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. – A Gullwing for under a million? A miracle, but one thoroughly deserved by this consistently maintained by never fully restored example. It’s a good car, and in many ways a better Gullwing than fastidiously over-restored examples costing 20-40% more, not to mention derelict hulks that seem to incite bidders into frenzies of exaggerated visions of restorations. It’s a curious phenomenon, but in the present market this Gullwing is appropriately priced.Lot # 167 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Sports Phaeton, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 209421; Engine # 123724; Black/Brown leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,500,000-$2,000,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000. 5018/100-160hp supercharged inline eight, 4-speed, outside exhaust headpipes, blackwall tires on steel spoke wheels, luggage trunk, 2-door close coupled Cabriolet A coachwork, dual sidemounts with mirrors, driver’s spotlight. – Quick old paint, worn, cracked upholstery, dull chrome. Handsome close-coupled two-door body with immense metal trunk. Discovered in Europe in 1951 by Dr. Ralph W.E. Cox, displayed at Winthrop Rockefeller’s museum at Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas recently. A car that needs nothing, or everything, and has potential either way. – In a world fascinated with 500K and 540K Sports Roadsters this Cabriolet A body by Sindelfingen really stands out. The giant luggage trunk is a distraction from the clean lines of the Cab A body, but characteristic of the style of the time and its loss in search of more refined lines would detract from the period appearance. The new owner got a singular, different M-B in remarkably original and unmolested condition at a highly reasonable price that encourages its mechanical freshening and spirited driving. This is a real prize.Lot # 128 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712003741; Tobacco Brown/Cognac leather; Brown cloth top; Estimate $140,000-$180,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500. Column-shift automatic, Behr A/C, Sony stereo installed with original Becker Europa radio included, tinted glass. From Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. – An original car with some scuffs to the original color repaint, even patina to interior, some cracked rubber, good chrome, well preserved wood. Sound canvas top, some windshield chips, clean underhood, 65,267 mileage is very likely correct. – A sound and usable car showing good maintenance by a celebrity couple that added significantly to the value.Lot # 115 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712002505; Engine # 11698012002300; White/White leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $225,000-$275,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $247,500. Automatic, A/C, P/W, Becker Mexico cassette, fog lights, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Euro headlights. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and wood trim. Underbody has been covered in a recent coat of underseal. Orderly and correct underhood showing just a little road dust. Highly impressive and consistently presented. – Restored like new in most respects but troubling in its shiny new coat of underseal and failure to pay much attention to the engine compartment. The price paid pretty much takes into account the car’s issues.
Lot # 020 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980428500244; Engine # 1989808500245; Light Blue/Red leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000. No Reserve – 2996/215hp, 4-speed, Michelin XWX tires, European headlights and taillights, locking filler cap, dash clock, Becker Mexico multiband radio, fitted luggage. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Detailed engine bay. A beautiful car with an older European restoration recently updated by SL specialists. Finished in its original, rare factory color combination and with more elegant Euro-spec lights. A choice example in an eye-catching livery. – This is what it takes to own a 300SL Roadster these days when they are as meticulously presented as this one.
Lot # 5075 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 121042109502178; Black, Dark Red; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. No Reserve– Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls. – Fresh paint and chrome. Orderly, clean and correct engine compartment. Underbody has been superficially cleaned up and repainted. An attractive cosmetic restoration. – Sold for $59,950 at Wordwide’s Auburn auction in 2010, this 190SL is not sufficiently better today to warrant the $120K increment in price even in today’s frantic 190SL market.Lot # 5064 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210409500417; Red, /Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Customized restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. No Reserve– Body color wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, whitewalls, pushbutton radio, Solex carbs. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is oddly restored with incorrect shiny paint finishes. Even the carbs are clear coated. Underbody is repainted better than new. A custom car show restoration. – Remarkably and unattractively over-restored, but that didn’t deter the bidders from over-paying for it.Lot # 5057 1927 Mercedes-Benz 630K Drophead Coupe Sport Touring, Body by Thomas Harrington; S/N 32019; Black, /Dark Red leather; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Post-block sale at $650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $715,000. With Reserve– RHD. Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, luggage trunk, Zeiss headlights, Butler fender markers, Marchal driving lights. – Good recent repaint, body covering and upholstery on a much older and largely original chassis and engine. Original coachwork as fitted in 1927, attractive, lightweight and practical. In Thailand for nearly two decades until recently and serviced by M-B Classic Center. Eminently presentable and usable as is. – Bid on the block to $375,000 but reported later sold at a price of $715,000 ($650,000 hammer.) A stylish high performance Mercedes-Benz with supercharged six developed by Dr. Porsche, but expensive.Lot # 5044 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500634; Silver, /Grey plaid; Restricted Access, not viewed closely, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,900,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,090,000. With Reserve– – Freshly restored and show quality from ten feet. – Barrett-Jackson gets some extraordinary prices for Gullwings.Lot # 1171 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 12005126; Brown, /Tan; Tan top; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve– Automatic, two tops, factory wheels, factory air conditioning, Becker Europa AM/FM radio, leather upholstery, owner’s manual, spare tire, tool kit. – Excellent paint, chrome in fair shape with light pitting and minor scratches. Wheels are in great shape without nicks or other road rash. Engine bay has been thoroughly detailed. Excellent seats, carpet and dash round off an already good-looking interior. – The Pagoda SL market is somewhat befuddling. Fresh world-class restorations on well-equipped cars vault prices well into six figures in the right venue, while slightly less impressive examples can sometimes sell at a 50% discount. This 280SL, aided by its two tops, is a quality driver done by professionals to an acceptable standard of presentation and brought a realistic price.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2014 – Page Two
Lot #637 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL320 Roadster; S/N WDBFA63F3VF153209; Quartz Blue Metallic, /Gray; Dark Blue top; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $16,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,150. No Reserve– Stock wheels, fog lights, headlight wipers, maple wood trim, leather rim steering wheel, 40th anniversary floor mats, 6-disc CD changer, heated leather seats. – Striking, collector-quality late-model Mercedes. Original wheels with 75 percent tire life left. Pristine interior shows virtually no use or wear. Well-kept engine compartment. Sound paint and major chrome. Essentially unused and represented with 36,481 original miles. – These cars were ubiquitous at country clubs, doctor’s offices, and upscale shopping centers in the 1990s. The bulk of those cars were driven extensively and then passed on to successively uncaring owners, while this one seems to have been lovingly cared for. Now, does anyone care? One of a big contingent of 10-15 year old luxury cars crossing the block at B-J.Lot #40 1980 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 10702412029462; Black, /Beige leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $9,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $10,450. No Reserve– Chromed alloy wheels, sliding sunroof, automatic, P/W, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, A/C, new tires, sheepskin seat covers. – Surprisingly clean and sharp for the 108,855 miles on the odometer. Clean untouched chassis and underbody. sound and shiny repaint with no obvious flaws although what lies under the sheepskins is a mystery. – A generous price for an SLC, but not unreasonable as long as the air conditioning continues to blow cold.
Lot # 132 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002582; Engine # 19898010002640; Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000 – 2996/250hp, Bosch mechanical fuel injection, 4-speed, locking filler cap, Michelin Harmony tires, Becker Le Mans radio, white steering wheel, fitted luggage, manuals and warranty cards. – Excellent paint and chrome. Both seats have a little wear. Engine bay shows use. Owned by producer and studio executive Ned Stone Tanen until 2009. An older restoration that has been used and kept correctly, it’s a perfect vehicle for drives and tours. If it’s a casual event, it could even be shown. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2012 for $814,000 with a hardtop that is nowhere in evidence today. This result is close enough to a 50% increase in just two years and a few months to stand as stark testimony to the nearly vertical value curve of 300SLs in recent years. 300SL Roadsters are wonderful automobiles, but they are not – as recent auction consignment lists will verify – rare. How long this kind of nearly exponential run-up in values can continue is doubtful.Lot # 125 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304410003896; Engine # 13098310001076; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $95,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $74,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $81,675. No Reserve – 4-speed, Cooper narrow whitewalls, Pagoda roof, Becker Europa AM/FM radio, dash clock, two tops. – Decent original engine bay and undercarriage. Seats lightly worn. Excellent, fresh paint and chrome. A lightly used and cosmetically freshened up original W113 that would make for a beautiful and reliable classic driver. – 4-speed 280SLs are rare and finding one so zealously preserved with only a fresh repaint separating it from original is highly unusual. The seller got all the money for the car, but the buyer got all the car for the money, with little premium for preservation, a reasonable compromise.Lot # 101 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Roadster; S/N WDBBA48D9KA094198; Engine # 94198; Petrol Blue-Green Metallic, Petrol Blue-Green hardtop/Cream leather; Estimate $35,000 – $45,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $52,800 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $58,080. No Reserve – 5547/230hp, Bosch fuel injection, 4-speed automatic, removable hardtop, alloy wheels, Pirelli P6000 tires, Becker Mexico stereo, two tops, owner’s manuals, tool kit. – Excellent original paint and interior. Very clean engine bay. Almost in showroom condition. Very clean, well kept and finished in a striking color combination. Prime example of a 107 Mercedes. – This is the pinnacle of the 560SL market by nearly $20,000, a tribute to its low miles and meticulous preservation. It would have been a better value within its estimate range but preservation class automobiles were the dominant flavor at the Gooding auction in Scottsdale this year. The seller gets full credit for timing by bringing it here and letting David Gooding and Charlie Ross work their magic.Lot #42 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980406500299; Engine # 1989806500303; Black/Burgundy; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,400,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,725,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,897,500 – US-spec car, matching numbers, original tools but no luggage, steel wheels, hubcaps, blackwall tires. – Single family ownership for 50 years and parked since 1975. Mechanically complete but not running. Original paintwork (with some blending) and cracked, torn, seam-pulled upholstery and falling headliner. Ratty engine compartment. A classic barn find that needs everything. No rust, but dings and scrapes, interior trashed, chrome dull and dented, mechanically defunct. – Where to start? A non-running barn find Gullwing sold at Gooding Scottsdale in 2010 for $660,000. Four years later, a similar car now is three times the price. Even with prices quickly on the rise, little over half this amount can still buy a nicely restored Gullwing, like the very good example sold by Bonhams on Thursday for $1,078,000. The barn find mystique seems to know few if any bounds. This car brought irrational money.
Lot # S109.1 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 121040109500447; Red, /Red leather; Tan cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $117,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $126,360 – Hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, two tops, white steering wheel, multiband radio. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody slathered with sealer. Engine is done, but not like new. – Appropriate priced in today’s over-priced 190SL market.Lot # F206 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210428500963; Red, Red hardtop/Black leather; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $124,200 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, hardtop only. – Restored to nearly like new condition with very good paint, chrome and interior. Pitted outside mirror chrome, clean and orderly underhood but excessively smothered in dull black paint. Underbody is clean and like new. – It would have been better to see the engine compartment done to higher standards after all the work put into the paint, bodywork and interior, especially at this price. 190SLs have gone on a value trip of their own in the past two years or so and despite this 190SL’s shortcomings it brought a realistic price in today’s inflated market.Lot # F144.1 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 11304212013769; Dark Blue, /White; Blue cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $46,440 – Automatic, Lear Jet cassette stereo, trim rings, narrow whitewalls. – Decent repaint and good new top and interior. Otherwise aged and neglected. Pitted door handles and mirror, weak interior chrome, chipped hood edges. Engine is untouched except for maintenance. – Sound, but has not lived a sheltered life, nor is originality an attribute. and this is an abundant price for it.
Lot # 372 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Competition Roadster; S/N 12104010021484; Silver/Black leather; No top; Estimate $122,526 – $149,754; Modified restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $119,803 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $138,972 – Driver’s big aeroscreen, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, 185/80R14 Michelin MXT tires, no bumpers, lightweight doors and hood, Weber carbs. – Sporty little creation with very good paint and interior. Tidy underbody splashed with fresh sealer. Chassis and suspension done nearly like new, as is the engine. – This 190SL probably does not suffer from having only 105hp, but it has been built to make a visual statement, not to any larger purpose and is worth no more than the price it brought here today. It will be much more fun to drive than a standard 190SL on sunny days, however, being both lighter and more powerful. Just don’t take it out when there’s risk of rain.Lot # 371 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010025168; Silver-Grey/Orange leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $122,526 – $149,754; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $176,982 plus commission of 16.00%; Final Price $205,299 – Hubcaps, wide trim rings, Michelin X blackwalls, Becker Europa multiband radio. – Restored like new with better paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is like new. An outstanding 190SL. – This is an exceptional 190SL, done to the highest standards in attractive colors that complement its lines. The price, however, is breathtaking even as it echoes so many other similar 190SL results. This is, remember, a 220 Sedan based car with 105 horsepower. It was never exciting, except for the prices they’re bringing today.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2014 – Page Three
Lot # 16 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 ‘Six-Door’ Pullman Landaulet; S/N 10001512001861; Black; Estimate $108,152 – $162,228; Unrestored original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $648,912 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $726,782. No Reserve – Beaten, battered, partially stripped. ‘Needs everything’ is inadequate to describe how much this decrepit hulk will require. – Four times the high estimate. Only a Russian oligarch or Middle Eastern potentate could value the exclusivity of one of the 26 600 6-door Landaulettes this highly.
Lot # 374 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980428500; Engine # 1989807500480075; Red, Red hardtop/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $884,260 – $1,156,340; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $843,448 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $969,965 – Two tops, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, body color road wheels, Michelin X blackwall tires, Euro headlights. – Restored in Italy in 1973 with a quick, flawed repaint over old paint. Deeply cracked original interior. Orderly original engine with polished intake runners. – With a mediocre old restoration nearly 40 years old and no small amount of subsequent use, this is a tired 300SL Roadster that brought a generous price, even though it is under the low estimate.Lot # 324 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 1880104500024; Engine # 1869205500578; Dark Burgundy/Dark Burgundy leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $408,120 – $476,140; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $353,704 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $406,760 – 4-speed, column shift, hubcaps, wide trim rings, whitewalls, fog lights. – Sound old repaint applied to the assembled and trimmed body and casually masked. Good but musty smelling interior, good chrome and top. Dank body cavities lined with peeling old paint. Fair interior wood. A superficially cosmetically redone car. – With 115hp trying to pull along a body built by Sindelfingen’s craftsmen, who never stinted on metal gauge or supports, the 300S is not exactly sprightly, but it is stately and elegant. This is a realistic price for this rather deficiently presented example.Lot # 320 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210408501091; Engine # 1219218501124; Red/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $88,426 – $115,634; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $81,624 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $93,868 – AM-FM radio, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, Solex carbs. – Decent older paint, chrome and upholstery. An older driver quality restoration with some miles. – Based on this result for a fully mediocre example, 190SL craziness is somewhat moderated in Europe. Still, nearly $100K for a dull old car is generous.
Lot # 151 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712002841; Engine # 11898012002543; Anthracite Grey/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $185,000 – $235,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $305,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $335,500 – Automatic, P/W, A/C, Becker Europa AM-FM, console, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, fog lights, limited slip axle, owner’s and parts manuals, tool roll, jack, wheel chock. – Good repaint, top, chrome, original interior and wood trim. Clean and orderly underhood, good old underbody. A reassuring car with 56,553 miles from new represented as original paint but suspect on the car. – The bidders bit on the original paint and paid a big premium for this 280SE 3.5. Even if the paint’s been lightly touched up it is a superbly maintained and preserved car that will give its new owner bragging rights, albeit at heavy cost.Lot # 149 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010020361; White/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. No Reserve – AM-FM, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, Solex carbs, side facing rear seat. – Freshly restored to auction car standards. Good paint, chrome and interior. Engine looks good on top, not so good underneath. Overspray in wheel wells. – A mediocre driver quality 190SL sold at the Leake Tulsa auction in 2013 for $121,000, and brought a reasonable price here in Amelia Island nine months later.Lot # 122 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500569; Engine # 1989807500545; Silver-Blue/Red leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,750,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,842,500 – Euro headlights, Rudge wheels, Dunlop blackwall tires, Becker radio, books, tools, Rudge spare wheel and tire. – First owned by 19-year old actress Natalie Wood, who had it painted pink from the original Silver. Restored in the present intriguing shade in 2000. Class winner at Amelia Island in 2012. In impeccable condition showing slight evidence of use but meticulously maintained with excellent paint, chrome, interior and gauges. – The celebrity provenance is a slight bonus in the value of this gorgeous 300SL, which brought a realistic price amongst the exaggerated valuations placed on similar cars these days.
Lot # 613 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 1130441201308; Ivory, Blue hardtop/Blue; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000 – Wheel covers, blackwall tires, automatic, Blaupunkt AM-FM, A/C, two tops. – Decent older paint job and five year old interior. Weak trim chrome. Orderly but aged and oxidized underhood. Dry original underbody. – This 280SL looks like it’s sat with little use and less attention for a long time and the price anticipates substantial expense to go through it and bring it back to reliable running and driving condition. A car with potential for the right new owner.
Lot # F128.1 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412022618; Gold/Brown leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $70,200. 2.8/170 hp, automatic, Hankook Optimo tires, Pagoda hardtop, roll-up windows, door pockets, dash clock, Becker Mexico radio. – Strong paint and chrome. Shabby engine bay. A driver quality example with a very good and recently redone interior. – The disappointing appearance of the engine leaves no small amount of doubt about how this 280SL has been treated and makes this, even for someone willing to undertake the needed work, a risky bet at this price. It would have been better bought for $45,000 than $65,000 but maybe the bidders hoped the 300SL/190SL euphoria will work its way down to the later SLs.Lot # F096.1 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible; S/N WDBBA48D3KA098554; Black, , Gold pinstripe/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $39,960. 5.6/227hp, automatic, two tops, Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires, P/W, A/C, Becker Grand Prix radio. – Very good original paint and interior. Good chrome. Reasonably tidy engine bay. One owner from new, very low miles, 20,722 on the odometer represented as original. A well kept original car that seems a lot younger than 25 years old. Documented with the original window sticker and factory books in their original sleeve. – This is a huge increment for this 560SL’s originality, low miles and single ownership from new. This price could have bought the best restored 560SL in the world, and reflects the sometimes irrational premiums paid for the preservation mystique. It will not be worth this much for a long time to come.
Lot # 4123 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010017435; White, , White hardtop/Red leather; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $132,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $145,750 – Hubcaps, trim rings, blackwall BFG radial tires, Weber carbs, Blaupunkt multiband radio. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Tidy underhood showing only a little age and use. Underbody squirted with recent chassis black over old paint and underseal. Flat panels and even gaps; door fits could be better. An attractive cosmetic restoration. – A prime example of the 190SL’s current transactional escalation, this is a sound but unexceptional car with enough shortcomings to call into question the thoroughness of its ‘recent documented restoration.’ It is expensive even in the context of the madness that has afflicted 190SL prices.
Lot # 344 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104210014520; Engine # 12192110014637; Ivory/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $92,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,200 – 1897/105hp, dual Solex carbs, 4-speed, color-coded hubcaps, BF Goodrich whitewalls, leather top boot, Becker Europa radio, dash clock. – Very good paint and interior. Decent chrome with some scratches and dings. Wheels and hub caps were poorly redone done with overspray and uneven paint. Dash is a bit tired, but the interior is very good overall. Looks like new leather and door trim. 2-owner car, with the first keeping it until just last year. Strong example, but not the best one in the recent craze for 190SLs. – With some 190SLs bringing amazing, eye-popping prices this sale of a sound and attractively preserved 2-owner example at a more reasonable price may signal a re-set in expectations. Then, again, I’ve made that observation before and been proved wrong within a few weeks. This transaction represents a moment of sanity and reasonableness in the 190SL market which recently has been noted for remarkable flights of fancy.Lot # 336 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sedan; S/N 1860110241852; Black/Red leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000 – Dual Solex carbs, floor shift 4-speed, Remington Cushion-Aire whitewalls, color-coded hubcaps, Bosch driving lights wood dash and door trim, dash clock, interior dome light, tools. – Clean undercarriage. Strong paint and chrome. Some chips in the paint around the doors. Good original interior with some noticeable wear both front and back. Wonderfully preserved and correct example with rare floor shift in place of the standard column shift. – An original car other than some expected attention to the paint, and still elegant and prestigious, the new owner should enjoy this Adenauer for many years while impressing people with its style and luxury. The new owner also can be very satisfied with the price.Lot # 332 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412023054; Engine # 153624; Silver/Black vinyl; Estimate $65,000 – $75,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $53,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $58,300 – 2778/170hp, automatic, dual mirrors, color-coded hubcaps, Goodyear Viva tires, soft top and pagoda hardtop, heated rear window, fire extinguisher, roll-up windows, Becker Europa radio, dash clock. – Strong older respray done in 2005. Scratches on the hardtop. Scratches and some curb rash on the hub caps. Good original interior overall with tired, cracking original steering wheel. Mostly clean but tired engine bay and undercarriage. Pretty driver and quite well-preserved, but nobody’s pride and joy. – Why is this one worth $5,000 more than the one sold as Lot 325? Originality? This isn’t the kind of originality that translates into value, it translates into wear, age and potential maintenance problems. This should have been the $48,000 bid and 325 should have been bid to $53,000.Lot # 325 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412022076; Engine # 153624; Tobacco Brown/Brown vinyl; Estimate $55,000 – $65,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800 – 2778/170hp, automatic, color-coded hubcaps, Cooper thin whitewalls, pagoda hardtop and soft top, heated hardtop rear window, P/S, Frigiking A/C, roll-up windows, Becker Europa radio, dash clock. – Good paint with a couple of small flaws and orange peel in the hardtop. Light scratches on the hub caps. Very good interior. Tidy but not spotless engine bay and undercarriage. Recently refurbished including paint, wood, engine tune and detail, new exhaust and new tires, a sound and usable example in an unusual color. – The new owner got a good car with exceptional equipment that adds up to a very good value. It could have brought well over $50K and still not been unreasonably priced.
Lot # F126 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 121040109500523; Red/Tan; Tan top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $85,000 – Power brakes, hard top and soft top. – A recent cosmetic restoration to try to take advantage of the 190SL’s current popularity. Paint shows flaws in the prep work. Brightwork has plenty of scuffs, dings and scratches. Panel fit looks good. Engine could use cleaning and detail. Underneath has been undercoated. Interior has new carpet, everything else shows wear and age. A superficially presented auction car. – It can be easy for owners to see #1 cars go from $90K to $230K and draw the conclusion that their $40K car is now worth north of $100K, but that isn’t the case yet. The biggest movement has been for impeccably restored cars, while smaller (but still significant) changes have occurred below. This car needs more and better attention to be worth any more than the reported high bid. It re-ran on Saturday (Lot #S238) with essentially the same result: no-sale at $86,000. The owner should learn from this double dose of reality check.Lot # W217 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible; S/N WDBBA48D1HA072589; Black, Black hardtop/Black leather; Black top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $8,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $8,640 – Automatic, P/W, A/C, Pioneer CD stereo, chrome wheel well moldings, bolt-on Dayton chrome wire wheels, Tiger Paw blackwall radial tires, cloth dash top carpet, two tops. – A sound and presentable used car that looks its age. Decent old repaint and upholstery. – A good driver represented to have had a good, caring history that brought less than it’s worth. How much? Maybe a third, even though in absolute dollars that’s not much.
Lot # S105.1 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104210014402; Blue DB350, Blue hardtop/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000 – Hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, Solex carbs, two tops, clock, AM-FM, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – Very good clearcoat paint, chrome, interior and top. Carefully restored with showroom presentation under the hood and under the car, except for the chromed cam cover and intake plenum. – The 190SL nitwits weren’t in Seattle, leading this very good 190SL to fall short of its consignor’s exaggerated expectations. No matter how it’s parsed, however, $120,000 is a lot to pay for a 105hp boulevardier produced in prodigious (25,881) quantity. ‘Hogs get slaughtered’, and this is the time to get out of 190SLs, a concept lost on this consignor.
Lot # 177 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 11304212019190; Ivory/Tan vinyl; Estimate $55,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,250 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, automatic, P/S, P/B, hardtop, narrow whitewalls, hubcaps, trim rings. – Mediocre old repaint, decent chrome. Stiff old upholstery cracking steering wheel. Underhood and underbody are original but surprisingly clean for their age. Good (probably replaced) dashtop wood. Sound body. An honest but unimpressive mostly original SL. – Allegedly this 230SL was ‘restored’ a year ago, a claim that is hard to credit given its sloppy appearance. The seller should be very pleased to get this much for a highly disappointing SL.Lot # 161 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010016225; Engine # 12192110016358; Maroon (DB 516)/Ivory leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, Blaupunkt multiband radio, Solex carbs, tools, books, jack. – Excellent fresh paint, chrome and upgraded leather interior. Highly detailed engine compartment. Flawless. – The prices 190SLs bring are amazing, as well as the quality of the restoration they get. This one is as good as it gets and its price reflects the regard the 105hp cars are held in these days.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2014 – Page Five
Lot # 158 1911 Mercedes 38/70hp 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 13496; Engine # 95319; Dark Green, Black fenders/Dark Green leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $450,000 – $600,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $495,000 – RHD. Ducellier acetylene headlights and kerosene sidelights and taillight. 37″ rear and 36″ front tires on varnished wood spoke wheels. Double chain drive, dual rear spares, one in each size, wood body cappings, matching tool box on left running board, whitewalls, folding windshield, Black patent leather mud shields, jump seats, ivory porcelainized cylinder blocks, Elliott speedometer. Engine plate #13496. Stamped B.No. 953 M. No. 19 on upper and lower crankcase. – 1992 AACA Senior. Purchased by Colonel Samuel P. Colt, the gunmaker’s more successful nephew (President of the Industrial Trust Company in Providence and U.S. Rubber Company among other things). Bought for European tours in 1911 and 1914, used by French Army in WWI. Stayed in his family until 1937, later acquired by B. Scott Isquick from Webster Knight III’s estate in 1970 and restored in 1994. Winner of the 1994 Pebble Beach Ansel Adams Trophy along with many other awards. Complete and as built for Col. Colt, impressively documented. In very good condition but slowing age and little attention. Ex-B. Scott Isquick and Otis Chandler. – A wonderful old Mercedes with an illustrious history not only with its first owner but later with important collectors. Beautifully restored in the early 90’s and still much the same today while beginning to acquire a patina that it wears well. Sold at Gooding’s Chandler collection auction for $632,500 in 2006, then by RM at Monterey in 2010 for $495,000. This is nearly 10 liters of legendary Mercedes power and quality for a realistic price.Lot # 153 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304410003965; Silver-Grey, Silver-Grey hardtop/Red leather; Estimate $75,000 – $95,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $57,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,250. No Reserve – 4-speed, two tops, Becker Europa AM-FM, white steering wheel, wheel covers, Michelin radial blackwall tires, hardtop. – Sound older repaint, good replaced seat upholstery but faded original door panels. Underbody coated with original undercoat, some of it peeling. Engine is orderly but a little dirty and has been recommissioned with tacky (‘NAPA tuneup’ one observer noted) aftermarket parts. Good dashtop wood. Dash and instruments are clean and crisp. – Attractively presented and particularly desirable with the 4-speed, the Motor City bidders intelligently valued this 280SL for what it is and paid a realistic price for it.
Lot # 253 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 18801000202/53; Engine # 18892000208/53; Medium Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $1,000,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $545,455 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $600,000 – 2996/150hp, triple Solex carbs, 4-speed column-shift manual, Firestone wide whitewalls, landau bars, Bosch headlights and driving lights, push button radio, burled walnut dash and door trims, locking filler cap, reproduction fitted luggage. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Dash especially is phenomenal. Undercarriage extremely tidy. Very strong, fresh and clean example. Proven concours car shown at Greystone Mansion, Palos Verdes, Santa Barbara and Dana Point. Still strong enough to be shown more. – A modest result for a handsome M-B in this post-block closed transaction. Good value.Lot # 252 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Touring, Body by Mayfair; S/N 123689; Engine # 123689; Red/Cream leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $750,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $825,000 – RHD. 4984cc/100-180hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Lester blackwall tires, two rear-mounted spare wheels, single Hassia driving light, Raydyot cowl lights, suicide doors, outside exhaust headpipes. – Tired chrome. Decent paint. Lightly worn interior. Oil spots on the grille. Tired rubber. Uneven gaps. Unique British coachwork and a highly desirable 500 K, but tired and ready for a fresh restoration. Documented original engine, chassis and frame. – Sold by Christie’s from Bill Lassiter’s collection in 1999 for $266,500 and tucked away since with no changes or even apparently much use. British coachwork may not appeal to collectors accustomed to Sindelfingen’s bodies but has the advantage of being unique and on that basis the price paid here is entirely appropriate, a value the new owner can savor.Lot # 228 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002623; Black, Black hardtop/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,375,000 – Black painted Rudge centerlock wheels, Dunlop blackwall radials, two tops, Talbot outside mirror, Becker Mexico AM-FM, Euro headlights, reproduction luggage, tool roll, original owner’s manual. – Excellent fresh paint, chrome and interior. Sharp, crisp gauges and dash. Better than new. – When RM sold Black 300SL Roadster s/n 19804210002580 at Amelia Island in 2012 for $990,000 it marked a sea change in the 300SL Roadster market that has since gone from strength to strength. By the standard set then, two and a half years ago, this beautifully restored car is something of a good value. There were eleven 300SL Roadsters at the Monterey auctions. All but three of them sold, none for less than $1 million on the hammer.Lot # 123 1957 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet; S/N 180030Z7512620; Light Ivory, Tartan Red/Red leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. No Reserve – 2195/106hp, 4-speed, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, Bosch driving lights, ivory steering wheel, wood dash and window trim, dual mirrors, Becker Mexico radio. – Good paint with a couple of small chips. Very good chrome. Very good interior wood. Underbody slathered with sound deadener. Mostly even gaps. Straight body. Lightly worn seats in front. Bent radio antenna. Solid, pretty driver-quality car finished in unusual but pretty two-tone paint. One of just 1,066 220Ss built in 1957. Restored during 1995-1996 and shows light use since. – This was a $143,000 car at Gooding’s Amelia Island auction in 2011 and evidences little or no improvement since then, not to mention just 309 more miles on its odometer. It must not have been a very rewarding experience and the consignor should be happy to make $27,000 (before commissions) on the exchange.Lot # 122 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002992; Engine # 19898010003062; Grey, Black hardtop/Red leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,025,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,127,500 – 2996/215hp, 4-speed, disc brakes, Kumho Solus tires, two tops, Hella fog lights, dash clock, Euro headlights. – Dull, peeling paint. Heavily scratched original hardtop. Significantly worn but complete interior with ripped upholstery. Pitted chrome. Glass is scratched up, especially on the hardtop. Grubby undercarriage. Bad older repaint in grey in place of the original Ivory it came with. A mess, but at least a largely complete and original mess. European delivery, so it has the desirable full-lensed headlamps and factory fog lights. Has been in the same Puerto Rican family since 1974. Mileage exceeds what is indicated. Described as ‘worn-in but not worn out’. Solid, desirably equipped candidate for a restoration, but too shabby to be really enjoyed as-is. – Even discounted for originality, the new owner paid generously for this tired old 300SL. The lengthy and expensive process of making it road-worthy and reasonably reliable will soon make this a highly expensive car. It’s likely to be a painful and expensive ownership experience.Lot # 114 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 130913; Engine # 130913; Black/Brown leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,540,000 – 5401/150hp, Roots supercharger, dual updraft carbs, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Dunlop Fort tires, rear fender skirts with faux hubcaps, locking filler cap, suicide doors, cloth-covered rear-mounted spare wheel set into deck, dual exhaust, Bosch headlamps, single Bosch fog light, dash clock. – Very good paint with some minor flaws. Very good chrome and interior. A well-kept older restoration that has seen some use. Ordered new by William A.M. Burden, Jr., grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who went to Mercedes in 1936 to ask for a 540K with a custom body. This almost French-looking car with its sloped grille and teardrop-shaped fenders was the result. It was then owned from 1963 by GM stylist Herbert Roy Jaffe who finally restored it in 1993, when it became an AACA National First Prize winner. Featured in Michael Frostick’s The Mighty Mercedes, in Car Collector Magazine and in Dennis Adler’s Speed & Luxury: The Great Cars. A striking, unique automobile that is still a stunner but no longer a flawless concours car. – Not your standard 540K, but an attractive, unusual example with coachwork that will make any Mercedes-Benz owner proud to own it and a dramatic design that recalls the legendary Autobahn Kourier … but with a top that goes down. An outstanding, rare and attractive car that was reported sold by RM in Arizona in 2007 for $1,028,500, then here in Monterey in 2010 for $913,000. This is a handsome payday for the seller, but also a trophy car for the new owner and impossible to argue with the judgment of the successful bidder, or the disappointed underbidder. An inventory of the cars William A.M. Burden, Jr. owned, from the Harry Miller V-16 to this one of a kind 540K, would be startling.Lot # 111 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500368; Engine # 1989805500388; Ivory/Red plaid cloth; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,400,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $2,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,530,000. No Reserve – Becker Mexico AM-FM, luggage, chrome Rudge centerlock wheels, Michelin blackwall tires, tilt steering wheel hub, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, belly pans, extra leather-covered seat cushions (as original.) – Sound older repaint over old paint and a few chips. Good interior and chrome. Chassis and engine compartment are orderly while showing use and age. Few owners from new, the consignor since 1997, lovingly maintained and an exceptional example. – A particularly reassuring Gullwing, sympathetically and consistently maintained with the things it needed to keep it in good cess. The Portola bidders caught the vibe and brought it home with a seriously premium price that will be hard to maintain, but in the meantime it’s Gullwing to be proud to own, the confluence of collectors’ passion for largely original cars and for 300SLs. Even the most generous ‘investment advisor’, though, would find it hard to endorse this price.
Lot # 125 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500646; White/Blue plaid cloth; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,200,000 – Steel wheels, hubcaps, Becker Mexico radio, original belly pans, jack, service book, parts catalog, owner’s manual. – Owned by Helmut F. Geiger and his family for over 60 years. Original except for an old color-change repaint that is now dull and peeling. Interior is original and sound, but fragile. Engine compartment is grungy. – In this condition its originality is compromised making it difficult to assign any originality value to it. It is, however, a choice, complete car on which to do a magnificent restoration at great cost and could have been passed on to a new owner well below the reported high bid without being inexpensive.Lot # 050 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980404500003; Engine # 1989804500019; Silver/Blue Plaid cloth; Estimate $3,500,000 – $4,500,000; Not evaluated, – condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,800,000 – Steel wheels, hubcaps, blackwall tires, hinged steering wheel. – The third production Gullwing sold by Max Hoffman to Briggs Cunningham. Engine replaced by M-B after it failed at the Daytona Speed Week in early 1955 where it was driven by Phil Hill. Later long owned by James Hein from whom it was acquired in 2013 by the consignor, then restored by HK Engineering. Many pre-production details including a 55mm shorter wheelbase. Documented with its original service book and typewritten operating manual. – This is a singularly important Gullwing, different in both detail and significant specification from its successors and first owned by Briggs Cunningham. Its failure to find a new owner here is an anomaly that should not reflect on its value or importance. It wouldn’t be expensive at the low estimate. (photo: Matthew Howell)
Lot # S188 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500354; Engine # 1989805500331; Silver/Dark Red leather; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,350,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $1,458,000. – Hinged steering wheel, body color Rudge centerlock wheels, Vredestein tires, luggage, Becker Le Mans radio. – Fully restored with polished intake runners. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Very clean and orderly, showing no appreciable use. – A sharp and correct Gullwing with Rudge wheels from the factory, documented with the build sheet. Bought appropriately and a car to be proud to own and drive at this price.Lot # S168 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210003191; Engine # 19898210000154; Silver/Red leather; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,750,000. – Alloy block, disc brakes, two tops, Becker Grand Prix multiband radio, Dunlop tires. – Warranty replacement engine. Good older paint, cracked leather on the driver’s seat. Wheel wells painted body color. Good chrome. Orderly engine compartment, clean and attractive. Thoughtfully cosmetically restored to attractive touring standards and well-maintained since in the care of racer Bill Wuesthoff. – Not the best 300SL Roadster in the Monterey auctions this week (there were ten of them), this alloy block car should have sold at the reported high bid. It has a choice history, but not choice enough to make up for its erratic presentation and replacement engine.Lot # S152 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500606; Engine # 1980425500545; Silver/Dark Blue leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,075,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $1,161,000. – Chrome reproduction Rudge centerlock wheels, Michelin X tires, Becker Mexico AM-FM, fitted luggage, original belly pans, owner’s manual, books, tools. – Claimed to be the original belly pans. Good engine compartment with buffed intake runners. Clean, sharp underbody. Weak trim chrome. Not fresh, but well done and maintained. One of three Gullwings imported new into Guatemala by Manfredo Lippman. Restoration completed in 2006 for Mario Sueiras. US duty paid, 11% buyer’s premium; the final price shown is $31,089 light – The least expensive of the eight Gullwings offered at Monterey this week, a car that needs no excuses and will stand up wherever it appears. A sound, even good, value at this price.Lot # S103 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010022323; Metallic Blue/Beige leatherette; Black cloth top; Enthusiast restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000. – Becker Europa AM-FM, body color hubcaps, Cooper tires, Solex carbs. – Engine compartment is orderly but the engine idles at nearly 2,000 rpm. Older interior is sound but aged and lightly soiled. Bodywork and paint are awful. This is a scruffy 190SL that needs everything, and a lot of it. – The reported high bid, and the fact it didn’t sell at it, indicates how far sellers’ expectations for 190SL values are off the mark. It’s really hard not to call this 190SL despicable, a car so bad it was its presentation that caught my attention in the lineup. This car will cost an easy $100K to put into proper shape and anything less than a full restoration will leave it a compromised car. It should have gone away at less than $50,000. If there was money anywhere close to this bid it should have been gone in a heartbeat and it is telling that the many restorers on-site rejected it, knowing what it would cost to make it decent.Lot # S080 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 1130441200137; Signal Red, , Red hardtop/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $52,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $56,160. – 2.8/170hp, automatic, color-coded hubcaps, Michelin Harmony tires, Becker Europa AM/FM radio, P/S, dash clock. – Strong paint, excellent interior. Used but tidy engine bay and undercarriage. Early build number. Odometer shows 1,859 miles, but this is likely 101,859. Cosmetically maintained, strong, well-maintained and honest car. – Just a car, as the expression goes, but an encouraging one that evidences a good life with caring owners and bought for a reasonable price that could be something of a good value if its appearance is borne out in subsequent use. Even if it’s not, the buyer has some headroom in the investment for needed attention.
Lot # 293 1964 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet; S/N 11102310037188; Engine # 12798212004518; Light Blue/Cognac leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Becker Europa radio, hubcaps, trim rings – Replacement engine. Cosmetically restored, excellent paint, laser straight body lines, terrific brightwork. Interior is like new with beautiful wood. An absolutely stunning show car. – The replacement engine was balanced by the bidders against the generally flawless presentation inside, outside and under the hood. The outcome was a fair deal all round and a good value in a 280 SE 3.5 Cab.Lot # 292 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804275002; Engine # 19898075003; Black/Bamboo leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,150,000 – $1,400,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000 – Chrome wheels, hubcaps, blackwall tires, tool roll and manual included. – Thoroughly cosmetically restored on a very good largely original California 300SL with a known history from new and represented as numbers-matching. Mechanically redone by Scott Grundfor in the early 90’s and well maintained and little used since. Paint, brightwork and top are in excellent condition. Panel fit, especially the trunk lid, could be much better. Very clean underhood, not over-polished, good interior. Not perfect, but still a very good 300SL Roadster that will hold its own even without being comprehensively restored. – A sound 300SL roadster with known history and professionally maintained. Bought appropriately for its history, cosmetic restoration and condition. Restoration will cost far more than the improved condition will support; use it as is and enjoy it.Lot # 288 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712004323; Engine # 11698012005541; Tunis Beige/Cognac leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $240,000 – $280,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $264,000 – Automatic, air conditioning, Becker radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, manuals, warranty card, tools and jack. – Represented as matching numbers and 62,241 miles from new. Fully restored to uniformly high standards. Paint, bodywork and brightwork are excellent. Interior is gorgeous and impossible to fault. A top notch car. – The end of an era for the best-looking Mercedes-Benz models, and the 280SE 3.5 cab has been making regular and impressive gains for two years running. Expensive by today’s standards but may provide a return in future years. In the meantime it’s a seriously attractive and enjoyable M-B to drive in all seasons.Lot # 286 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980404500130; Engine # 1989804500145; White/Black leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,300,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,347,500. No Reserve – Rudge wheels, radio. – Two owners from new, first owner singer Pat Boone, then owned by Robert Ullrich since the late 50’s. Original body with a light mechanical overhaul. 50’s paint is dull, chipped and scratched, interior shows little aging. A reasonably well preserved largely original Gullwing. Proceeds to charity. – An interesting car that is almost but not quite a time-warp example, still with good bones. Paint, bodywork and mechanical work won’t be cheap. There isn’t a lot of downside here, but also no upside. All proceeds benefit a church project to help homeless children in Guatemala which may be reflected in the price it brought.Lot # 236 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210427501800; Red/Black; Black top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. No Reserve – Fog lights, Becker Europa radio, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewall tires, build sheet, books, tools and first aid kit. – An old restoration, paint still presents well, blemished brightwork and poor panel alignment. A driver’s car needing too many things to be shown in its current state. – Prices of 190SL roadster have climbed in the wake of the 300SL’s rise, which is odd seeing as the cars cannot possibly be compared. This was just a driver and the price paid is appropriate to the age and quality of its restoration but with other 190SLs bringing low six-figures it is unusually modestly priced in the current market.
Mercedes-Benz Sold at Auction in 2014 – Page Seven
Lot # 216 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210003174; Engine # 19898210000137; Blue/Grey leather; Estimate $1,900,000 – $2,200,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,815,000 – Restamped replacement alloy engine, disc brakes, chrome wheels, non-original air conditioning, Euro-spec headlights, fitted luggage, aftermarket radio, jack, tools and manual included. – Product of a $325,000 restoration. Paint and panel fit are superb with excellent brightwork. A near perfect car inside and out, though the hard top didn’t appear to have been part of the resto package. – Presentation is essential and while this car checks every box when it comes to restoration and presentation, the fine print isn’t so encouraging. The block is a factory re-stamped replacement, air conditioning was added during restoration, and the colors were changed from grey/red to dark blue/grey. The hard top was also added later, and the luggage is not original to the car. While this roadster almost made low estimate, it might have done $200-400,000 more if it had been delivered new with these extras and had its original engine.Lot # 209 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412019165; Engine # 13098312012717; White, White hardtop/Grey; Blue cloth top; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Automatic, air conditioning, two tops, Becker Europa radio, factory build sheet and records, tools and warranty paperwork. – The product of a thoroughly documented restoration. Paint and brightwork are excellent, panel fit is superb. Terrific attention to detail throughout. A high-end, show-quality car. – An excellent example, but it seems that most of the 23,885 production run are on the market right now. Without a 4- or 5-speed manual transmission, they are boulevardiers, mostly driven by folks in gated communities who are too old to lift off the hard top. Given the law of supply and demand, the price was right.Lot # 202 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210428502300; Engine # 1219218502300; Silver/Tan; Black top; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. No Reserve – Becker Europa radio, Kienle clock, extensive restoration documentation. – A fresh restoration that was expertly executed inside and out. A stunning, concours-worthy car. – Perfect 190SL restorations have been regularly hitting above $200K. This example wasn’t too far off in condition but a fair spot away in price. A mid-estimate result, but ultimately a shrewd purchase considering its condition.
Lot # 0930 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980421100003026; Engine # 198980100002086; Red, Red hardtop/Tan; Tan top; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,600,000; Not evaluated; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,155,000 – Disc brakes, two tops. – Restored in 1993. –Lot # 0900 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980406500280; Engine # 1989806500289; Silver/Red; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $1,450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,595,000 First owner movie director Howard Hawks, represented as original engine, gearbox and body with 58,256 miles and three owners from new. – Reported bid to this price during the auction, closed later.
Lot # 5125 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210408500801; Red, Red hardtop/Black; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000 – Body color hubcaps, trim rings, blackwall tires, hardtop only. – Sound recent repaint and interior, good chrome. Orderly but not restored engine compartment that shows recent mechanical attention including a new radiator and brake booster. Hardtop rear window gasket is old and cracked, window is good. Quickly resprayed under the body over old peeling undercoat. Frayed old headlight wiring quickly taped up. Recently freshened for the auction and not in the least bit reassuring. – 190SLs are hot in the market right now and the consignor of this example sought to take advantage of the hype. The car doesn’t live up to the expectation and the Auburn Fall bidders were reluctant to take a chance on what might have been overlooked or short cut during the cosmetic redo for the auction. The reported high bid was more than fair for this 190SL.Lot # 5091 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 121042109500238; Silver/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $87,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $96,250. No Reserve – Solex carbs, P/B, hubcaps, blackwall radial tires, multiband radio. – Decent fresh repaint, good panel fits, interior and loose fitting top. Pitted windshield trim chrome, good major chrome. Engine is clean but not restored. New brake master cylinder. Messy underbody with silver overspray. A decidedly mediocre driver. – This 190SL is a good place to start on a thorough restoration but the new owner better get on it fast before the 190SL fad fades.
Lot # 37 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 10801810033684; Brown/Brown leatherette; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $4,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,950. No Reserve – 4-speed, Becker Europa AM-FM, A/C, buckets and console, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, fog lights. – All original car in highly impressive condition and unusual colors. Scratched and spotted original paint, good chrome and interior except for worn through piping on the driver’s seat back bolster. Underbody is covered in old undercoat, peeling in places with surface rust showing through. An honest, appealing survivor made even better by the four-speed. – Preserving the spotty paint represents something of a challenge, but one well worth taking on. This is an unusual M-B, charming in its originality and said to run and drive well. It will be proudly owned, driven and shown among much more expensive cars and is a very good value at this price.Lot # 793 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210426503045; Engine # 1219216503111; Dark Blue/Brown leatherette; Dark Blue cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. No Reserve – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, fender mirrors, Solex carbs, no radio. – 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 fresh cosmetic redo. – Offered at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction where it had a reported bid of $125,000, exactly what it brought here in Las Vegas. A sound and largely correct 190SL, but only superficially cosmetically restored even though the paint and chrome are very good (and make a great impression on the auction block) its price reflects the somewhat amazing values of 190SLs today. It’s a lot of money to pay for a 105hp boulevard cruiser. Why? Think what driving and show-off pleasure this much would buy in a Mid-Year or straight axle Corvette.Lot # 777 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210427500731; Engine # 1219217500764; Medium Blue (DB334)/Red leather; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. No Reserve – Weber carbs, Becker Mexico AM-FM, body color wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls. – Good fresh repaint, worn and stretched but sound old leather seats and interior panels. Good steering wheel. Very good bright chrome. Foggy gauge lenses, flaking oil pressure gauge face. Engine compartment is orderly. Underbody has been freshly squirted gloss black over old undercoat. Quickly done to take advantage of the 190SL’s current popularity. – Looks good from 20 feet but the closer you get the more is wrong and that doesn’t support spending this much. Starting on anything will soon lead to doing everything until the car and its owner are well and truly underwater. The best thing to do with the 190SL is to flip it, fast before the fad fades.
[Source: Rick Carey; main photo: Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Auctions]
Can someone send a message to the younger generation that the 190 is a real turd to drive and should never ever have gotten so high $.
I believe an old person accidentally bought a 190sl thinking it was a 300 and that is what made the prices go nuts.
It disgusts me that the 190 is worth as much a 300sl roadster was 5-7 yr ago.
Looking at the 190 SL’s that sold for extreme money, proves a point. that having money, doesn’t make you smart.
Eight to ten years ago you could have your pick for $10 k.
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 1958 190SL IN FRANKFURT FOR $4500 AND I THOUGHT I OVERPAID BASED ON IT’S PERFORMANCE,NOT MUCH OF A CAR JUST A TOURING CAR.
I have a Many Cars in EU
The book ” Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the madness of Crowds ” by Charles Mackay about Tulip Mania in 1637 pretty much explains the whole 190 SL thing , and great work Rick , Thanks !
190SLs seem to been quite a bargain in the US compared to EU prices (here they were never under 75k euro) while the 300SLs seem to be about on the same price development. However I have never seen 300SLs go below 350k (even now about 2-3 times the most expensive 190s) in the last 5-7 years …
Fully agree that the 190sl is certainly not worth anywhere near the prices they fetch and is downright mediocre when compared with its big brother. Had 300sl roadster for many years and damn sorry I ever sold it, it is an engineering masterpiece.