1956 Mercedes-Benz sells for record $3.5M at auction

oldbrownhat

oldbrownhat

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The purchaser, who wanted to remain anonymous, is an 80-year-old car collector from Minnesota

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Story here.

VICTORIA BC — A classic 1956 Mercedes-Benz that underwent a complete restoration in Victoria has sold for a record US$3.4 million at a collector-car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Only 311 examples of the 300SL gullwing coupe left the factory in 1956.

The seller was Victoria-based Tim Quocksister, owner of Silver Arrow Cars, who deals primarily in rare luxury cars.

Silver Arrow Cars website link to this listing

Coachwerks projects

 
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Beautiful Car! Have seen them in Museums and Car Shows, never in the wild.
But I did see this new production. The owner told it’s the only one in the State.
 

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Any lover of collector cars should make at least one trip to Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. I went 9 years ago, paid the bucks to be a registered bidder, worth every $$$ for the experience. I did actually bid on a couple of cars but not a winner. Did buy my MG Midget from a private seller in the area.
 
Back in the mid-50s our family doctor had a 300 SL gull-wing. The only car like that in town. It always drew a crowd when he drove it. That was not too often.
 
Mas late boyfriend had one back in the early 60s fora short time when he was our dentist,followed by the iconic Porsche of that era. I never drove either but he let me try out his 912 if I agreed to wash it..and I did lol
 
At that time, sports cars, particularly European sports cars, were a rarity in the USA outside of a few large cities like LA. About as sporty as you could get was a Corvette. And a short time later a T-Bird. And even those were not seen that often. And they were head turners.
 
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glowe said:
There are two reasons why you would not want to put this car on its top. First, it would scratch the paint, second when it bursts into flames you cannot open the doors!

. . . oh maybe there is a third - the cost of repairs.
Click to expand...

When Mercedes-Benz made an updated version of the Gullwing, the SLS AMG from 2010 to 2015, it had explosive bolts on the doors that automatically fired and detached the doors from the body when sensors detected that the car had overturned. Here is the SLS AMG:

MERCEDES-BENZ-SLS-AMG-GT-4615_57.jpg
 
In the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, there is a Gullwing on exhibit...but they also have Rudolf Uhlenhaut's personal 300SLR Coupe, which was essentially a [barely] street-legal race car. It looks a lot different from any other Gullwing.

When I visited the museum a few years ago, I couldn't take my eyes off that car...

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR - Wikipedia
 

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Back in high school, a local small used car dealer had one of the 300SLs on its lot for $3500. Even then, I kinda wondered exactly how/why it ended up there. Couldn't convince my father to get off the money he was putting away for me and buy it. As an investment, not a ride. Still no dice.

I later realized that having gone through the depression and some other stuff why he wouldn't do that, but it still, in a very minor way, it bothered me. Then a few years back Road & Track did an article on just how specialized and finicky the engine was. I realized then that was probably why it was in that lot and dear old dad saved me from a money pit. Still would have appreciated in value, but with a bum engine not nearly as much given just how specialized the engine was. You were right Dad!
 
That 3.9 million price must be a record for a Benz. There are several Ferrari's that have gone out in the + 15 million range. If I remember correctly a Race Ready 250GTO passed 20 million, several years back.

The Gulling is still a stunning auto. Did the one that just sold come with the4 "factory" included suite cases.
 
old bear said:
...Did the one that just sold come with the4 "factory" included suite cases.
Click to expand...
According to the Silver Arrow Cars link I posted, the luggage set is a reproduction:
...Other added features include Rudge knock-off wheels, seatbelts, a reproduction luggage set, and a Becker Mexico radio with a hidden Bluetooth adapter, as well as red plaid seat cushions that are interchangeable with the grey leather items...​
 
Only saw one...it was in a used car lot near Baltimore right next to a Studebaker Avanti..car on the other side was a 1961 Chevy Impala Convertible Super Sport with a 409 with 2 4s...which I lusted after... They didn't make many 61 SS esp with the 409 in it. I liked the Avanti with the Paxton supercharger.... everything under the hood was chrome. In late 1967 I had a 64 XKE Coupe and a 63 Split window Corvette coupe at the same time. Insurance ate me alive. That is a beautiful Mercedes.
 
I know a guy that was a judge and came from a money 'ed family back East. He is the only guy I know that actually spent any time behind the wheel of a 300 Gullwing. His dad owned one and he used to drive it to the college he attended for special occasions back in the sixties. He said the performance and handling was amazing, at that time nothing he drove could approach it. He said that the downside was ventilation, any temperatures above the 70's was like driving around in an oven. It was common practice to drive it around town with the doors open, otherwise it was a greenhouse. Jay Leno has one that is one of his favorite classics to drive. He claims that although built in '55 it is still as viable a car to operate as just about any modern car and keeps pace with nearly everything. It was always one of my favorites but after listening to the complaints have decided that the 300 roadster would be a much better car to live with...if given a chance.
 
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