Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction 2015 - SL multipack worth millions

Name: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 1955
Brand: Mercedes-Benz

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Created on March 30, 2015

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bonhams

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Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A (1938) - offered as lot 119 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Bonhams auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum on March 28, 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 280 S Saloon (1975) - offered as lot 102 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 380 SL Convertible (1983) - offered as lot 103 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG (2003) - offered as lot 104 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Convertible with Hardtop (1965) - offered as lot 105 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S 'Heckflosse' Saloon (1961) - offered as lot 106 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SL Sports Convertible with Hardtop (1986) - offered as lot 107 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S Coupé (1958) - offered as lot 108 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster (1960) - offered as lot 109 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster with Hardtop (1970) - offered as lot 110 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Cabriolet (1967) - offered as lot 111 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (1962) - offered as lot 114 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 500 Saloon (1993) - offered as lot 115 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406A tipper 4x4 (1974) - offered as lot 116 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (1955) - offered as lot 117 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz SL 320 Convertible with Hardtop (1997) - offered as lot 118 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Clubsport Roadster (1955) - offered as lot 120 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A (1952) - offered as lot 122 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 500 SL (1986) - offered as lot 123 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupé (1970) - offered as lot 124 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine (1973) - offered as lot 125 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 15/75 hp Mannheim 370 S Roadster (1931) - offered as lot 126 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (1961) - offered as lot 127 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (1961) - offered as lot 128 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class DTM Competition Saloon (1996) - offered as lot 129 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A (1954) - offered as lot 130 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S 'Ponton' Cabriolet (1958) - offered as lot 131 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 220 SE 'Ponton' Cabriolet (1958) - offered as lot 132 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 600 Saloon (1968) - offered as lot 133 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 double cab 4x4 (1975) - offered as lot 134 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 220 S 'Ponton' Cabriolet (1958) - offered as lot 135 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster with Hardtop (1970) - offered as Lot 136 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Hardtop (1957) - offered as lot 137 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 770 Cabriolet D (W 07) (1931) - offered as lot 138 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300D 'Adenauer' Limousine (1958) - offered as lot 139 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 Saloon (1979) - offered as lot 140 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Coupé with sliding steel (1957) - offered as lot 141 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 600 Saloon (1968) - offered as lot 142 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster with Hardtop (1969) - offered as lot 143 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 300 'Adenauer' Saloon (1959) - offered as lot 144 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Mercedes-Benz 600 SL Sports Roadster with Hardtop (1992) - offered as lot 145 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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Benz Ideal 4 1/2 hp Single Cylinder Vis-à-vis (1900) - offered as lot 121 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

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For the second time, Bonhams organized an auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart that was reserved exclusively for Mercedes and Benz vehicles. 44 vehicles, including a bicycle, went under the hammer, 73% were sold and the result was even over 90% of the expected value. If all lots, including Automobila, are taken into account, then 83.8% were sold and 92.9% in terms of value.

Bonhams auction at the Mercedes-Benz Museum on March 28, 2015

On average, a vehicle sold for Euro 404,513 or CHF 423,767. In total, Euro 12.944 (CHF 13.560 million) was realized with the vehicles - there was also Automobilia for auction.

Bicycle as a high-flyer

A women's Mercedes Type 8 bicycle from 1925 was the real high-flyer of the auction, selling for EUR 10,925 or CHF 11,445 instead of the expected EUR 4,000 to 6,000.

Pre-war stars in high demand

A whole series of pre-war stars were sold. The top offer was a Mercedes Benz 540 K Cabriolet A from 1938, which was offered to the public for the first time and ultimately went to a private German buyer for Euro 2.76 million.

Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A (1938) - offered as lot 119 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

The "Great Mercedes" from 1931, a 770 Cabriolet D that once belonged to the German actor and film producer Erik Charell, also attracted a lot of interest. The new owner paid 2.312 million euros for the car.

Mercedes-Benz 770 Cabriolet D (W 07) (1931) - offered as lot 138 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

Interested parties fought a fierce bidding war for the Mercedes-Benz 15/75 hp Mannheim 370 S Roadster from 1931, which was finally knocked down for 552,000 euros.

Mercedes-Benz 15/75 hp Mannheim 370 S Roadster (1931) - offered as lot 126 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

The oldest car on offer was a Mercedes Ideal 4 1/2 Vis-à-Vis from 1900, which, although below the estimated price, still came into new hands for a respectable Euro 212,750.

Benz Ideal 4 1/2 hp Single Cylinder Vis-à-vis (1900) - offered as lot 121 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

Gullwing cheaper than roadster

All four 300 SLs (W 198) were successfully sold. The highest bids were received for the Roadster, which once belonged to Alfried Krupp.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (1960) - offered as lot 112 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

The car, which was offered again for the first time in 35 years, reached the impressive sum of EUR 1.121 million (CHF 1.175 million). The other two roadsters also achieved prices in excess of one million, with the gullwing from 1955 surprisingly being the cheapest, although it still cracked the million mark and found a new home for Euro 1.047 million (CHF 1.096 million).

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (1955) - offered as lot 117 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

Two Unimogs

The offer also included two Unimog 4x4 vehicles, both of which were sold, the double-cab version from 1975 above the estimated price and the tipper from 1974 below.

Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 double cab 4x4 (1975) - offered as lot 134 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

Fast saloons not in demand?

There was obviously less demand for three really fast saloons. Neither the E 500 from 1993 nor the 450 SEL 6.9 from 1979 attracted sufficiently high bids, and the DTM-C-Class from 1996 also failed to find a new owner.

Mercedes-Benz 500 Saloon (1993) - offered as lot 115 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

They shared their fate with two 190 SLs, two Pagodas (280 SL), two Pontons, a 300d Adenauer limousine and a comparatively new SL 320 from 1997.

Mercedes-Benz 300 'Adenauer' Saloon (1959) - offered as lot 144 at the Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction in Stuttgart 2015

Results in detail

The list shows all vehicles on offer with estimated prices and sales prices (incl. commission/premium) in euros and CHF. The "%Est" column compares the sales price (incl. commission/premium) with the average estimated value.

The list can be sorted by clicking on the column headings.

Lot	Vehicle	Year	€ Est from	Est to	VPrice €	VPrice CHF	% Est
101	Mercedes Type 8 Ladies' Bicycle *	1925	4000	6000	10925	11445	2.19
102	Mercedes-Benz 280 S Saloon *	1975	25000	35000	20700	21685	0.69
103	Mercedes-Benz 380 SL Convertible *	1983	30000	45000	51750	54213	1.38
104	Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG	2003	45000	75000	31050	32527	0.52
105	Mercedes-Benz 230SL Convertible with hardtop	1965	65000	85000	89700	93969	1.2
106	Mercedes-Benz 220 S 'Tail fin'	1961	25000	35000	25875	27106	0.86
107	Mercedes-Benz 500 SL Sports Convertible with hardtop	1986	28000	35000	30475	31925	0.97
108	Mercedes-Benz 220 S Coupé	1958	60000	80000
109	Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster	1960	85000	125000	92000	96379	0.88
110	Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster with hardtop	1970	90000	120000	104075	109028	0.99
111	Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Cabriolet	1967	55000	75000	83950	87946	1.29
112	Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster	1960	900000	1200000	1121250	1174621	1.07
114	Mercedes-Benz 190 SL	1962	95000	125000
115	Mercedes-Benz E 500 Saloon	1993	40000	60000
116	Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406A tipper 4x4	1974	50000	70000	55200	57827	0.92
117	Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing' Coupé	1955	950000	1250000	1046500	1096313	0.95
118	Mercedes-Benz SL 320 Convertible with hardtop	1997	20000	30000
119	Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A	1938	2000000	2500000	2760000	2891376	1.23
120	Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Clubsport Roadster	1955	250000	300000
121	Benz Ideal 4½hp Single Cylinder Vis-à-vis	1900	230000	280000	212750	222876	0.83
122	Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A	1952	80000	120000	103500	108426	1.04
123	Mercedes-Benz 500 SL	1986	75000	90000	100050	104812	1.21
124	Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Coupé	1970	70000	90000	70150	73489	0.88
125	Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine	1973	125000	150000	133400	139749	0.97
126	Mercedes-Benz 15/75 hp Mannheim 370 S Roadster	1931	400000	600000	552000	578275	1.1
127	Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster	1961	1000000	1400000	1092500	1144503	0.91
128	Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster	2007	250000	350000	284050	297570	0.95
129	Mercedes-Benz C-Class DTM Competition Saloon	1996	350000	450000
130	Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet A	1954	450000	550000	465750	487919	0.93
131	Mercedes-Benz 220 S 'Ponton' Cabriolet	1958	85000	125000
132	Mercedes-Benz 220 SE 'Ponton' Cabriolet	1958	100000	120000	104650	109631	0.95
133	Mercedes-Benz 600 Saloon	1968	90000	110000	100050	104812	1
134	Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 Double cab 4x4	1975	40000	50000	54050	56622	1.2
135	Mercedes-Benz 220 S 'Ponton' Cabriolet	1958	130000	160000	135700	142159	0.94
136	Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster with hardtop	1970	70000	90000
137	Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster with hardtop	1957	1000000	1300000	1058000	1108360	0.92
138	Mercedes-Benz 770 Cabriolet D (W 07)	1931	2300000	2800000	2311500	2421527	0.91
139	Mercedes-Benz 300d 'Adenauer' Limousine	1958	65000	75000
140	Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 Saloon	1979	35000	45000
141	Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Coupé with sliding roof	1957	475000	575000	572700	599960	1.09
142	Mercedes-Benz 600 Saloon	1968	70000	85000
143	Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster with hardtop	1969	65000	75000
144	Mercedes-Benz 300 'Adenauer' Saloon	1959	45000	65000	47150	49394	0.86
145	Mercedes-Benz 600 SL Sports Roadster with hardtop *	1992	20000	30000	23000	24094	0.92