Bottrop iconoclasm
11/12/2022
Until November 17, RM Sotheby's is holding a closed auction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, whose photo served as the inspiration for Andy Warhol's "Cars" series. The classic department of tuner Brabus from Bottrop tracked down the silver-colored coupé with chassis number 198.040.5500629 in June of this year and then extensively restored it. Unfortunately, the result was a completely different car.
When the car became a work of art in 1986, it had orange-tinted blinker lenses at the front, a somewhat peculiar wooden steering wheel with four spokes and a matching gear knob made of the same material. And this is also how it can be seen in the Brabus Classic presentation video before the restoration. After the restoration, however, the front indicators are suddenly colorless, the steering wheel and gear knob are made of Bakelite, and there is a rear-view mirror on the left mudguard that has definitely not been there for the last 36 years. They even replaced the original Eichstätt license plate with a reproduction.
It's as if Ford bought the original Bullitt Mustang, painted it Candy Apple Red, put Magnum 500 wheels on it and fitted a GT radiator grille with a horse again. After all, it looks better. Of course, the strange four-spoke steering wheel on this 300 is not as nice as one from Nardi and is not factory original either. But personal taste is not the issue here. Because it belongs on this steering column like the beauty mark on Marilyn Monroe's cheek. It's the only way to turn any silver, Rudge-trimmed 300 SL into the Warhol SL.
Once again, money seems to have been more important than history. The artistic past of this car is heavily advertised in order to drive up the price, and then it is proudly announced that all the historic details that made this 300 SL unique were removed during the restoration. The car was actually in good condition beforehand. So you don't need hippies pouring pea soup over a Van Gogh to ruin a work of art. In any case, the 300 SL that Andy Warhol immortalized no longer exists. Only its chassis number remains.
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