Bonhams will open the "Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris" auction at Rétromobile with a car that has little to do with France. On February 1-2, 2023, a Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0, first owned by Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, will go under the hammer.
However, the future "Footballer of the Century" did not buy the signal red coupé himself, but was given to him by a group of patrons after he switched to Atlético Boca Juniors in early 1981. The SLC was presented to him by the only Mercedes-Benz dealer in Argentina: a certain Juan Manuel Fangio.
Maradona's Mercedes was one of only 816 homologation models for rallying with a five-liter light-alloy V8 and 240 hp. In addition to the obligatory three-speed automatic transmission, the SLC was equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, black leather upholstery and an electric sunroof.
Due to its prominent previous ownership, the car went straight into collectors' hands after Maradona's ownership - first in Argentina, then in the USA, where it was finally restored. This is probably why the five-liter SLC has only covered 61,500 kilometers to date. Between 150,000 and 250,000 euros are expected for the red coupé in Paris.
Details can be found on the Bonhams website.
