"Wiesenthal moves.". The advertising slogan of the traditional Viennese Mercedes-Benz car dealer dynasty Wiesenthal can certainly also be applied to the in-house Mercedes collection: With the auction of 13 top models, a cross-section of the post-war model history of Mercedes-Benz, the expert owners are also tempting the classic car market. On December 1, 2018, Dorotheum will be auctioning rare and sought-after Mercedes-Benz classics in the Camineum of the Austrian National Library, with no minimum prices.
Pontoon and tail fin coupés from the family collection of founder Günther Wiesenthal are joined by many top models, always the spearhead of the Mercedes brand, always the best of the best: a 300 S, a 600 Pullman - with the license plate W-1.000 was the number one Austrian state car for ten years, including two 300 SLs, the eleventh roadster built and a coupé, the legendary Gullwing.
They were mainly acquired in the 1970s and 1980s by daughter Susanne Sulke-Wiesenthal and Patrick Graf Douglas for the family business, which had grown into a global corporation. Some models have been beautifully restored, others shine in "as yet unrestored condition".
An eventful history
The latter applies to the 1964 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman offered in the auction, valued at between EUR 180,000 and 260,000. It is a milestone in automotive history and at the same time a piece of contemporary Austrian history.
No less than three heads of state - Presidents Adolf Schärf, Franz Jonas and Rudolf Kirchschläger and their illustrious guests - were chauffeured in this six meter twenty by two meter marvel of technology.
Sports car legend
The absolute highlight of the collection not only captures the imagination. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, developed from a racing prototype into a sensational production sports car, was actually fitted with gullwing doors. Conventional doors would have taken away the stability of the super-light frame construction. Like some of its stablemates, the Gullwing on offer has been in the Wiesenthal Collection for an incredible four decades and has borne the same black number to which it is still registered today since day one.
The estimated value for this racing car in a road suit is EUR 900,000 and 1,200,000.
Further information on the auction and the individual vehicles can be found on the Dorotheum website.
Offered Vehicles
The following table lists all offered vehicles with estimated prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid at the time of publication. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | NoR | EUR Est from | EUR Est to | CHF Est from | CHF Est to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 | 1979 | Yes | 25'000 | 35'000 | 28'499 | 39'900 |
| 02 | Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL | 1989 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 17'100 | 28'499 |
| 03 | Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC | 1977 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 17'100 | 28'499 |
| 04 | Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé | 1958 | Yes | 45'000 | 65'000 | 51'299 | 74'100 |
| 05 | Mercedes-Benz 220 S Cabriolet | 1957 | Yes | 75'000 | 100'000 | 85'499 | 113'999 |
| 06 | Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A | 1954 | Yes | 110'000 | 150'000 | 125'399 | 170'999 |
| 07 | Mercedes-Benz 230 SL | 1965 | Yes | 65'000 | 85'000 | 74'100 | 96'899 |
| 08 | Mercedes-Benz 300 b Cabriolet D | 1954 | Yes | 140'000 | 200'000 | 159'600 | 227'999 |
| 09 | Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster | 1952 | Yes | 550'000 | 750'000 | 627'000 | 854'999 |
| 10 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1957 | Yes | 750'000 | 950'000 | 854'999 | 1'083'000 |
| 11 | Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | 1970 | Yes | 240'000 | 320'000 | 273'600 | 364'799 |
| 12 | Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman | 1964 | Yes | 180'000 | 260'000 | 205'199 | 296'400 |
| 13 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | 1955 | Yes | 900'000 | 1'200'000 | 1'025'999 | 1'367'999 |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column NoR = No Reserve (no minimum price), Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
