Rare Mercedes-Benz sells for £441,500
An exceptionally rare 1926 Mercedes-Benz Model K Torpedo Transformable sold for £441,500 at the Festival of Speed at the weekend.
Liveried in white and furnished with brown leather upholstery, the magnificent car had been with its previous owner since the 1970s and it featured on the front cover of Antique Automobile in 1983.
It enjoyed a major engine overhaul and a number of other alterations in 1986 but buyers were warned that "careful recommissioning in all areas is advised". At the time of cataloguing, however, this stunning vehicle "made all the noises that would have excited Dr Ferdinand Porsche".
The grand tourer came equipped with a complete set of Stephen Grebel lamps, a four-piece opening windscreen, wood-rimmed steering wheel and a stylish water temperature gauge. Experts predicted a high level of interest and the eventual selling price confirmed that antique Mercedes-Benz cars are still among the most desirable in the world.
Also sold as part of the Bonhams sale was the 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster, which fetched an eventual selling price of £23,000 plus premium and tax.
Some 25,881 were produced before production came to an end in 1963 and this particular right-hand-drive version received total restoration in the mid-1990s. With new chromework, glass, blue Connolly hide interior trim and a genuine Mohair hood, the 190SL also benefited from a rebuilt transmission and serviced electrics.
The Bonhams auction was the fourth most valuable ever held in the UK, bringing in bids totalling an astonishing £6,158,731.
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