Timeless German classic goes under the hammer

The ex-1935 Berlin Motor Show Mercedes-Benz 500K made €5,290,000 (£4,457,354) when it went under the hammer. The Special Roadster was the star car at Bonham’s Chantilly sale on 5 September.

In 1935 the 500K took pride of place on the Mercedes-Benz stand at the Berlin Motor Show, where it was promptly bought by Hans Friedrech Prym (1875-1965). Hans came from the industrial Prym dynasty, a family who for 12 generations had produced haberdashery, copper, and brass products, leading to Hans becoming known locally as the ‘zipper king.

The 500K was subsequently stolen, but now – after having returned to the family more than 80 years later, it sold at our Chantilly.

Elsewhere in the auction, a trio of Horch classics from the 1930s. Founded in 1904, Horch is one of the ancestors of the present Audi company. In its short lifetime, the company produced several notable motor cars, three of which achieved strong prices in the auction room.

The 1937 Horch 853 Spezial Roadster sold for €1,035,000 (£872,291), while both the 1938 Horch 853 A Sport Cabriolet and the 1934 Horch 780 B Cabriolet realized €632,500 (£532,944).