Young timers in demand at Mercedes sale

Young timers were in demand at Artcurial’s Mercedes-Benz auction in France on Sunday, 15 October. A 1991 560SEL fetched £31,923 while a 1992 230CE changed hands for £12,751. A 1988 500SL sold above estimate for £81,861.

A pre-war highlight was the 1934 380 K sports roadster that sold above estimate for £499,610.

But the undisputed stars of the sale were the 300SL models from the Mercedes-Benz France Collection. Following a tense ten-minute bidding battle, the 1961 300 SL Roadster with hardtop was finally sold to an international collector for £1.25m. The second highest price the 1955 Gullwing version which fetched £981,315.

In total, 56 models from the German manufacturer’s 130 years of heritage were offered for sale – 20 of which came from the private collection of Mercedes-Benz France - and raised £7,804,828.