alsancle Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 On the Pebble best of show:"This car is powered by a 6.8-liter supercharged Mercedes-Benz engine and was shown at the 1928 New York Auto Show. It then was purchased by Frederick Henry Bedford, who drove it until his death in 1952. The car was then stored for more than 30 years before being restored by his family. It was sold at auction in the 1980s, Andrews said, and he bought it from that buyer in a private sale in mid- 2010."At first I thought it was this well known car restored. The yellow car had one owner for it's first 70 years or so of existence. Interesting that there would be 2 so similar. Or perhaps I'm not remembering the story of the yellow car correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 And arguably a winner at 10.7 million plus commission if not a record:A Ford sets record at Pebble Beach auction; a Mercedes fall short - latimes.comMissed the actual sale yesterday but got caught up in the live stream from Gooding on Saturday. His guy is entertaining to watch... If I remember right the Ferrari CA roadster may have edged out the Von Krieger car in terms of top sale at Gooding. Surprised the Packard speedster West mentions in the Speedster section fo the forum did not initially make reserve. A.J. of course, came pretty close in estimating this some time ago as I recall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 Steve, although they did not get the 15 million they were looking for I would consider the 11 million plus with commission a very healthy transaction. It beats the previous price for a 540k by at least a couple of million plus is 3 times what was paid for the Jack Warner Special roadster 10 years ago. I think a 3x appreciation over 10 years is a good return. What would be interesting is how much this car would have brought unrestored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilomagnet Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 The hype was a bit too much for this example IMO. Yes, It was restored from an unmolested, complete condition, but the provenance is not really any better than other comparable cars...after all they were all owned by extremely wealthy, powerful people then and now......the Warner car was quite a bargain when it sold shortly after 9/11. I dont think any Special Roadster will fetch $15 MM any time soon. There are just a couple too many still around and they come on the market quite frequently. The Autobahnkurier might be in that range if it ever gets sold publically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 The rumor is the last Autobahnkurier in very rough shape exchanged hands for 3-4 million. That was 5 or more years ago. I agree with you that there are too many Special Roadsters to push crazy numbers (if 11 million isn't crazy). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 A.J. or anyone else, any definitive answer on the possibility of the grey 680S and yellow one being same or different cars? The grey is stately, but the yellow really works on that coachwork, for me anyway. Very pretty car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Steve, they are same car Chassis 40156. I was initially confused because the Pebble background I saw on it from a newspaper did not jive with my memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 A.J., I am sure more detailed accounts on this car will come up in the typical publications but MSN has some nice coverage on Pebble and the 28 680S in particular this morning. What I found interesting is the owner's account on the color change - originally grey, painted yellow when nearly new and sold out of NYC, and I guess a 6 month decision on which color to go with for the restoration. I might still be trying to make that decision...1928 Mercedes-Benz Wins 2012 Pebble Beach Best of Show - MSN AutosThey usually don't keep this stuff up that long but might be an interesting read for those following this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 While I don't doubt the decision on which color to choose was difficult, it's not uncommon for it to take six months to finally make a decision. All the while the cr is being disassembled, body work being meticulously "metal finished" (do you think there's a spot of bondo on that car?), fitting of panels before painting, etc. I'm guessing that there was no delay in the restoration process while he went back and forth on making that decision. Kind of a sensationalized part of the story IMO.Restorer: "Okay, Paul, time to start painting, and if you want it done in time for Pebble Beach 2012, we need a decision by Friday." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) Surprised the Packard speedster West mentions in the Speedster section of the forum did not initially make reserve. It did finally meet reserve, though, and sold to Scott Kriens (on Forbes 400 list of top executives) for $975,000. Scott has purchased some big stuff during the years and is a true car guy. He bought at least two cars out of the Otis Chandler collection from what I've been told. Edited August 24, 2012 by West Peterson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 West, is it safe to say you would have no problem deciding on the tires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Yes.Interesting, but I have not seen a word about who restored the car. It looks like Paul Russel driving, so I'm assuming.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 West, at least one blurb mentions a "Fresh Paul Russell Restoration".. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Found this in TG57Roadmaster's photo file Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Ballard 35R Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 The Pebble Beach program and Car Guide only show the owners as Paul and Judy Andrews with no mention of Paul Russell. Of particular interest is that the car was listed as participating in the Thursday tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 I believe I read it was restored by Paul Russell also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skip Jordan Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 (edited) Hey, Al. I came across an RM Auctions page and it appears you (or your father?) owned this car for a while. This seems like a silly question, but there aren't too many 540K Cabriolets to look at here in East Tennessee, so let me ask this:How does the canvas convertible boot fit over the down top? Are there slits in it to accommodate the landau hinges? Edited September 1, 2012 by Skip Jordan (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) Here's several from the Schlumpf museum in France. 500K 540K built for a MaharadjaAnother 540K Edited September 2, 2012 by K8096 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 (edited) Another 540K in Schlumpf Edited September 2, 2012 by K8096 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 The Prinz Max roadster. Erdmann & Rossi body on 1933 380 K chassis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 The last one with right hand drive in beige shows the cross over in models. Everything about it is 500k visually but underneath it has the 540k engine. Changes were made gradually so there is no hard model cutover that you would see with a mass produced car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 Skip, the cab A was my dads that he owned for over 30 years and restored himself. We never put the top down on that car so I can't tell you how that cover worked. When I get a chance I'll look at mine and see how it goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 The National Car Museum of Iran has this Autobahnkurier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 (edited) The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio had this 500K Cabriolet A in their collection for many years. It was donated to them by Walter Halle of Cleveland department store fame sometime in the 1960's. He bought it in Europe in the 1950's. The museum sold it at a controversial auction in 1990 for $600,000. It went back to Europe. I remember this car had the original hood ornament and gas cap on it at one time, but they were both stolen while on display at the museum. It was in largely original condition. It may have been painted once, and a newer top installed along the way, but that was about it. I'd be interested in knowing what this car looks like today. Hopefully it's not red with chrome wheels. Edited September 4, 2012 by K8096 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 With a chassis number we can probably figure out what happened to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I'll see if I can find the auction catalog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Someone also mentioned a Cab A for sale in Dallas, and there were several replies suggesting that it could be "turned into a stunner" with relatively little cosmetic work. I have studied this car in person on a couple of occasions, and I can tell you it needs a lot more than a little cosmetic attention. It photographs much better than it actually looks up close. There are a lot of incorrect parts on it, and the paint is awful. The doors need alignment work and the upholstery is not correct. However, it is what it is - a very valuable 540K Cab A. Cannot say the asking price is unreasonable even in this condition, but to be a show car you are looking at probably a $500,000 to $750,000 restoration. That plus the asking price and you might be close to the restored value - no significant quick profit. Good investment given the way these cars' prices have been going over the past 15 years, but it might take 5 years or so after restoration for the prices to permit a profit on this car. The car is currently still in the Dallas area, but the owner is out of state, I believe, and the car is advertised even by German dealers. It's just that one of the brokers trying to sell the car is in Texas, and he has been displaying the car here.Posts above also focused on the von Kreiger car. Gooding claims $11,770,000 set two records - for any Mercedes, and for any pre-war car. I was at the auction and thought that even with very respectable prices being paid across the board, there did not seem to be the really crazy bidding wars as in previous years. The auctioneers were really working hard. The opening bid for the von Krieger car was $8,000,0000, and everyone thought "Here we go!" But it petered out relatively quickly. I went to RM the night before, and it seemed relatively dead. Last year the room was full with lots of people standing. This year the room was not nearly full. One last thought on the von Krieger - I think the 20% increase in price over last year's 540K at RM (the Sam Mann car) was "all the money." My personal opinion is that the Sam Mann car was far more stunning in appearance. Without the hyped provenance, the von Krieger should have sold for less than the Mann car. By the way, does anyone know who bought the Sam Mann car last year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 There was a short article in our MBCA Westchester/CT newsletter noting that Dragone here in Bridgeport, CT is in the process of restoring a 380, and the car is supposedly a local CT barnfind. They included a couple pictures which I am trying to get electronically from the editor to post here. Nothing on Dragone's site but if I can get any additional info to share I will post it. I would not imagine that many MB on Classic chassis left undocumented, although this car may likely be known already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 I completely agree with you on the 540K Cab A. It needs a lot of work and their asking price is not too far from the highest public price paid for a side mount Cab A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBoz Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 New pic showing the ongoing restoration of a 540K Cabriolet. Some pretty spectacular work here. Those of us who have all-metal bodies should be thankful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 22, 2012 Author Share Posted September 22, 2012 Last full restoration of a Cab "A" that I know of done at a profession shop was over 700k so they are not for the faint of heart or pocketbook to restore. Can't wait to see more progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 22, 2012 Author Share Posted September 22, 2012 Here is a thread discussing a mystery MB: http://forums.aaca.org/f123/need-help-334370.htmlA picture posted in that thread of 540k with a Vanden Plas body taken at Techno Classica Essen 2012. Non Sindelfingen bodies are quite rare as the factory could build you anything you wanted and did quite a good job at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Wow. That is an unusual car. Front Fenders, bumper and spotlight mount arrangement, number of rubber strips on the running boards... Maybe an email to the event organizers at Techno Classica could help with more info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RU22 Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 I really need to find a W-153 engine for our 1935 delivery van........ the original W-21 is in good condition but not really an everyday driver's engine Please can anyone help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Regarding the unusual 540K pictured above, I went to the flickr photo, clicked on "original" size, and I could read the heading on the paper on the windshield. This car is for sale at Classic Motorcars Holland - Holten : Car details. Lots of info there. First owned by Randolph Hearst. The description does say Vanden Plas body. Edited September 23, 2012 by 540K (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
540K Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I have an extra copy of Jan Melin's Mercedes-Benz Supercharged 8-Cylinder Cars of the 1930's, Volume 1 that I would like to trade for a copy of Volume 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBoz Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 More pics from the ongoing 540K Cabriolet restoration. Hope that frame is beefy enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davlet Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Hello Alllooking for SUPERCHARGER FOR 54OK MERCEDES BENZ if anybody have any or have any info who has please. Please let me know my Cell 414 six 302853 DAVID or Email: davlet145(at)gmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 15, 2012 Author Share Posted December 15, 2012 The red is not necessarily flattering but the 320 Cab B is an attractive car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted December 16, 2012 Author Share Posted December 16, 2012 Interesting to compare the "B" version of the 320 with the 4 door "D" version. The "C" version would be a victoria but I don't know that any were built on the 320 chassis. Pictured here is the "D". There was a very similar car and extremely original condition example for sale in the US a couple of years ago. As a general rule I find 2 doors more attractive than 4 doors but I think the "D" looks just as good as the "B". Perhaps the longer wheelbase does it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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