By J.A. Ackley
Oct 30, 2024
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RM Sotheby's,
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Photography Courtesy RM Sotheby's
RM Sotheby’s dubbed The Rudi Klein Collection “The Junkyard.” The auction of it generated $29.6 million in sales.
Okay, we admit it, it’s hard to call any Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing “junk.” However, if it’s part of a collection nicknamed “The Junkyard,” that makes it junk, right? What if that particular junk sold for $9,355,000. Okay, that just made it even tougher.
The Gullwing is just one of 29 alloy Gullwings. It’s the only one originally finished in Black over Red leather, although the it’s now clad in Silver. Klein bought it from the original owner, the legendary Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti. Klein’s sons believed their father never drove it or exhibited it. The Gullwing lacks its front bumpers, shift knob, tool kit, jack and spare wheel, but it does still have its matching-numbers engine.
A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K sold for $4,130,000. Unlike the Gullwing, this car was fairly intact, with just age taking a toll on things such as the paint and chrome. The 500 K was built specifically for Grand Prix legend Rudi Caracciola.
The only surviving production Horch 855 went for $3,305,000. It’s in far better shape than most of the vehicles in this collection, with it only needing mechanical attention, for the most part. It appeared with Rock Hudson in the 1959 film “This Earth Is Mine.”
Top 10 Lots
1. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Alloy’ Gullwing, $9,355,000
2. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K ‘Caracciola’ Special Coupe by Sindelfingen, $4,130,000
3. 1939 Horch 855 Special Roadster by Gläser, $3,305,000
4. 1964 Iso Grifo A3/L Spider Prototype by Bertone, $1,875,000
5. 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone, $1,325,000
6. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for $1,187,500
7. 1962 Porsche 356 B 1600 ‘Twin-Grille’ Roadster by D’Ieteren sold for $1,160,000
8. 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S by Bertone sold for $967,500
9. 1959 Porsche 356 A Carrera 1500 GS/GT Coupe by Reutter sold for $885,000
10. 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone sold for $610,000
For a complete of auction results, click here.
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