Cars for sale at auction is not a subject we’d normally blog about. When buying a car at auction, there is always an element of risk, and one must ask the question ‘if the car is so good then why not just sell on the open market?‘
These may be valid points, however when you’ve spent decades collecting iconic classic cars and want to shift them all at once, sending the whole collection to auction is a great way to get the cars out and the cash in.
In 2019, RM Sotheby’s are selling a large number of Young Timers, or Modern Classics, and most of them have come from a single collection.
The collection comprises mostly classics from the late 1970s, 80s and early 90s, and are mostly German. We think it’s great to see cars from this era enjoying some time under the spotlight, especially as models from Mercedes-Benz make up a good portion of the ‘Modern Classic’ scene.
Do you own a Modern Classic, an iconic ‘Benz from this era? We now offer servicing for Modern Classics, not just SLs. Contact the office to book your car in.
Here’s 5 that we fancy, or at least, 5 that we fancy that aren’t SLs…!
1. 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 AMG Wide Body
Estimate €150.000 – €200.000
Sotheby’s – Paris Sale 2019 – Feb 6th – The Youngtimer Collection
In 1993, Mercedes-Benz and AMG collaborated on the C36 AMG, now known as the first joint product between the two companies. Prior to this, AMG was an entirely separate entity. Pre 1993, AMG cars could be bought through the main Mercedes-Benz dealer network, but were prohibitively expensive and that made them very rare indeed.
First arriving in 1990, the 560SEC AMG is really the unicorn of those ‘pre-merger’ AMG cars. Despite the 560 badging, it used a 6.0 litre version of the engine, with producing twice the torque at half the engine speed of the original Mercedes-Benz 5.6 litre unit.
Externally this car came from an era before spoilers and aerodynamics, utilising the distinctive AMG wider wheel arch styling allowing for super wide wheels and tyres. They became known simply as ‘Wide Body’ cars.
There are allegedly only around 50 of these pre-merger 560SEC AMGs in existence.
Bruce is a big fan of the W126 Coupe, having owned an exceptional example himself. You can read about that car here.
View the car here
2. 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500
Estimate €40.000 – €50.000
Sotheby’s – Paris Sale 2019 – Feb 6th – The Youngtimer Collection
The high performance Porsche developed 500E should need no introduction. It is ranked amongst the ultimate ‘Super Saloons’ of all time and those who have driven one will always testify to it’s performance. Fitting the already superbly developed W124 Mercedes-Benz with a 5.0 litre V8 and suspension / chasis developed by Porsche was a genius decision, and the end result is a fantastically accomplished road car.
Here at The SL Shop we have always had a soft spot for a 5.0 litre W124 – (Sam owned one for a while until an SL Shop customer took a liking to it)
This car is the popular 1994 model, the facelift year and the year the name was changed from 500E to E500. What stands this car apart from the crowd is the unusual specification of the factory sliding roof.
View the car here
3. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 500 TE AMG Estate
Sotheby’s – Essen Sale 2019 – The Youngtimer Collection
Estimate Not Stated
In the late 1970s and early 1980s the AMG name was nothing like the international brand it was to become decades later. Instead, this small tuning house had an exceptional reputation for modifying Mercedes-Benz cars. One of the earliest cars to famously host the AMG badge was the 5.0 litre engined W123. The conversion cost an eye watering 65,000 Deutsche Marks. The exact number built is unknown, although it is rumoured that a pair of Estates and Saloons were built with just a single Coupe.
Although there is no complete history with the car shown here, a little detective work by a California based AMG enthusiast led him to conclude that this very early cars was either built by AMG themselves or by someone with intimate knowledge of the inner workings of AMG at the time.
The W123 Estate is already established as a desirable classic car, but this AMG equipped example is another league entirely.
View the car here
4. 1981 Mercedes-Ben 450 SEL AMG
Sotheby’s – Essen Sale 2019 – The Youngtimer Collection
Estimate Not Stated
No details are currently listed by the auction house as to the history or provenance of this car, however shoehorning an AMG fettled 6.9 litre V8 engine into the already very accomplished W116 S Class Saloon makes for a usable classic car with more performance credentials than most of it’s 1981 contemporaries.
View the car here
5. 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC Cabriolet
Sotheby’s – Essen Sale 2019 – The Youngtimer Collection
Estimate Not Stated
What makes this car interesting is that it never existed officially. Mercedes-Benz never made a convertible W126. A number of coach builders offered these, with one even using the four door saloon as a base for a four door convertible.
This coupe derived example looks to be a very nice conversion indeed, as so many coachbuilt convertibles tend to stick out from the crowd thanks to awkwardly placed canvas – after all, it was never meant to be there. It’s a great shame they didn’t whip the top down when taking the photographs, as this looks like ideal transport for lazy summer evenings.
View the car here
Did you like our selection? Why one would you choose?
Do you own a Modern Classic, an iconic ‘Benz from this era? We now offer servicing for Modern Classics, not just SLs.
Contact the office to discuss the next steps for your ‘Modern Classic’ Mercedes-Benz.
Cars for sale at auction is not a subject we’d normally blog about. When buying a car at auction, there is always an element of risk, and one must ask the question ‘if the car is so good then why not just sell on the open market?‘
These may be valid points, however when you’ve spent decades collecting iconic classic cars and want to shift them all at once, sending the whole collection to auction is a great way to get the cars out and the cash in.
In 2019, RM Sotheby’s are selling a large number of Young Timers, or Modern Classics, and most of them have come from a single collection.
The collection comprises mostly classics from the late 1970s, 80s and early 90s, and are mostly German. We think it’s great to see cars from this era enjoying some time under the spotlight, especially as models from Mercedes-Benz make up a good portion of the ‘Modern Classic’ scene.
Do you own a Modern Classic, an iconic ‘Benz from this era? We now offer servicing for Modern Classics, not just SLs. Contact the office to book your car in.
Here’s 5 that we fancy, or at least, 5 that we fancy that aren’t SLs…!
1. 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 AMG Wide Body
Estimate €150.000 – €200.000
Sotheby’s – Paris Sale 2019 – Feb 6th – The Youngtimer Collection
In 1993, Mercedes-Benz and AMG collaborated on the C36 AMG, now known as the first joint product between the two companies. Prior to this, AMG was an entirely separate entity. Pre 1993, AMG cars could be bought through the main Mercedes-Benz dealer network, but were prohibitively expensive and that made them very rare indeed.
First arriving in 1990, the 560SEC AMG is really the unicorn of those ‘pre-merger’ AMG cars. Despite the 560 badging, it used a 6.0 litre version of the engine, with producing twice the torque at half the engine speed of the original Mercedes-Benz 5.6 litre unit.
Externally this car came from an era before spoilers and aerodynamics, utilising the distinctive AMG wider wheel arch styling allowing for super wide wheels and tyres. They became known simply as ‘Wide Body’ cars.
There are allegedly only around 50 of these pre-merger 560SEC AMGs in existence.
Bruce is a big fan of the W126 Coupe, having owned an exceptional example himself. You can read about that car here.
View the car here
2. 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500
Estimate €40.000 – €50.000
Sotheby’s – Paris Sale 2019 – Feb 6th – The Youngtimer Collection
The high performance Porsche developed 500E should need no introduction. It is ranked amongst the ultimate ‘Super Saloons’ of all time and those who have driven one will always testify to it’s performance. Fitting the already superbly developed W124 Mercedes-Benz with a 5.0 litre V8 and suspension / chasis developed by Porsche was a genius decision, and the end result is a fantastically accomplished road car.
Here at The SL Shop we have always had a soft spot for a 5.0 litre W124 – (Sam owned one for a while until an SL Shop customer took a liking to it)
This car is the popular 1994 model, the facelift year and the year the name was changed from 500E to E500. What stands this car apart from the crowd is the unusual specification of the factory sliding roof.
View the car here
3. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 500 TE AMG Estate
Sotheby’s – Essen Sale 2019 – The Youngtimer Collection
Estimate Not Stated
In the late 1970s and early 1980s the AMG name was nothing like the international brand it was to become decades later. Instead, this small tuning house had an exceptional reputation for modifying Mercedes-Benz cars. One of the earliest cars to famously host the AMG badge was the 5.0 litre engined W123. The conversion cost an eye watering 65,000 Deutsche Marks. The exact number built is unknown, although it is rumoured that a pair of Estates and Saloons were built with just a single Coupe.
Although there is no complete history with the car shown here, a little detective work by a California based AMG enthusiast led him to conclude that this very early cars was either built by AMG themselves or by someone with intimate knowledge of the inner workings of AMG at the time.
The W123 Estate is already established as a desirable classic car, but this AMG equipped example is another league entirely.
View the car here
4. 1981 Mercedes-Ben 450 SEL AMG
Sotheby’s – Essen Sale 2019 – The Youngtimer Collection
Estimate Not Stated
No details are currently listed by the auction house as to the history or provenance of this car, however shoehorning an AMG fettled 6.9 litre V8 engine into the already very accomplished W116 S Class Saloon makes for a usable classic car with more performance credentials than most of it’s 1981 contemporaries.
View the car here
5. 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC Cabriolet
Sotheby’s – Essen Sale 2019 – The Youngtimer Collection
Estimate Not Stated
What makes this car interesting is that it never existed officially. Mercedes-Benz never made a convertible W126. A number of coach builders offered these, with one even using the four door saloon as a base for a four door convertible.
This coupe derived example looks to be a very nice conversion indeed, as so many coachbuilt convertibles tend to stick out from the crowd thanks to awkwardly placed canvas – after all, it was never meant to be there. It’s a great shame they didn’t whip the top down when taking the photographs, as this looks like ideal transport for lazy summer evenings.
View the car here
Did you like our selection? Why one would you choose?
Do you own a Modern Classic, an iconic ‘Benz from this era? We now offer servicing for Modern Classics, not just SLs.
Contact the office to discuss the next steps for your ‘Modern Classic’ Mercedes-Benz.
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