Latest news with #Mercedes-Benz300SL
Miami Herald
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Your Chance to Drop Seven Figures on a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Has Arrived
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL holds a prominent place in the temple of automotive gods. Its design, racing provenance, and sheer performance made it an icon of its time, with a presence that has persisted through the years. Of course, given this backstory, you would expect 300SLs to hold an equally worthy price tag; you would be right. Bring a Trailer is now offering you the chance to own one of these unicorns, if your wallet can afford it. This 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, chassis 5500733, is one of 1,400 Gullwing coupe examples built during the model's three years of production. It was reportedly built in September 1955 for delivery in the US through the Port of New York. In 1978, the car was sold by its Arizona owner to a California collector, where it remained for over four decades. During the collector's ownership, the 300SL was painted silver, and its 3.0-liter M198 inline-six, replacement four-speed manual transmission, and brake system were overhauled by Marx Mercedes Service in Costa Mesa, California, in 2007. The car was bought by its current owner about a year ago and underwent yet another refresh, a body seal replacement, and a 2024 repaint in its original shade of white (color code DB050). The interior carries one of the most tremendous color schemes I have ever seen on a car: red leather with Ulster Tartan plaid cloth over the seat cushions and matching carpeting. Not only is it a perfect contrast to the white exterior, but come on, it's plaid! The odometer also shows a mere 39,000 miles, approximately 23 of which were added by the current owner. It's unfortunate that this example's story from 1955 to 1978 seems to have been lost to time. It would have been incredible to know who its original owner was and what led them to decide on a 300SL. According to a period article from Sports Car Illustrated, now Car & Driver, the $8,000. That converts to around $94,058 in today's money, which is no small sum. The low mileage and overall sorted nature of this example should allow its future owner to enjoy all of the 215 horses under the hood while looking distinctively dapper at any car show they attend. With six days left in the auction and a current bid of $1,215,000, buying this German steed will do some serious damage to anyone's bank account. Boy, is it worth it, though. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Exceptionally Original 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Headlines Villa d'Este Auction
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious One of the most iconic sports cars of the postwar era, a remarkably original 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster, will be offered at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Auction on May 24, 2025, by Broad Arrow Auctions. With an estimated value between €2,000,000 and €2,300,000, the car stands out not only for its rarity—just 252 units were built—but for its extraordinary provenance and preservation. Chassis number 70127 was delivered new in April 1958 to Wilhelm Bartels of Braunschweig, Germany, who gifted it to his 17-year-old wife, Elisabeth. The Federweiss-painted roadster, with a two-tone black and white interior, remained in the Bartels family for an astonishing 46 years. During that time, it was consistently maintained by the same mechanic, who also carried out a front disc brake upgrade—a testament to the meticulous care it received. Regarded as a design triumph by Albrecht Graf von Goertz, the 507's sculpted aluminum body, paired with a 3.2-liter V8 and four-speed manual transmission, aimed to rival the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. However, its steep price tag—more than twice its projected cost—led to limited production and made it a choice only for the elite. Celebrity owners included Elvis Presley, Alain Delon, and Ursula Andress. Following its sale by the Bartels family in 2004, the car passed to Horst Kölpin, who preserved its condition while respecting its legacy. In 2018, it entered the hands of only its third owner. Remarkably, just seven kilometers have been added since that transition. Accompanied by its original German registration document and factory-issued owner's manual, this unrestored example is eligible for premier concours and driving events around the world. It offers collectors a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most desirable and historically significant BMWs ever built—one with a story as elegant as its design. See it here.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 6 best ugly-beautiful cars from the past 50 years
Some cars are unequivocally stunning: cars such as the Lamborghini Miura, the Ferrari 250 GTO, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL 'Gullwing', and the Jaguar E-Type, just to name a few. Beauty, however, can be subjective in the automotive world. Some cars manage to be so unconventional, so polarizing, that they transcend traditional aesthetics and become icons in their own right. These cars are often called 'ugly beautiful' — vehicles that defy conventional good looks but possess an undeniable charm and appeal. We celebrate six of the best ugly beautiful cars, vehicles that are as captivating as they are unconventional. Unlike its fetching convertible sibling, the M Coupe was a weird offering from Bavaria. Affectionately dubbed the 'Clown Shoe' by enthusiasts, the first-generation BMW M Coupe is one of the most divisive designs in BMW's storied history. Based on the Z3 roadster but with a shooting brake-style hardtop, the M Coupe's elongated roofline and stubby proportions look unlike anything else on the road. Looking more like an angry squatting frog on wheels than a sports car, the M Coupe thumbed its nose at what this oddball car offers goes far beyond its quirky appearance. Under the hood lies BMW's legendary inline-six engines, including the S52 and the high-revving S54 from the E46 M3 in later models. With near-perfect weight distribution, a rigid chassis, and aggressive suspension tuning, the M Coupe is an absolute blast to drive. Its bizarre looks only add to its cult appeal, making it one of the most beloved 'ugly beautiful' cars ever made. When Porsche introduced the Panamera in 2009, purists were aghast. A four-door Porsche sedan with a bulbous, awkwardly long profile? Blasphemy! But despite its ungainly roofline and rear end, coupled with heavy proportions, the first-generation Panamera has aged into a sort of misunderstood beauty. It was replaced by the current model, which is certainly more appealing to a wider audience. We find the original less conventional and, therefore, special in its own Panamera's design choices were driven by function. Its sloping roofline allowed for impressive rear headroom, and the spacious interior made it a genuine four-seater sports sedan. More importantly, the Panamera delivered performance worthy of the Porsche badge, with powerful V6, V8, and even hybrid options offering blistering acceleration and nimble handling. Over time, the Panamera's quirks have become part of its appeal — a reminder that form sometimes follows function in spectacular ways. The current Panamera might have better lines, and gone is the bulbous back end, but our hearts remain with the funky original. Long before the Urus, there was the LM 002 — an exotic, high-performance SUV so outrageous it almost defies description. It was the answer to a question nobody asked, and it was as crazy to drive as it was to look at. Lamborghini's attempt at an off-road luxury SUV in the late '80s and early '90s resulted in what's often described as a 'Rambo Lambo.' The LM 002 is a massive, blocky, military-esque machine with a towering stance and a front end that looks more suited to an armored vehicle than a supercar manufacturer. It was anything but subtle. Under the hood, however, lies pure Lamborghini madness: a 5.2-liter V12 borrowed from the Countach. This combination of off-road capability and exotic engine performance made the LM 002 a completely unique beast. You could also opt for a monstrous 7.2-liter V12 from powerboat applications if you were insane (and rich) enough. Only 301 LM 002s were ever made, and they symbolize the righteous excess of the '80s in its finest form. Its strange, aggressive design and insane powerplant make it an unforgettable entry in the ugly beautiful pantheon. The Volvo 200-Series cars are the best boxy Swedes of all time and a perfect example of how function can evolve into a kind of unexpected elegance. Their boxy, slab-sided design was the epitome of practicality. Huge rectangular headlights, windows, and side mirrors combined with tank-like boxy doors gave the cars a delightfully industrial-nerdy appearance, and the 200-Series Volvos look even better today than ever before. The cars prioritized safety, space, and visibility over any semblance of traditional beauty — and yet, its uncompromising approach has made it an favorite is the 240 wagon, which has gobs of space, huge glove-friendly switchgear, and insanely thick sheet metal. The wagon's simple lines and no-nonsense aesthetic have aged into something almost stately. College professors, architects, and upscale hippies seem to flock to it. Enthusiasts celebrate its durability, reliability, and unmistakable profile. Whether in sedan or wagon form, the 240's angular shape has become a symbol of honest engineering and Scandinavian cool. The Saab 900 is the automotive equivalent of a charming eccentric. This Swedish oddity combined unconventional styling with innovative engineering. Its distinctive upright wraparound windshield, elongated hood, sloping rear window, and high beltline made it instantly recognizable — and unlike anything else on the market. The Saab 900 kept its distinct look over the course of twenty years, even after being facelifted in 1987. It came in sedan, coupe, convertible, hatchback, and even wagon forms, with a consistent look across body types. But the 900's appeal wasn't just skin deep. It offered a turbocharged engine long before forced induction became mainstream, and its front-wheel-drive layout delivered surprising performance. The quirky cockpit, with its driver-focused controls and unique ignition placement between the seats, only added to its idiosyncratic charm. The Saab 900's individuality and spirited performance make it a classic example of ugly beauty. It still turns heads on the road today, which is a great indication of how well the quirky look has held up. The first-generation Scion xB, introduced in 2003, took the concept of a box on wheels and made it cool — at least to some. Its unapologetically square design, mad front underbite bumper, slab sides, and tall greenhouse made it look more like a rolling toaster than a conventional car, but that's what made it so special. Even the similarly squared-off Nissan Cube couldn't pull off the same look as well as the xB managed to do. The xB's quirkiness became its greatest strength. All of that boxy goodness was ruined by the larger, puffier, second-generation first-generation xB's practicality was undeniable. Its boxy shape provided incredible interior space relative to its small footprint, and its simple, no-frills approach made it an affordable and reliable choice. You could even configure the xB with a manual transmission, adding even more driving fun to the mix. The xB became a favorite canvas for customization, with owners embracing its weirdness and adding their own personal flair. Over time, the xB's oddball design has gained a devoted following, securing its place among the best ugly beautiful cars. Ugly beautiful cars remind us that automotive design doesn't always have to conform to conventional standards of beauty. A car that has character and uniqueness, one that dares to push the envelope of design and defy conventional views of automotive style, is one that stands out in the crowd. Sometimes, the most memorable vehicles are the ones that take risks, embrace individuality, and deliver something unexpected. Sometimes, it takes decades to truly appreciate what they achieved. These six cars prove that there's a certain charm in the unconventional — and that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
