RM’s Automobiles of London to offer two unique Mercedes
Long lost 600 Landaulet and AMG updated original Gullwing
Photography by RM Auctions and Angus Dunwoody Dun
Among the group of cars to be auctioned by RM Auctions during Wednesday’s Automobiles of London will be two exceedingly rare Mercedes-Benz – a 600 LWB Landaulet and one of Royal Family of Brunei’s AMG modified 300SL Gullwings. The sale of these two cars will offer bidders an opportunity to acquire a couple of marvelous automobiles.
1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet
Tatty 600 LWB Landaulet the most regal postwar Mercedes-Benz and a favorite of Pope's and dictators alike. Pullman's 153.5 inch wheelbase is almost 28 inches longer than that of a 2009 S550.
With only 59 constructed, the sale of a Mercedes-Benz 600 Landaulet is rare indeed. RM auctions has managed to unearth what appears to be essentially a barn find example in black with red leather. Despite the catalog’s generally benign description – “the underside and chassis would require attention” (!) – the car you see here requires a comprehensive 100% restoration, a project akin to restoring a motor yacht or perhaps a medium size private airplane. $400k to $500k might take care of this. The auction estimates a selling range of between $65k and $95k. We know one of our readers will be bidding on the car and will keep you up to date on the sale. (Update October 28, 2009 8:13 am – This Landaulet sold for an astonishing $440k.)
Looking through divider window opening toward cavernous rear seat area. Roof area over rear seat folds down for open air touring amongst the masses. The amount of leather and wood in this car is simply staggering.
While the auction catalog noted it among many missing items, I spy the suspension air compressor among the jumble of pieces in the trunk.
After 3-4 years of specialist work and perhaps $500k, this is what RM's Landaulet could look like. Will the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center try to buy this car?
1954(1996) Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe
Equally exciting as the Landaulet, the ruling family of Brunei’s “resto-mod” 1954 Gullwing is a car that few have known existed and fewer have actually seen in the light of day. An example of AMG’s German personalization studio’s ability to upgrade virtually any Mercedes-Benz to any level of performance, this Gullwing is one of eight coupes (4 rhd and 4 lhd)each built at a cost of one million Euros between 1996 and 2009.
Late model alloys do nothing for the Gullwing's appearance. Note power outside rear view mirrors and lack of bumper guards. R129 series (1990-2002) SL provided rear suspension components.
Normally aspirated 6 liter M119 series engine (probably sourced from 1999-2002 E55) produces 380hp and mated to 4-speed automatic transmission. The car is fully compliant with stringent Euro2 emissions regulations.
Massive interior updates include Recaro seats trimmed in Nappa leather, alcantara headliner, "piano black" dash face, large center console and steering wheel/column sourced from R129 SL.
Other details of this most unusual Gullwing include C36 front brakes, W124 E-class rear brakes, R129 chassis SL rear suspension, adjustable shocks and 17″ alloy wheels. The auction estimate values the car between $550k-$715k. Today, $715k buys the best correct Gullwing on the planet. While fabrication and overall finish is quite likely spectacular, I’m just not sure who will buy this car. (Update October 28, 2009 8:13am – After vigorous bidding, this modified Gullwing sold for $679k.)
The best of both worlds? What do you think?
We’ll have a comprehensive article on most of the Mercedes sales during this auction in our next free e-Newsletter. Be sure to Subscribe if you haven’t already done so.
Please comment on this article below.
Roy Spencer, editor MercedesHeritage.com
14 Responses to “Auction Action: Tatty Landaulet brings $440k and AMG modified Gullwing fetches $679k in London”
MONEY CANNOT BUY GODD TASTE !
Hi Roy
I think the “under the bonnet” upgrades are fantastic. The interior layout and use of modern components lend themselves to a feeling of excited expectation.
The use of modern rear view mirrors and mags on the outside however, tend to slap one in the face, and detract from the original classic appearance. Ugly, cheap council house upgrades. I’m not sure if I should shake my head in shame, or run holding my head screaming! I feel with this regard, the design team on the outside, missed completely.
Thank you for a wonderful website. I love it.
Regards
Robby Bardsley
South Africa
A double-header: 1) an M100 landaulet “beater” ( landaulets are rare, but a landaulet reduced to such circumstances is much rarer, thank God), and 2) a formidable exercise in bad taste whose authors ought to be dragged out and shot. Eight original 300SLs were bastardized to accomplish this? Disgusting. This is roughly equivalent to having Thomas Kincaid revise a Picasso to make it sell better at Wal-Mart.
RM is a successful auction house, so they’ll more than likely sell. My guess is that the M100 car will bring better than 100K, and the “improved” 300SL (now a 100SL in my book, or a .050SL) is anyone’s estimate. All it takes is someone with more money than sense, and those folks are around, but in shorter supply than a few years ago. They haven’t gotten any smarter, but many of them are poorer.
I agree with Jim…The “Best of both worlds” Gullwing is now a 100SL.
I ABSOLUTELY CONCUR WITH JIM ROSENTHAL ! ! !
Roy: Congratulations for staying on top of the news. The reults of this sale will fascinate and inform. Will bidders agree with noted physician JR , and pass on the “Gullwing”? Will there be a mysterious “telephone bidder” to outbid the wealthy poseurs in the front row? I’m sitting on the edge of my chair!
What a shame on both counts, one for neglect and two for overkill. The 300SL was raped. One of the very few cars that are still beautiful after many years of changing tastes, and AMG of all people mess up 8 of them them – a travesty!
I’m going to pour myself a drink and pout all day.
Maybe the comment “Perhaps another Saudi…” in the article is a typo but of course the Sultan of Brunei hails from Brunei in Indonesia and not the Middle East.
Apologies if this appears pedantic.
Value of the SL should probably be current market value of a good example less the cost of returning the car to original spec. i.e. not much!
I had the oportunity to buy 2 m100 pullman’s in Germany. The owner bought them from a person in Belgium. That person bought them from CONGO (Africa). Those 2 pullmans where in the same condition as this laundaulet. After investigation (internet with pictures) I found out that the previous president of Congo had also a Laundaulet. Since the papers of this Laundaulet are belgium papers, tels me that this car is from Congo also. Congo was once owned by Belgium.
That president was far from a superstar. Since there is no description who the previous owner is, lett me think that they do not want to tell that it was once from a previous president of Congo. His name is Mobutu.
Sorry, no room in the shed for the Landaulet ! However had I the ready to spend on something unique the Gullwing would be mine- RHD please.
I would not be surprised to see it top the million USD. Rarity is worth money.
Will watch the auction with interest.
David,
Thank you for correcting the “Saudi” comment. I’ve removed it from the article. Checking this comment crossed my mind last night but I was just to worn out to follow-up on my geographic miscue. Next time I’ll research it!
Roy Spencer
I bid $100 FOR THE GULLWING.. BAD TASTE BY THE OWNERS. HAVE TO PLACE IT BACK TO ORIGINAL SPECS.
In 1986 a German company built a couple of hundred 300SL replicas /w 129 ch underpinnings I bet this is one of them Rich
Ive bought and sold cars online for years now and Ive found only a few ways truly work. This site helps by educating people before they make a stupid mistake. Thanks and Ill be coming back to check this site often.
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