There were some fine Mercedes offered during Arizona Auction Week 2019. We’ve included just about all of them, all the cars worth talking about (and some that probably aren’t worth talking about) in our list below.
We’ve listed the categories as we have in the past… the different classes of SLs and then everything else in other categories that we think make sense. Of course, you’ll see more purely ‘collectible’ cars at Bonham’s, Gooding and Co. and RM Sotheby’s, the ‘highest-end’ auction houses. You’ll see more ‘used cars’ at Barrett-Jackson, Russo and Steele.
A friend of mine who attended auction week for the first time was surprised how many low priced cars there were at Barrett-Jackson, not just Mercedes, but cars in general, under $20,000, even $10,000. He had only ever watched the auction on T.V. and assumed everything at the sale was $100,000+. Many, many cars at Barrett-Jackson, and the other auctions, sell for well under $100,000 and there are plenty, at some of the sales, as he noticed, under $10,000 even.
300 SL Prices Flat, Unless You have Something Exceptional
This 1960 300 SL Roadster was a no sale at RM Sotheby’s with a high bid of just $950,000.
There were seven 300 SLs offered during Arizona Auction Week 2019, four sold, three did not. The 300 SL market leveled off last year and that trend seems to be continuing this year. Most 300 SLs are million dollar cars, but it takes something special to bring a million and a half or more. Both of RM Sotheby’s 300 SLs went unsold, Gooding and Co. sold two of three, with Bonham’s and Worldwide selling one each.
It’s pretty clear that unless you have something that’s correct, and with an exceptional story, you’re not going to pull big money in the 300 SL market. Non-running, rusty barn finds have been selling for more than some of the perfectly good, running driving examples that didn’t sell in Scottsdale. Discriminating buyers seem more apt to buy a one owner car that has been forgotten by the world, that hasn’t run in decades, to a car that’s had a few owners and underwent a restoration 10 years ago. Whether it makes any sense or not, I think many new 300 SL owners want a good story to tell and many of them, want a project to oversee, a car they can make their own, so to speak.
Pagoda SLs, Back to Earth Just 8 Offered Across All Auctions
Bonham’s sold this restored 1964 230 SL for $64,400. A strong result for a 230 SL, but the restoration must have cost much more.
Three or four years ago you could sell just about any running, driver quality 280 SL for $70,000, that’s not the case today. In Arizona Bonhams offered no less than four W113 SLs, while Gooding and Company didn’t offer any. RM had one, a special ZF 5 speed car, the ultimate in collectible Pagodas. About half of them, drivers, sold well under $100,000 which is where they should be. Don’t be discouraged though, back in 2012 an absolutely perfectly restored 280 SL was only a $55,000 car… that same car today, is worth double that.
Mercedes R107 Series Cars in Arizona, Largely Unimpressive
Lot 456.1 at Barrett-Jackson was this 1989 560 SL in black with Palomino leather, it sold for $49,500.
Aside from Barrett-Jackson’s 1989 560 SL with just over 15,000 miles that sold for $49,500 R107 offerings were largely unimpressive during Arizona Auction Week 2019. There really is no shortage of low mile R107s, no matter the model. Buyers can afford to be picky and there are always more than 150+ on the market at any one time, so there is little motivation to battle it out with another bidder at an auction for a car you can probably buy within a half day’s drive from where you live. Even one with low miles. Never the less, a new group of enthusiasts are discovering these cars, or at least arriving at a point in their lives where they’ve decided it’s time to finally put one of these iconic machines of the 70s and 80s in their garage. I don’t see prices going anywhere but up on quality examples.
R230 SLs (2003 – 2012) 20+ Offered, Just Used Cars, but a Value
There were about 20 R230 SLs available in Arizona this year, sounds like a lot, right? Looking back at our auction report from last year, there were 30+ available in 2018! The question of future collectibility come sup a lot when talking about this generation SL. I believe they will be collectible one day, maybe not on the same level as some of the SLs that have come before them, but they are Mercedes SLs, which always have been, and probably always will be inspirational material possessions. I don’t think an auction is a particularly good place to buy one, as there are plenty for sale at any one time, but they can be good cars to sell at auction. As usual, with serial production, ‘modern classics’ – mileage, limited ownership and original paint and options are what differentiate one car from another in terms of value. The 2009 ‘face-lifted’ Silver Arrow models are my bet for best chance at future collectibility, they made just 550 of them.
SLS, 500 E, W111 / W111 Convertibles, Always Sought After
Other cars that caught my eye… SLS coupes over roadsters, the 22,000 mile 500 E at Bonhams with just over 22,000 miles that did $85,000… we will see more of this kind of money, and more, for low mile 500 E and E 500 cars in the coming years. While their ‘banker hot rod’ forefather, the 6.3 struggles in the market from where I’m sitting. W111 / W112 sold (and didn’t sell) about where I would have expected. Prices on 6 cylinder W111 convertibles of all kinds (220, 250 and 280) seem to be creeping up, although we didn’t have very many to look at in Arizona to declare a trend, but looking at the wider market, it’s clear. Not everyone can afford a 3.5 convertible (or even wants one for $300K+ if they can afford it), so the other open cars from the W111 series are seeing an uptick.
Mercedes of offered at the various auctions in Scottsdale, AZ – January 2019
Auction company abbreviations:
BJ – Barrett-Jackson, B – Bonhams, G – Gooding & Co.
RM – RM / Sotheby’s, RS – Russo and Steele, W – Worldwide
Unsold lots are in RED with unsuccessful high bid listed.
All sale figures include buyer’s premium.
300 SL
’55 300 SL Coupe – B – Lot 36 – $1,110,000
’55 300 SL Coupe – G – Lot 39 – $1,435,000
’55 300 SL Coupe – RM – Lot 264 – $1,100,000 NS
’57 300 SL Rdstr – G – Lot 21 – $1,006,000
’59 300 SL Rdstr – WW – Lot 20 – $990,000
’60 300 SL Rdstr – RM – Lot 151 – $950,000 NS
’63 300 SL Rdstr – G – Lot 125 – $1,550,000 NS
190SL
’57 190 SL – BJ – Lot 1457 – $93,500
’58 190 SL – RS – Lot 764 – $100,000 NS
’58 190 SL – BJ – Lot 1092 – $128,700
’59 190 SL – BJ – Lot 1303.1 – $132,000
’59 190 SL – RM – Lot 148 – $106,400
’60 190 SL – RM – Lot 176 – $123,200
’60 190 SL – RS – Lot 527 – $93,500
’61 190 SL – B – Lot 75 – $134,400
’61 190 SL – BJ – Lot 1449 – $137,500
’62 190 SL – BJ – Lot 1121 – $132,000
W113
’65 230 SL – BJ – Lot 1418 – $187,000 (ex-John Lennon)
’65 230 SL – B – Lot 81 – $64,400
’67 250 SL – RM – Lot 244 – $145,600 (ZF 5 spd)
’68 280 SL – B – Lot 60 – $75,040
’69 280 SL – B – Lot 92 – $69,440
’70 280 SL – B – Lot 19 – $100,800
’70 280 SL ‘Custom’ – RM – Lot 247 – $196,000
’71 280 SL – RS – Lot 715 – $152,900
R107
’73 450 SL – RS – Lot 315 – $9,900
’75 450 SL – RS – Lot 240 – $5,500
’75 450 SL – RS – Lot 829 – $4,400
’77 450 SL – BJ – Lot 31 – $7,150
’77 450 SL – RS – Lot 208 – $6,600
’78 450 SL – RS – Lot 204 – $15,400
’82 380 SL – WW – Lot 71 – $24,200
’85 380 SL – RS – Lot 852 – $18,700
’86 560 SL – B – Lot 116 – $20,160
’86 560 SL – G – Lot 157 – $37,520
’88 560 SL – BJ – Lot 32 – $17,600
’89 560 SL – RS – Lot 410 – $14,025
’89 560 SL – BJ – Lot 456.1 – $49,500
R129
’91 500 SL – BJ – Lot 346 – $7,150
’94 SL 320 – BJ – Lot 334 – $8,250
’96 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 356 – $13,200
’99 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 29 – $8,800
’99 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 1690 – $6,600
’99 SL 500 – RS – Lot 235 – $4,400
’99 SL 500 – RS – Lot 837 – $9,900
’00 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 20 – $6,600
R230
’03 SL 55 – BJ – Lot 76 – $22,000
’03 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 75 – $22,000
’03 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 26 – $13,200
’03 SL 55 – BJ – Lot 139 – $24,200
’03 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 576 – $28,600
’03 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 583 – $27,500
’03 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 389 – $17,600
’03 SL 55 – BJ – Lot 1654 – $18,700
’03 SL 500 – RS – Lot 413 – $12,100
’03 SL 500 – RS – Lot 615 – $21,450
’03 SL 500 – RS – Lot 385 – $14,000 NS
’03 SL 500 – RS – Lot 857 – 12,000 NS
’03 SL 500 – RS – Lot 865 – $7,975
’04 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 148 – $26,400
’04 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 1516 – $18,700
’05 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 72 – $22,000
’05 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 74 – $20,900
’05 SL 65 – BJ – Lot 170 – $33,000
’05 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 355 – $22,000
’06 SL 500 – BJ – Lot 89 – Withdrawn
’06 SL 500 – RS – Lot 266 – $20,350
’07 SL 550 – RS – Lot 871 – $13,200
’07 SL 55 – BJ – Lot 66 – $33,000
Pre-War
’34 500K 4 Pass. Tourer by Mayfair – B – Lot 32 – $830,000
’37 230 Special Roadster – B – Lot 5 – $168,000
’38 230 Cabriolet B – B – Lot 89 – $81,200
W111 / W112 Coupes and Convertibles
’67 250 SE Convertible – RS – Lot 701 – $90,750
’67 300 SE Convertible – G – Lot 111 – $160,000 NS
’70 280 SE Cabriolet (3.5 spec.) – B – Lot 108 – $193,760** Check back for a profile of this car, coming soon!
’70 280 SE 3.5 Convertible – B – Lot 16 – $362,500
’70 280 SE 3.5 Coupe – G – Lot 152 – $70,000
’70 280 SE 3.5 Coupe – WW – Lot 50 – Withdrawn
’71 280 SE 3.5 Coupe – B – Lot 42 – $115,000 NS
’71 280 SE 3.5 Convertible – G – Lot 11 – $235,200
SLR / SLS / AMG GT
’06 SLR McLaren – RM – Lot 237 – $268,800
’06 SLR McLaren – RS – Lot 727 – $180,000 NS
’06 SLR McLaren Cpe – BJ – Lot 1417 – $291,500
’08 SLR McLaren Rdstr – G – Lot 40 – $357,000
’11 SLS AMG Coupe – RM – Lot 113 – $190,400
’11 SLS AMG Coupe – BJ – Lot 1325 – $156,200
’12 SLS AMG Rdstr – BJ – Lot 1298.1 – $104,500
’15 SLS AMG GT Rdstr Final Ed. – G – Lot 62 – $246,400
Other AMG
’08 CLK 63 Black Series – RS – Lot 502 – $662,000 NS
Other Coupes and Convertibles
’52 220 Cabriolet B – B – Lot 52 – $103,600
’56 300 Sc Rdstr – G – Lot 119 – $885,000
’79 450 SLC – G – Lot 1 – $34,720
’89 560 SEC – RS – Lot 748 – $17,500 NS
Sedans / Wagons / SUVs
’53 300 a ‘Adenauer’ – WW – Lot 26 – $46,200
’71 300 SEL 6.3 – G – Lot 6 – $103,600
’71 250 SE – RS – Lot 424 – $36,000 NS
’73 280 SEL – RS – Lot 838 – $15,000 NS
’77 450 SEL 6.9 – G – Lot 136 – $47,040
’87 190 E 2.3-16 – B – Lot 107 – $38,080
’87 240 GD Convertible – BJ – Lot 987 – $60,500
’89 300 TE Wagon – BJ – Lot 663 – $15,950
’94 E 500 – B – Lot 51 – $85,120 (22k miles)
’96 G 320 2 dr – BJ – Lot 1575.1 – $41,800
’14 G 63 6×6 – BJ – Lot 1410 – $1,210,000
“Used Cars”
’99 SLK 320 – RS – Lot 564 – $9,625
’02 CLK 55 – RS – Lot 397 – $20,000 NS
’02 S 55 – BJ – Lot 16.1 – $6,380
’02 S 600 – RS – Lot 866 – $12,100
’02 CL 500 – BJ – Lot 75.1 – $17,600
’03 CLK 430 Cab – RS – Lot 222 – $6,078
’05 SLK 350 – RS – Lot 854 – $7,150
’05 E 320 Sedan – BJ – Lot 1696 – $6,600
’05 CL 500 – BJ – Lot 10 – $7,370
’06 CLS 500 – RS – Lot 869 – $9,500 NS
’07 SLK 55 – BJ – Lot 361 – $27,500
’07 CL 550 – BJ – Lot 1518 – $12,100
’07 CLK 350 Cab. – BJ – Lot 1700 – $10,450
’08 S 63 – BJ – Lot 416 – $26,400
’08 CL 500 – BJ – Lot 361.1 – $18,700
’10 E 550 Coupe – BJ – Lot 1511 – $16,500
’10 S 63 – BJ – Lot 676 – $30,800
’10 S 400 Hybrid – BJ – Lot 78 – $13,200
’10 E 350 Sedan – BJ – Lot 1688 – $15,400
’11 E 350 – BJ – Lot 1510 – $13,200
’14 S 63 – RS – Lot 658 – $60,000 NS
’17 G 550 – RS – Lot 750 – $100,000 NS
*All images courtesy the auction companies: Red 300SL (featured image) by Patrick Ernzen ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s, Grey 300 SL roadster by Robin Adams ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s. Bonhams (230 SL) and Barrett Jackson (560 SL).