Another car week is in the books… similar to our auction preview… this article presents each car offered for sale at the various auctions held during Monterey Car Week 2023 and thei associated sale prices. In the event that a car didn’t sell, we’ve included the high bid amount. All SOLD prices INCLUDE BUYER’S PREMIUMS, after all, isn’t that the real SALE price?
A quick snapshot… full details and photos of each car below.
300SL Roadsters and Gullwings
300SLs – Fifteen offered in total across all auctions (11 Roadsters, 4 Gullwings).
7 300SLs sold – 8 did not. No sale results below in RED. Gooding & Co. and Mecum didn’t sell any of the 6 300SLs offered between them.
Bonham’s Lot 31 – 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – SOLD – $1,187,500.
Broad Arrow – Lot 131 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz – 300 SL Roadster – Estimate: $1,300,000 – $1,600,000 – NO SALE – $1,150,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 171 – 1956 Mercedes-Benz – 300 SL “Gullwing” Coupe – Estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,200,000 – SOLD – $1,930,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 251 -1957 Mercedes-Benz – 300 SL Roadster – Estimate: $1,850,000 – $2,200,000 – NO SALE – $1,700,000.
Gooding & Co. – Lot 15 – 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – $1,400,000 – $1,700,000 – NO SALE – $1,200,000.
Gooding & Co. – Lot 64 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – $1,200,000 – $1,400,000 – NO SALE – $850,000.
Gooding & Co. – Lot 175 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing – $1,300,000 – $1,500,000 – NO SALE – No pricing info available from Gooding or Hammerprice app.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 145 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $950,000 – $1,200,000 – SOLD – $1,050,000.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 236 – 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,400,000 – $1,600,000 – SOLD – $1,462,500.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 256 – 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | $1,700,000 – $1,900,000 – SOLD – $1,572,500.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 360 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | $1,700,000 – $2,000,000 – SOLD – $1,737,500.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 363 – 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,250,000 – $1,450,000 – SOLD – $1,242,500.
Mecum – Lot F82 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – NO SALE – $1,050,000.
Mecum – Lot F130 – 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – NO SALE – $1,300,000.
Mecum – Lot S122 – 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – NO SALE – $1,750,000.
W113 ‘Pagoda’ SLs (230SL, 250SL, 280SL)
There were examples of all three models on offer in Monterey, 14 Pagoda SLs in total. Two different 230SLs broke the $200,000 price barrier, which doesn’t happen very often. Those prices are a testament to the level of restoration these cars had undergone.
Youngtimers
There was no shortage of newer Mercedes available. Plenty of ‘just used cars’ R107s sprinkled around the auctions. A nice, yellow R129 SL was offered at Broad Arrow, a model that doesn’t usually make the auction cut. The 500SLC I featured here on Mercedes-Market last week, that was offered at Gooding & Co. sold very well at $106,400, which may be a record for the model, I can’t remember seeing one sell for more publicly anyway.
Pre-Mercedes AMG
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 157 – 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL AMG 6.0 | $90,000 – $120,000 – SOLD for $179,200.
A number of interesting pre-merger cars were offered. The silver W126 560SEL (RM’s lot # 157) was the most notable to me… a 1991 560 SEL AMG 6.0 sold above its high estimate for $179,200.
Post-War Classics
A smattering of Coupes and cabs appeared around the peninsula. RM Sotheby’s sold a 280SE 3.5 Cab for its high estimate of $500,000. Broad Arrow’s 600 Pullman Landaulet failed to find a new home with a high bid of $2,000,000.
Mecum – Lot F130 – 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet – NO SALE – High Bid of $125,000.
The 1960 Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet that I sold to a private party in California back in the Summer of 2020, which subsequently sold on Bring a Trailer by my friends at Mohr Imports in Monterey last year for a high bid of $167,000 (+$5,000 in auction fees, so, $172,000 total), was bid to just $125,000 at Mecum’s Monterey sale.
That no sale result really says more about the venue where the owner chose to offer the car than the car itself. This 220SE cab is one of the finest, most well documented examples I’ve ever seen. The gentleman that I sold it for is an Indiana based collector with very high standards. He was the, documented, second owner of the car. He bought it from the original owner 30+ years ago and had it restored in the mid 2000s. Any shortcomings the car had were tended to by the gentleman in California I sold the car to in 2020. He would contact me regularly and tell me about the items he was addressing and improving, he spent over $40,000 on the car taking it from about a 95 point car to a 99 point car (as we all know, those last few details are expensive and time consuming). If the guy who bought it on BaT was thinking he’d make a quick buck flipping the car at Mecum, he was surely disappointed. The car deserves more money, a lot more, and I would guess it’s out there, at the right venue.
There’s plenty more to talk about and explore from ‘Monterey Car Week 2023’… but we’ll leave it there for now.
Sold prices or high bid amounts, in the case of a ‘no sale’ is in the caption of each photo below.
Scroll down to see them all!
Bonhams – The Quail Auction – 2023
Bonhams Lot 2 – 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL – SOLD – $20,720
Bonham’s Lot 14 – 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL – NO SALE – $175,000
Bonhams Lot 18 – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL California Coupe – SOLD – $53,760
Bonham’s Lot 31 – 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – SOLD – $1,187,500.
Bonham’s Lot 47 – 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL – SOLD – $152,320
Bonham’s Lot 62 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet – SOLD – $243,600.
Bonham’s Lot 87 – 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL – SOLD – $128,800.
Bonham’s Lot 93 – 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3 2+2 Coupe – One-Off By Pininfarina – SOLD – $390,000.
Bonham’s Lot 99 – 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 TE AMG – Est. $75,000 – $100,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $39,200
Broad Arrow – RADIUS at the Monterey Jet Center
Broad Arrow – Lot 131 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz – 300 SL Roadster – Estimate: $1,300,000 – $1,600,000 – NO SALE – $1,150,000
Broad Arrow – Lot 150 – 1961 Mercedes-Benz – 190 SL – Estimate: $175,000 – $225,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $100,800.
Broad Arrow – Lot 154 – 2014 Mercedes-Benz – G 63 AMG 6X6 Brabus B63S-700 – Estimate: $1,100,000 – $1,300,000 – NO SALE – $1,000,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 162 – 2018 Mercedes-Maybach – G 650 Landaulet – Estimate: $950,000 – $1,100,000 – NO SALE – $850,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 162 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz – 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet – Estimate: $350,000 – $450,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $291,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 170 – 2008 Mercedes-Benz – SLR McLaren Roadster – Estimate: $400,000 – $500,000 – SOLD – $395,500.
Lot 171 – 1956 Mercedes-Benz – 300 SL “Gullwing” Coupe – Estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,200,000 – SOLD – $1,930,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 179 – 1969 Mercedes-Benz – 280 SL “Pagoda” – Estimate: $200,000 – $250,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $190,400.
Broad Arrow – Lot 206 – 1969 Mercedes-Benz – 280 SL “Pagoda” – Estimate: $120,000 – $150,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $92,400.
Broad Arrow – Lot 207 – 1999 Mercedes-Benz – Estimate: $50,000 – $70,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $58,800.
Broad Arrow – Lot 247 – 1988 Mercedes-Benz – 560 SL – Estimate: $45,000 – $65,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $30,800.
Broad Arrow – Lot 247 – 1966 Mercedes-Benz – 600 Pullman Landaulet – Estimate: $2,250,000 – $2,650,000 – NO SALE – $2,000,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 251 -1957 Mercedes-Benz – 300 SL Roadster – Estimate: $1,850,000 – $2,200,000 – NO SALE – $1,700,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 254 – 1969 Mercedes-Benz – 280 SE Cabriolet – Estimate: $175,000 – $225,000 – NO SALE – $170,000.
Broad Arrow – Lot 257 -1961 Mercedes-Benz – 190 SL – Estimate: $80,000 – $100,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $89,600.
Broad Arrow – Lot 279 – 1956 Mercedes-Benz – 300 Sc Coupe – Estimate: $400,000 – $500,000 – No Reserve – SOLD – $362,500.
Broad Arrow – Lot 282 -1935 Mercedes-Benz – 500 K Cabriolet A – Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000 – SOLD – $1,710,000.
Gooding and Co. – Pebble Beach Auctions 2023
Lot 4 – 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Roadster – Est. $125,000 – $175,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD – 72,800.
Lot 10 – 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 S Coupe – $130,000 – $160,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD – $98,000.
Gooding & Co. – Lot 15 – 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – $1,400,000 – $1,700,000 – NO SALE – $1,200,000.
Gooding & Co. – Lot 64 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – $1,200,000 – $1,400,000 – NO SALE – $850,000.
Lot 105 – 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SL – $80,000 – $100,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD – $86,800.
Lot 121 – 1963 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL – $150,000 – $200,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD – $168,000.
Lot 136 – 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL – $225,000 – $275,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD – $218,800.
Lot 158 – 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica – $70,000 – $90,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD $69,440.
Lot 169 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL – $150,000 – $180,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD – $151,200.
Gooding & Co. – Lot 175 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing – $1,300,000 – $1,500,000 – NO SALE – No pricing info available from Gooding or Hammerprice app.
Lot 187 – 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC ‘Homologation’ – $70,000 – $90,000 | Without Reserve – SOLD – $106,400.
RM Sothebys – Monterey 2023
Lot 106 – 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ | $175,000 – $225,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $229,600.
Lot 109 – 1984 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL AMG 5.4 | $100,000 – $150,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $84,000.
Lot 144 – 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL | $175,000 – $225,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $190,400.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 145 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $950,000 – $1,200,000 – SOLD – $1,050,000.
Lot 157 – 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL AMG 6.0 | $90,000 – $120,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $179,200.
Lot 205 – 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL ‘Pagoda’ | $180,000 – $220,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $207,200.
Lot 206 – 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL | $220,000 – $260,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $291,000.
Lot 208 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SLR | $250,000 – $300,000 – SOLD – $329,500.
Lot 211 – 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Roadster | $225,000 – $275,000 – SOLD – $268,800.
Lot 215 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘Pagoda’ | $200,000 – $250,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $257,600.
Lot 216 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet | $400,000 – $500,000 – SOLD – $500,000.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 236 – 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,400,000 – $1,600,000 – SOLD – $1,462,500.
Lot 255 – 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series ‘P One Edition’ | $700,000 – $800,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $775,000.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 256 – 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | $1,700,000 – $1,900,000 – SOLD – $1,572,500.
Lot 265 – 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Normal Roadster by Sindelfingen | $1,150,000 – $1,400,000 – SOLD – $1,655,000.
Lot 274 – 1936 Mercedes-Benz 230 Cabriolet B | $175,000 – $225,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $154,000.
Lot 317 – 2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition Roadster | $350,000 – $400,000 – Offered Without Reserve – SOLD – $478,000.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 360 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | $1,700,000 – $2,000,000 – SOLD – $1,737,500.
RM Sotheby’s – Lot 363 – 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,250,000 – $1,450,000 – SOLD – $1,242,500.
Mecum Monterey 2023 – The Daytime Auction
Lot T47 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 250 CE – SOLD – $24,200.
Lot T72 – 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible – SOLD – $13,750.
Lot 141 – 1956 190SL – NO SALE – $85,000.
Lot T149 – 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG – SOLD – $18,700.
Lot T215 – 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Convertible – NO SALE – $14,500.
Lot F71 – 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – NO SALE – $190,000.
Mecum – Lot F82 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – NO SALE – $1,050,000.
Mecum – Lot F130 – 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – NO SALE – $1,300,000.
Lot F130 – 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet – NO SALE – $125,000.
Tobin Motor Works sold this 220SE privately for its second owner of more than 30 years during the Summer of 2020. It was subsequently sold on bringatrailer.com in April of 2022 for $$167,000… so this was a disappointing auction result for the owner who bought it on BaT. It’s a good a 220SE Ponton Cabriolet as you’re likely to find. Worth a lot more than the high bid at Mecum!
Lot F139 – 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster – SOLD – $46,200.
Lot F157 – 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible – SOLD – $74,800.
Lot F172 – 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster – SOLD – $99,000.
Lot S3 – 1952 Mercedes-Benz 220B Cabriolet – SOLD – $192,250.
Lot S13 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible – SOLD – $99,000.
Lot S54 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster – SOLD – $104,500.
Lot S56 – 1958 Mercedes-Benz 220S Convertible – SOLD – $129,250.
Lot S59 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster – SOLD – $82,500.
Lot S62 – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Cabriolet – NO SALE – $210,000.
Lot S99 – 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster – NO SALE – $2,600,000.
Lot S109 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series – NO SALE – $390,000.
Lot S110 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63 Roadster – NO SALE – $160,000.
Lot S118 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300B Cabriolet Adenauer – SOLD – $104,500.
Mecum – Lot S122 – 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster – NO SALE – $1,750,000.
Lot S142 – 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible – NO SALE – $55,000.
Lot S143 – 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Convertible – NO SALE – $60,000.
Lot S144 – 1967 – Mercedes-250SL – NO SALE – $90,000.
1 comment
David – Nicely done as always. This might be blasphemous: The $ spent on these cars is grotesque. The 190SL is slow, poorly geared for the highway, extremely rust prone, difficult to tune; a pretty but mediocre effort by MB to provide an affordable distant cousin to the mighty 300SL. But, perhaps, as a clear example of group hysteria many are selling for more than 100K. I’m picking on the 190SL because I owned one. The $million plus sales are, well, stultifying to me.