Bonhams announce exceptional motor car Auction for historic single-owner sale

Bonhams is delighted to announce the single-owner sale, the Frederiksen Collection. Based in Denmark, the collection consists of 48 rare and iconic motor cars, all offered at an auction taking place at the home of owner, Danish gentleman, Mr. Henrik Frederiksen.

The sale features predominantly pre-war motor cars, built by some of the worlds most exclusive manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Lagonda and Maybach.

“Mr. Frederiksen has spent several decades building this outstanding collection, so it’s a great privilege for Bonhams to have the opportunity to offer these incredibly rare and meticulously maintained motor cars,” said Jakob Greisen, head of Bonhams US Motoring Department. “It’s certainly one of Europe’s most important motoring collections, with several of these outstanding vehicles having received internationally recognized awards at Pebble Beach and Villa d’Este.”

Housed on the grounds of Lyngsbækgaard, a 16th century manor house built for Danish Royalty, the collection offers access to a personal museum of motor cars from pivotal points in early motoring history.  “I think cars are a kind of art,” said Mr. Frederiksen. “I think they’re beautiful. I’ve always bought with the heart and not with the brain, I go with what I like, so no ‘one’ is my favourite.

“Also, I’ve never sold a car before, so this is a first for me. I’ve used the ex-J.D. Rockefeller Bentley and the Cadillac the most, so I’ll be sad to see them go. I’ve been in the motoring world for a long time now, but it’s time for that door to close and a new one to open. I like the way Bonhams do things, so it was easy to make that choice.”

The Collection:

“Rarely does one see a single-owner collection that showcases such a broad variety of important brands, and yet still keeps to such a clear, historic theme where manufacturers pursue motoring perfection. It’s truly remarkable,” said Bonhams co-chairman, Malcolm Barber.

Spanning the best of British, European and American motoring, the collection features some 13 Rolls-Royce, three Mercedes-Benz, three Cadillac’s and two Bentleys, in addition to offerings from Lagonda, Duesenberg, Jaguar, Horch, Chrysler, Renault, Citroën, Isotta Fraschini, Ahrens-Fox, Lincoln, Stutz, Packard, Auburn, Pierce Arrow and Alvis. 

From a 1905 Woods Electric Queen Victoria Brougham, to a 1974 Citroën DS 23 Pallas, the collection provides a fascinating look at the evolution of motoring, including vehicles of considerable rarity, such as Pebble Beach Concours winner, the 1939 Lagonda LG6 Rapide Drophead.

The Frederiksen Collection sale will take place at Lyngsbækgaard Manor, in Mols Bjerge national park, Denmark, on Saturday 26 September 2015.

For further information, visit: Bonhams.com/frederiksen

#1 Mercedes CLK GTR Roadster ever built offered at Bonhams Festival of Speed sale

9174285-1-13Quando Mercedes-Benz presentò la sua prima CLK GTR Roadster nel 1998 costava all’epoca 1,5 milioni dollari, il che la rendeva l’auto di produzione più costosa mai realizzata, una cifra superata solo nel 2005 dalla Ferrari FXX.

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La Bonhams Festival of Speed ​​Sale vedrà in offerta il primo esemplare mai costruito di Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, stimato in £ 1,400,000-1,800,000.

James Knight, Motoring Director di Bonhams: “La vettura è stata proprietà di Mercedes-Benz fino al 2014, quando fu acquistata dall’attuale proprietario. Si, è effettivamente una  auto nuova con soli otto chilometri, ed è l’unica dei sei roadster essere rifinita in nero. Raramente si vede una vettura con queste credenziali sul mercato”.

Bonhams Festival of Speed Sale takes place on 26 June in Goodwood, Chichester. For more information visit https://www.bonhams.com/departments/MOT-CAR/.


When Mercedes-Benz first unveiled its CLK GTR Roadster in 1998 it sold for an astonishing $1.5 million dollars, making it the most expensive production car ever, a figure only recently exceeded by the Ferrari FXX.

Bonhams Festival of Speed sale will offer the very first example of the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster ever built, estimated at £1,400,000-1,800,000.

James Knight, Bonhams Group Motoring Director, said: “The car was retained by the Mercedes-Benz company until 2014 when it was acquired by the current owner. It is effectively a new car with just eight kilometres on the odometer, and it is the only one of the six roadsters to be finished in black. We rarely see a car with these credentials come to market.”

An open topped variant of the already super-exclusive CLK GTR Coupe – only 25 road going cars were ever produced – the Roadster was made in a very limited edition indeed. The company had the simple but effective idea of removing the roof and installing two roll-over bars and additional strengthening, plus the Roadster engine boasted an engine increased to 640bhp (40 horsepower more than the Coupé) and a Formula 1-style, sequential six-speed transmission controlled by paddles on the steering wheel.

At the end of the 1996 racing season, Mercedes-Benz switched from racing touring cars to sports cars, a decision that left precious little time to develop a challenger for the FIA’s (International Automobile Federation) new GT Championship. The latter’s regulations stipulated that ‘GT1’ category cars had to be production based, so development was entrusted to Mercedes-Benz’s official performance division, AMG. Amazingly, just 128 days after design work had commenced in December 1996, the first Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR took to the track at Jarama in April 1997 for its initial test.

The CLK GTR first won at the challenging Nürburgring in June 1997, going on to win five more of the 11 rounds to take the GT Championship in its debut year. With a new CLK LM (Le Mans) waiting in the wings, the CLK GTR raced just twice in 1998, before being retired from active duty after little more than a season’s racing, but with an impeccable record.

During 1998 and 1999, Mercedes-Benz duly completed 25 road going CLK GTRs. These closely resembled the racing version but had ‘only’ 550bhp and dispensed with the racer’s separate rear wing in favour of a body-integral design. They were also better equipped and kitted out with more creature comforts than the racer. With a headline-grabbing price tag of over $1,000,000, the CLK GTR’s exclusivity was surpassed only by its incredible performance.

Bonhams Festival of Speed Sale takes place on 26 June in Goodwood, Chichester. For more information visit https://www.bonhams.com/departments/MOT-CAR/.

Four iconic 300 SL offered at Bonhams Mercedes-Benz Sale on 28 March

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300 SL Gullwing

 

La 300 SL, sia Roadster che Gullwing (ali di gabbiano), è uno dei modelli più riconoscibili della storia della Mercedes-Benz. Il 28 marzo, quattro magnifici esemplari di questa icona dell’automobilismo anni ’50/‘60 andranno “under the hummer” nell’asta Bonhams Mercedes-Benz monomarca.

Il successo della Gullwing, considerata come vera e propria supercar, ha contribuito allo sviluppo della successiva Roadster aperta. Bonhams presenta quattro esempi fantastici della 300 SL: la Roadster del 1957 freni a disco, unica proprietà da 48 anni (stimata € 1,000,000-1,400,000 / £ 730,000-1,000,000); una Roadster del 1960, precedentemente di proprietà dall’industriale tedesco, Alfried Krupp della dinastia dell’acciaio Krupp (stimata in € 900,000-1,200,000 / £ 700,000-940,000); un’altra roadster del 1959 con hardtop (stimata in € 1,000,000-1,400,000 / £ 730,000-1,000,000); e infine del 1955, la famosa Gullwing (stimata in € 950,000-1,250,000 / £ 690,000-900,000). ”

L’evoluzione della 300 SL è iniziata con gli esemplari del celebre importartore USA, Max Hoffman. Quando la Mercedes-Benz vinse la Carrera Panamericana (una corsa su strada tra USA e Messico, svoltasi tra il 1950 e il 1954) nel 1952 con una SL coupé W 194 300, Hoffman colse l’occasione per avvicinarsi al marchio con un’idea radicale: prendere il telaio in tubi W194 di derivazione corse con il suo motore ad alte prestazioni da 3 litri e creare una macchina sportiva destinata al mercato statunitense. Mercedes-Benz, ancora coraggiosamente impegnata a superare la catastrofica devastazione della guerra e alle prese con un debole mercato europeo, ha preso al volo l’idea di Hoffmann e la 300 SL è nata.

1957 300 SL Roadster with Hardtop
300 SL Roadster 1957

 

Furono apportati alcuni miglioramenti al confort della 300 SL ma l’indole corsaiola è rimasta indelebile. Per l’aerodinamica gli ingegneri Mercedes-Benz aggiunsero le caratteristiche “sopracciglia” orizzontali sopra le aperture delle ruote. Con sospensioni completamente indipendenti, un cambio a rapporti ravvicinati con ingranaggi a denti dritti e il primo sistema di iniezione diretta di carburante con motore a quattro tempi mai offerto in un automobile di produzione, la 300 SL è un concentrato tecnologico della sua epoca.

Tenuta nel Museo Mercedes-Benz, l’asta Bonhams sarà caratterizzata da una serie di circa 40 veicoli d’epoca appartenenti a tutta la secolare storia della leggendaria casa automobilistica tedesca.

info on Bonhams.com


The 300 SL, be it Roadster or Gullwing – is one of the most recognisable models in the history of Mercedes-Benz. On 28 March, four pristine examples of this 1950/60s motoring icon will go under the hammer at Bonhams single-marque Mercedes-Benz Sale.

“First introduced with trademark ‘Gullwing’ doors, and often considered as the first real ‘supercar’, the 300 SL proved hugely popular and so was later developed as an open roadster,” said Philip Kantor, Head of European Motorcars.

“Bonhams Stuttgart Sale features four fantastic examples of the 300 SL: the 1957 disc-brake  Roadster, from European single family ownership of 48 years (estimated at €1,000,000-1,400,000/£730,000-1,000,000); a 1960 Roadster, previously owned by German industrialist, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, of the Krupp steel dynasty (estimated at €900,000-1,200,000/£700,000-940,000); another fine1959 roadster with hardtop (estimated at    €1,000,000-1,400,000/£730,000-1,000,000); and finally from 1955, the famed Gullwing (estimated at €950,000-1,250,000/£690,000-900,000).”

The evolution of the 300 SL began with imported car impresario, Max Hoffman. When Mercedes-Benz won the Carrera Panamericana (a border-to-border road race across Mexico, held from 1950-1954) in 1952 with a W 194 300 SL coupé, Hoffman seized the moment to approach the marque with a radical idea: take the racing-derived tube frame W194, with its high performance 3-litre engine, and create a road-going sports car aimed at the upper-end of the aspiring US sports car market.

Mercedes-Benz, still valiantly trying to shake off the devastation of the war and the weak European market, took him up on the idea, and the 300 SL was born.

Improvements to the 300 SLs usability were made throughout, yet it was still clear that this model was derived from a racing car. As aerodynamics played an important role in the car’s speed, the Mercedes-Benz engineers would place horizontal “eyebrows” over the wheel openings to reduce drag. With fully independent suspension, a close-ratio gearbox with straight cut gears and the first direct fuel injection system with fourstroke engine ever offered in a production automobile, the 300 SL was a technological tour-de-force. When introduced in coupé form to the US market at the 1954 New York Auto Show, it became an instant sensation.

Held in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Bonhams auction will feature a variety of some 40 classic motor cars from across the German marque’s century long history.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum charts the entire history of the world’s oldest car manufacturer. A total of 1,500 exhibits are featured in the museum, including 160 vehicles.

info on Bonhams.com

Bonhams returns to Stuttgart for the single-marque Mercedes-Benz sale on 28 March 2015

Schenna 2013-2

Torna a il 28 marzo 2015 Stoccarda l’asta monomarca Mercedes-Benz, in coincidenza con la settimana Retro Classics di Stoccarda, la più grande mostra annuale di auto d’epoca nel sud della Germania.

Tra tutte spiccano una Kompressor 540 Cabriolet A del 1938, stima a € 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 (£ 1,500,000-1,900,000) e una 300SL Roadster del 1960 offerta con una stima tra € 900,000-1,200,000 (£ 700,000-940,000).

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La due posti 540 K è una variante molto più leggera della 500 K. Sviluppata a metà degli anni ’30, è stata una delle vetture più importanti della sua epoca e oggi rimane decisamente tra le più rare.

La 300SL Roadster, esemplare conservato in condizioni originali appartenuto all’industriale tedesco Alfried Krupp (1907-1967) della dinastia Krupp (dinastia tedesca con oltre 400 anni di storia che divenne famosa per la produzione di acciaio e per le fabbriche di munizioni e armi), era la Mercedes di produzione più veloce in circolazione.

Philip Kantor, capo della Motorcars europee, ha commentato: “Bonhams ha aperto la strada delle vendite monomarca ed è lieta di organizzare questo tipo di eventi con Mercedes-Benz. L’asta dello scorso anno (vedi post) ha attratto molti collezionisti da tutto il mondo, raggiungendo un risultato totale 12 milioni di euro. Un grande traguardo raggiunto nel suo primo anno”.

Tenuta nel Museo Mercedes-Benz di Stoccarda, l’asta Bonhams presenterà una totale di circa 40 auto d’epoca.

L’originalità svolge un ruolo importante nella nostra filosofia, spiega Michael Bock, responsabile Mercedes-Benz Classic. Dopo il successo dello scorso anno i collezionisti di auto d’epoca e visitatori del museo avranno ancora una volta l’occasione di presenziare ad un evento veramente emozionante.

Il Museo Benz Mercedes espone tutta la storia del più antico costruttore automobilistico del mondo. Sono esposti un totale di 1.500 pezzi unici tra cui 160 veicoli.

info on www.bomnhams.com


Bonhams returns to Stuttgart for the single-marque Mercedes-Benz sale on 28 March 2015, coinciding with Retro Classics Stuttgart week

A 1938 540 Kompressor Cabriolet A heads the sale. Fresh to the market, the 540 K is estimated at €2,000,000-2,500,000 (£1,500,000-1,900,000).

A 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster is offered at an estimated  €900,000-1,200,000 (£700,000-940,000).

Bonhams single-marque Mercedes-Benz sale will return to Stuttgart on 28 March, coinciding with Retro Classics Stuttgart week, the largest annual exhibition of classic cars in Southern Germany. A spectacular 1938 540 K Cabriolet (complete with covered spare wheel) heads the sale. The Mercedes-Benz auction is the first time the 540 K has been publicly offered, available at an estimated €2,000,000-2,500,000 (£1,500,000-1,900,000).

Restored to Concours condition, the two-seater 540 K is a significantly lighter variant of the original 500 K design. Developed in the mid-1930s, it was one of the most impressive cars available at the time, and today remains distinctly rare.

A 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster is an additional early consignment, estimated at €900,000-1,200,000 (£700,000-940,000). An extremely original example, the roadster has been in current ownership since 1980, and at its peak was the fastest production Mercedes around.

The 300SL was previously owned by German industrialist, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach (1907-1967), of the Krupp dynasty.

Philip Kantor, Head of European Motorcars, said: “Bonhams is the pioneer for single-marque sales, and is delighted to continue this newly established sale with Mercedes-Benz. Last year’s sale (see post) attracted many bidders from around the world, achieving a total £9.4 million (€12 million) – a wonderful result for a sale only in its first year. We look forward to similar success at this years’ auction.”

Held in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Bonhams auction will showcase a variety of some 40 classic motor cars from across the German marque’s century long history. “Unique and authentic vehicles – that is the idea we share, both Mercedes-Benz and Bonhams. Originality plays an important role in our philosophy,” explains Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Customer Centre. “After the successful auction last year we will once more offer an appropriate stage for Bonhams. Classic car collectors and visitors of the museum will once again be given a taste of exciting auctions.”

The Mercedes-Benz Museum charts the entire history of the world’s oldest car manufacturer. A total of 1,500 unique exhibits are featured in the museum, including 160 vehicles.

info on www.bomnhams.com

 

Prima asta nel nuovo museo Mercedes-Benz di Stoccarda

Con quasi 50 vetture provenienti da clienti di tutto il mondo, la vendita Bonhams presso il Museo Mercedes-Benz di Stoccarda svoltasi il 12 luglio scorso, è stata un successo clamoroso con un incredibile “score” di € 11.855.925 in totale. La AMG-Mercedes Classe C DTM Touring del 2005 di Mika Hakkinen ha stabilito un nuovo primato a € 460.000.

Malcolm Barber, Co-Presidente Bhonams e banditore dell’asta, ha detto: <<La vendita ha dimostrato la fantastica varietà e l’eccellenza tecnica disponibile nelle auto storiche Mercedes-Benz. Siamo lieti di aver collocato un nuovo punto riferimento nei libri di storia, come lo sono stati la prima asta nel nuovo museo Mercedes-Benz di Stoccarda e la più grande vendita Mercedes-Benz mai riuscita a raggiungere quasi € 12.000.000>>.

Un punto culminante della vendita (per merito dei suoi proventi di beneficenza) è stato raggiunto dalla 500 K Roadster del 1934, venduta a € 3.100.000. Una versione speciale delle sportive di lusso anni ’30 che è stata generosamente donata a beneficio delle cause delle fondazioni svedesi per il cancro e l’Alzheimer.

Un ulteriore acuto si è avuto per il primo modello venduto dalla casa di Stoccarda: una Ideal 7hp Bicilindrica “Contra-Motor” Vis-à-vis del 1901. E’ stata progettata dall’ingegnere tedesco e padre fondatore della Mercedes-Benz, Carl Benz. Nella storica asta all’interno del museo Mercedes-Benz, il martello l’ha battuta a € 471,500, circa quattro volte superiore alla stima.

Subito dopo una 540 K Cabriolet A del 1936 ha realizzato € 2.200.000 per un offerente al telefono.

Poi è stata la volta di una 600 Pullman Limousine del 1965, un tempo di proprietà del governo cinese e utilizzata dal generale Chen Li, un capo militare durante la rivoluzione comunista cinese e uno stretto collaboratore del presidente Mao Zedong, venduto sempre ad un’offerta telefonica per € 172,500.

Splendida la 300 SL Roadster del 1958 battuta a €920.000.

Michael Bock, Responsabile Mercedes-Benz Classic ha dichiarato: <<Siamo stati lieti di dare il benvenuto Bonhams nella nostra casa qui al Mercedes-Benz Museum di Stoccarda. L’asta è stata un grande successo. Stiamo lavorando con Bonhams per garantire ancora maggiore qualità in offerta per il futuro. Questa partnership può sicuramente crescere>>.

Il Museo Mercedes-Benz associa tutta la storia del più antico produttore di auto al mondo con una varietà unica di vetture in mostra. Un totale di 1500 reperti, tra cui 160 veicoli, può essere visitata su una superficie di 16.500 metri quadrati.

Vale la pena farci un salto allora…

 

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22177/

 

With nearly 50 cars from customers all over the world, selling Bonhams at Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart held on 12 July, was a resounding success with an incredible “score” of € 11,855,925 in total. The AMG-Mercedes C-Class DTM Touring 2005 Mika Hakkinen has set a new record at € 460,000.

Malcolm Barber, Co-President Bhonams and auctioneer, said: << The sale demonstrated the great variety and technical excellence available in the classic cars Mercedes-Benz. We are pleased to have placed a new landmark in the history books, as they were the first auction in the new Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart and the largest selling Mercedes-Benz never been able to reach almost € 12 million >>.

A highlight of the sale (by merit of its proceeds to charity) was achieved by 500 K Roadster of 1934, sold at € 3.1 million. A special version of the luxury sports ’30s that was generously donated for the benefit of the causes of the Swedish foundation for cancer and Alzheimer’s.

A further sharp it has had for the first model sold by the Stuttgart: an Ideal 7hp Twin Cylinder “Contra-Motor” Vis-à-vis 1901. E ‘was designed by German engineer and founding father of the Mercedes-Benz, Carl Benz. In the historic rod inside the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the hammer has hammered € 471.500, about four times higher than the estimate.

Immediately after a 540 K Cabriolet A 1936 achieved € 2.2 million to a bidder on the phone.

Then it was the turn of a 600 Pullman Limousine 1965, once owned by the Chinese government and used by the general Chen Li, a military leader during the Chinese Communist Revolution and a close associate of Chairman Mao Zedong, always sold to an offer phone for € 172.500.

Wonderful the 300 SL Roadster 1958 € 920,000 to beat.

Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic said: << We were pleased to welcome here in our house Bonhams at Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The auction was a great success. We are working with Bonhams to ensure even higher quality on offer for the future. This partnership can definitely grow >>.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum combines the history of the oldest car manufacturer in the world with a unique variety of cars on display. A total of 1500 specimens, including 160 vehicles, can be visited on an area of ​​16,500 square meters.