Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1960, Alemanha

Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1960, Alemanha
Exterior : Cinza Grafite (Graphite Grey)
Interior : Couro Vermelho
Fotografia

The introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was a hugely important moment for Mercedes-Benz and served to further cement the company’s position as the market leader in race-bred, performance automobiles. Massively ahead of its time, the 300 SL utilized an innovative space-frame chassis coupled with a highly advanced, fuel-injected engine, the first of its kind fitted to a production car. It was crowned the fastest performance car in the world upon its introduction and could handedly outrun any other car on sale at the time.

The car was conceived by American Mercedes-Benz importer Max Hoffman, who believed that a road-legal version of Mercedes-Benz’s successful W194 racer would be profitable and that the unique style and performance of such a car would resonate well with his American clients. Mercedes-Benz took Hoffman up on his idea, and so it was only natural that the new 300 SL would premiere at the New York Auto Show in 1954. The 300 SL coupe quickly earned the nickname “Gullwing” for its distinctive roof-hinged doors, and the public fell in love with the car, not only for its breathtaking design, but also for its earth-shattering performance.

Looking to expand upon his success with the Gullwing coupe, Hoffman thought that a convertible version of the 300 SL would also sell quite well, and the 300 SL Roadster was introduced in 1957. Of course, as the 300 SL would lose its top, engineers had to reinforce and modify the space-frame chassis to fit conventionally hinged doors. Through lowering the height of the chassis, this simultaneously allowed for greater ease of entry. Cosmetic changes were minor and included a smaller grille opening and dual chrome strips along the side sills, giving the car a more streamlined and glamorous look. At the rear, the spare tire was repositioned below the trunk floor, necessitating a smaller fuel tank but also maintaining reasonable luggage space. These revisions to the roadster added some 250 lbs. to the total weight of the car, mostly due to the convertible top.

Looking to keep the speed and performance of the closed 300 SL for the new roadster despite its gain in weight, Mercedes-Benz fitted the more sporting NSL engine of the coupe to all roadsters as standard equipment. This made the roadster capable of top speeds that ranged from 133 to 155 mph, depending on the final drive ratio specified. However, the stunning performance and design of the 300 SL Roadster did not come cheap, at a list price of $11,000; but it was worth every penny. Ownership of a 300 SL implied an exquisite taste in engineering and aesthetics, and it was the ultimate automotive statement. Naturally, many found homes in the garages of celebrities, racing drivers, and other successful individuals with an appreciation for fine automobiles.

This beautiful roadster was originally finished in very desirable Graphite Grey over a red leather interior, the same combination it sports today. The Gull Wing Group’s Roadster Register notes the first owner as Donald J.G. Leek of Hammonton, North Dakota. In 1974, the 300 SL passed to Arthur S. Kleimer of Edison, New Jersey, at which point the roadster is noted as having been repainted blue. Kleimer retained the roadster for over two decades before selling it to Russell Moran in Wheatridge, Colorado, in 1998. Moran then sold the car shortly thereafter to John P. Herrlin in Mendham. At this time the car was noted as having been refinished in red. Herrlin maintained the 300 SL for approximately 10 years before it was acquired by CB Restorations, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, on behalf of the current owner. CB Restorations proceeded to completely restore the car, including refinishing the SL in its original and arresting color combination of Graphite Grey and red leather interior.

Since completion, the roadster has been sparingly used though routinely and properly maintained while stored in their private collection. The owner notes that they have driven their roadster for approximately 1,000 miles since acquiring it in 2009. However, it has always been maintained in a climate-controlled facility and properly serviced and exercised as needed. Included with the car is a correct reproduction tool set and spare wheel and tire.

The 300 SL Roadster has become every bit as desirable as its famous “Gullwing” sibling, and similarly to the Jaguar E-Type, no enthusiast’s stable is complete without one. This very early example, long treasured by enthusiasts and maintained as an excellent driver, would be an ideal acquisition for the lady or gentleman who thrills in the sport of driving.

Fonte : https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az19/arizona/lots/r0079-1960-mercedes-benz-300-sl-roadster/730899

Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 6.3 Saloon 1969, Alemanha

Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 6.3 Saloon 1969, Alemanha
Motor : 6.3
Exterior : Bege
Interior : Marrom
Fotografia

Powered by Mercedes-Benz’s venerable 6.3-litre engine, the 300 SEL was certainly worthy of the three-pointed star. An engine born and bred on the race track, it could catapult a car that weighed nearly two tons to a top speed of over 130 mph and to 60 mph from a dead stop in under seven seconds – respectable numbers for modern automobiles and an extraordinary feat for a luxury saloon in 1969. Adored with the finest luxury fitments of the time, this was a car for those who were looking for the very best.

Ordered in Stuttgart, this 300 SEL 6.3 Saloon retains a copy of its original data card, which lists a host of desirable options. Fitted with heat-insulating glass, front safety-belts, electrically heated rear window and air conditioning, this Mercedes-Benz would have been an absolute luxury to drive. The data card also reveals that the 300 SEL remains in its original colour of Beige, with a dark brown interior – a subtle colour combination that highlights the elegance of this particular model.

Offered with a host of original documents, including the original German Kraftfahrzeugbrif stamped from Stuttgart and a well-stamped service book, this 300 SEL would serve as an excellent show car or daily driver.

Fonte : https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa19/paris/lots/r0038-1969-mercedes-benz-300-sel-63-saloon/733321

Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing 1955, Alemanha

Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing 1955, Alemanha
Exterior : Vermelho (Fire Engine Red)
Interior : Couro Bege
Observação : Embora não seja a cor original de fabricação do carro, a cor atual é uma das oferecidas pela fábrica na época.
Fotografia

Mercedes-Benz won the Carrera Panamericana in 1952 with a W194 300 SL coupe driven by Karl Kling. The number one importer of European brand cars into the U.S. at the time was Max Hoffman, based in New York City. Mercedes-Benz racing success prompted Hoffman to approach the company with the idea of using the tube frame of the W194, along with its high-performance three-liter engine and unique roof-hinged doors to create a road car based on it. It was a radical proposal, but Hoffman had a highly developed sense for the U.S. market and backed up his suggestion with his checkbook. He placed an order for a thousand luxury high-performance coupes based on a more refined version of the W194.

What Hoffman proposed was a relatively direct transformation of the multi-tube framed W194, retaining its roof-hinged doors, tall, wide sills, 45-degree canted triple-carbureted single overhead camshaft inline six, and fully independent suspension with more civilized accoutrements. The engineers at Mercedes-Benz improved the car further with the addition of the first direct mechanical fuel-injection system ever offered in a production automobile. Introduced at the February 1954 New York Auto Show, the 300 SL was enthusiastically received by the public and the automotive press.

The sensational curved doors of the 300 SL soon brought it the nickname “Gullwing,” which has stuck for well over half a century and been mimicked by many lesser automobiles hoping to emulate the 300 SL’s mystique. The body design was refined for the street and added eyebrow moldings over the wheel wells to signal an association with Mercedes-Benz’s later race cars. The driving position, steering wheel location, controls, and instruments’ visibility were carefully refined by Mercedes-Benz engineers to make the driving experience of the 300 SL most rewarding.

Mercedes-Benz would go on to produce 1,400 300 SL Gullwings over the next three years. The majority were sold through Max Hoffman in North America, validating both the reality of his vision and returning many times over the confidence he showed in backing its development.

Documents reveal that this 300 SL, chassis no. 5500154, was originally delivered in March 1955 to Brussels, Belgium. This car is somewhat unusual in that it is equipped with a number of features that were primarily found on the earlier 1954 models, but as the changes were gradual, some 1955 cars were built with earlier features. Most notable for this car are the bolt-on wheel arch “eyebrows” with body color welting, as the later style were welded in place and the seams filled with lead. This car also features the early-type Bendix Treadle-Vac brake booster, and it is optioned with items such as bumper guards, Becker radio, and SWF windscreen washer. Other desirable accessories include fitted luggage and dual Hella reversing lights.

According to the Mercedes-Benz data card and the 300 SL Registry, 5500154 was originally finished in DB180 silver-grey over a blue fabric interior. Importantly, it retains its original engine, no. 5500154. Little is known of the car’s earliest history in Belgium, though records indicate that in the 1970s it was registered to Mr. Richard H. Grant of Dayton, Ohio. A copy of Mr. Grant’s title shows he purchased the SL in 1975 from Herbert E. Von Fragstein, also of Dayton. Mr. Grant owned the SL for a number of years, and it is believed that during his stewardship, the 300 SL was cosmetically restored and the color changed to DB534 Red, which was a factory-offered color. Grant ultimately sold the Gullwing in 1993, when it joined the collection of the next long-term owner, where it has remained until recently.

The interior was restored some time ago using factory-style natural tan leather and correct-type square-weave carpeting, all of which presents in good condition. It includes fitted luggage, a side window storage pouch, original-type Becker radio, and correct original ivory Bakelite steering wheel. Driven sparingly in recent years, it has been properly maintained and possesses a faint but charmingly elegant patina. Original chrome bumpers wear optional over-riders which, along with the rest of the brightwork, remain in very good order both front and rear. Wheels are the correct factory original bolt-on magnesium/alloy wrapped in Avon Turbosteel tires and fitted with correct color-keyed hubcaps.

This legendary Mercedes-Benz is ideally suited for rallies, touring, or club events. The 300 SL Gullwing is widely considered one of the cars every collector must own and experience.

Fonte : https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az19/arizona/lots/r0148-1955-mercedes-benz-300-sl-gullwing/735454

Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Coupé 1955, Alemanha

Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Coupé 1955, Alemanha
Exterior : Preto
Interior : Couro cinza
Fonte : https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/es19/essen/lots/r0009-1955-mercedes-benz-300-sc-coup%C3%A9/732210

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Weissach 2018, Alemanha

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Weissach 2018, Alemanha
Exterior : Prata (GT Silver Metallic)
Interior : Preto
Fotografia

In the Porsche 911 hierarchy, the GT2 nomenclature is reserved for its most ferocious models. Sports car racing once known as GT2 has changed considerably since the automaker first homologated its 993-generation 911 in the early 1990s. Back then, the GT2 used a 424-hp version of the twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six plucked from the 993 Turbo. Composite bolt-on fender flares wrapped around its wide wheels and a massive, fixed spoiler with integrated air scoops gave it a menacing look.

By the time Porsche moved from air-cooled powertrains to liquid-cooled, the automaker left GT2 racing to concentrate on naturally aspirated GT3 competition. Still, the GT2 name survived as the maximum version of the 996 with a 476-hp twin-turbocharged engine paired to a six-speed manual transmission. That model set the stage for water-cooled 911 GT2s to come. The revived 997 GT2 looked the part once again with its oval headlamps and it benefitted from a big upgrade in its engine compartment. Now, the engine pumped out 523 hp, allowing it to top 200 mph on a closed course.

Porsche had more on its mind than just the GT2, however. The Nissan GT-R bested the GT2 at the Nürburgring Nordschliefe, which might as well have been Porsche’s home turf. Porsche responded with the GT2 RS, which weighed about 150 lbs. less than the standard model and had 612 hp, to boot.

The GT2 RS was the new standard, Porsche said, when it unveiled the highest-performance version of its 911 yet in 2017. The 991-body GT2 RS made its debut virtually at the Microsoft Xbox E3 briefing in 2017 before showing up in the flesh at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that summer ready for a blistering sprint up Lord March’s famous driveway.

The GT2 RS is anything but subtle. Massive intakes carved into its front bumper, a deep chin spoiler, and a functional wing give it gravitas unmatched by any road-going Porsche before. The GT2 RS’ twin-turbo, twin-intercooled 3.8-liter six-cylinder makes use of the automaker’s VarioCam Plus system that imperceptibly adjusts the intake camshafts and switches the lift of the intake valves to make for effortless acceleration.

For the first time, the GT2 RS did not come with a manual transmission. A human driver’s shifting abilities pale in comparison to the rapid, split-second shifts fired off by the advanced Porsche Doppelkupplung seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It is that transmission that makes the GT2 RS capable of sprinting to 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds, going on to 124 mph in a mere 8.3 seconds before hitting an otherworldly 210 mph top speed.

The GT2 RS quickly proved to be more than just a solid straight-line performer. Porsche made use of ball joints for its chassis joints for a more direct connection with the road. Adjustable suspension height, wheel camber, track, and stabilizer bars mean that the GT2 RS can be custom-tailored to a road course after just a few minutes of tweaking.

Porsche encouraged buyers eager for more capability to select the $31,000 Weissach option package. Cribbing its name from a package with a similar light-weighting philosophy that was offered on the 918 Spyder hypercar, the 991 GT2 RS package shed more than 65 lbs. while adding track-ready features.

The Weissach Package included the first carbon fiber stabilizer bars ever fitted to a production automobile. Carbon weave was used for its front hood and for its roof, too. Magnesium wheels shed around 6 lbs. per corner. Porsche even made use of titanium for the GT2 RS Weissach’s integrated roll cage on European models, which weighs about 25 lbs. less than the steel unit fitted to models with the Club Sport Package. The roll cage was omitted from American-market models due to compliance issues. In the U.S., the GT2 RS also included an infotainment screen and backup camera as well as air conditioning. Porsche 911 GT2 RS sports cars with the Weissach package are exceedingly rare. They represent the pinnacle of performance for Porsche’s 991, a level of technology not likely to be approached by the new 992 until near the end of the new model’s production run.

The 911 GT2 RS offered here features the wanted and expensive Weissach Package. It is finished in Porsche’s distinctive, race-inspired GT Silver Metallic over a black leather and Alcantata interior with Platinum Grey stitching. Additional optional equipment includes the front axle lift system, light design package, Bose surround sound system, voice control, chrono package with lap trigger, carbon fiber window triangle trim and illuminated carbon fiber door sills, and a 23.8-gallon extended range fuel tank. The 911 GT2 Weissach Package balances luxury and performance. Its sports seats are covered in leather and Alcantara, with ‘Weissach RS’ stitched into the fixed headrests. Carbon fiber trim dominates the Porsche’s dashboard. A Weissach RS badge is attached to the panel covering its cupholders on the passenger’s side of the dashboard. Showing just 55 miles, the GT2 RS is as near to new as anyone is likely to find. It was built in July 2018 and delivered originally to New Mexico through Porsche Plano near Dallas.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires wrap its 20- and 21-in. Satin Black magnesium center-lock wheels. Included is also the spare set of aluminum wheels with tires that the car was delivered with when production shortages called for post-delivery installation of the factory lightweight magnesium wheels. Yellow calipers for its carbon ceramic brakes are easy to see between its narrow wheel spokes. Carbon fiber ducts on its front fenders both give the 911 GT2 RS its unique look and help to cool the brakes during serious driving. Like other Weissach Package 911 GT2 RSes, the carbon fiber hood and roof panel are partially unpainted. The rear spoiler displays a distinctive Porsche script.

As the ultimate 991-generation Porsche 911, the GT2 RS with the Weissach Package follows in the tire marks of the automaker’s other showcase cars such as the 959, 996 GT1, and the 918. The eager 911 GT2 RS Weissach raised the bar for Porsche’s definitive sports car and is bound to remain a sound investment.

Fonte : https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az19/arizona/lots/r0135-2018-porsche-911-gt2-rs-weissach/735122