The 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP “Roi des Belges”, 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster and 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing will all headline Amelia Island Auctions. The 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP “Roi des Belges”, is especially attention-grabbing because it comes recent to market from 121 years of steady household possession. The automotive will even be displayed on the upcoming Salon Rétromobile exhibition.

1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP “Roi des Belges” (Roughly Upwards of USD 10,000,000)

The Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP is a traditional classic automotive and was the blueprint for all the vehicles that might comply with. Thought of to be the very first supercar, its design was so forward of its time that it redefined efficiency capabilities, serving as the idea of Mercedes’ cutting-edge expertise of their successful Grand Prix vehicles whilst late as 1908. Producers all through the world would boast of their ads that their vehicles have been constructed “within the type of Mercedes,” as these have been the vehicles everybody needed to make, drive, and personal. Its significance, affect, and indelible legacy can’t be overstated. 

Designed by Wilhelm Maybach and produced by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG) on the behest of Emil Jellinek, the Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP is extensively considered the primary fashionable, high-performance vehicle. Powered by a 9.25-liter F-head inline four-cylinder engine, which produced an ample 60 HP, the Mercedes was able to reaching speeds topping 80 mph, making it the quickest manufacturing automotive on the planet on the flip of the twentieth century. The Mercedes-Simplex featured lots of the mechanical and technical advances of its time, together with a state-of-the-art chassis with a low heart of gravity, a gated H-pattern four-speed gearbox, easy scroll-type clutch, dual-chain drive, and honeycomb radiator. Between 1903 and 1905, the Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP dominated the world of racing, successful numerous velocity trials, hill climbs, and circuit races. Its unparalleled efficiency capabilities have been most prominently displayed on the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup in Eire, the place Belgian racing driver Camille Jenatzy gained the race outright, defeating purpose-built racing machines in what was a inventory manufacturing automotive delivered to a personal buyer. 

At this time, the automotive stays in extremely authentic situation, with its fabulous Rothschild bodywork nonetheless retaining a lot of its authentic leather-based upholstery. This automotive is one in every of solely 4 remaining examples in non-public possession, with a fifth instance, a Lengthy-Wheelbase Omnibus, on the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. Additional, the Harmsworth Mercedes is one in every of solely two such vehicles with authentic coachwork nonetheless intact. Remarkably, this automotive has by no means modified arms, remaining as an heirloom throughout the Harmsworth household for over 120 years. Nonetheless, what’s most vital is that that is the one Mercedes 60 HP that has a recognized racing pedigree, and a successful one, at that! It’s being provided on the market for the very first time in its historical past, and is among the many most important vehicles to ever come to public public sale. Gooding & Firm has by no means earlier than provided a automotive from such long-standing single-family possession and is honored to current some of the worthwhile antique-era vehicles in existence. Offered from the household of one in every of England’s most influential figures of the fashionable period, with documented interval competitors historical past, this Mercedes-Simplex involves market as some of the historic, vital, and groundbreaking vehicles from the daybreak of motoring – setting the stage for a historic second able to unfold in entrance of the world on the upcoming Amelia Island Auctions this March.

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (Roughly between USD 2,200,000 – USD 2,800,000)

The enduring 300 SL Roadster wants no introduction, because it is among the most coveted and revered sports activities vehicles ever produced. Gooding & Firm is proud to supply some of the authentic, well-preserved 300 SLs of any kind in existence, chassis 198.042.7500348, for its upcoming Amelia Island Auctions. This extraordinarily uncommon manufacturing facility Rudge-wheel Roadster is one in every of lower than 30 produced and is believed by the consignor to retain the overwhelming majority of its authentic paint, together with its authentic inside, tender high, and numerous different not often seen particulars. This Roadster has had simply three house owners from new, and was retained by its second proprietor for a exceptional 54 years. In present possession, the 300 SL acquired a painstakingly cautious mechanical restoration undertaken by main 300 SL specialists HK Engineering, who went to nice lengths to protect its authentic finishes within the engine compartment and different areas. The Roadster is resplendent in Silbergrau Metallic (Silver-Grey Metallic) with a Rot (Pink Leather-based) inside and Schwarz (Black) tender high. The automotive is accompanied by an authentic set of Hepco-fitted baggage, together with manuals, a jack, device package, a second set of date-stamped Rudge wheels, a spare injection pump, and uncommon manufacturing facility onboard components package. It additionally retains its matching-numbers engine, physique, chassis, steering field, rear finish, and entrance axles, per a duplicate of its Mercedes-Benz knowledge card. The sheer variety of this Roadster’s astonishing attributes make it an vehicle of true historic import and excessive rarity. This singular Mercedes-Benz will impress anybody lucky sufficient to see it, and an in depth inspection by even probably the most educated 300 SL fanatic shall be extremely rewarded. 

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (Roughly between USD 1,600,000 – USD 1,800,000)

This fastidiously maintained 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing involves Amelia Island with an exceptionally documented historical past from new, consisting of simply two California house owners from 1955 to 2023 earlier than acquisition by the consignor. Its first proprietor was Glen Smith Harman, M.D., who repeatedly drove the automotive, accumulating over 130,000 miles by the top of 1967. The physician exercised as a lot precision with the care of his beloved Gullwing as he did in his occupation, holding distinctive information of companies and routine upkeep carried out on the automotive all through the many years. An engine rebuild was carried out in 1973 by native 300 SL skilled Rudy Geipel, and in 1986, the Gullwing was repainted in its authentic DB50 White. After Physician Harman handed away in 1999, his spouse Lillian fastidiously handpicked the automotive’s subsequent caretaker, and in 2003, the Gullwing made its approach into the arms of Gull Wing Group member and completed mechanic, Robert West. West owned the automotive for the subsequent twenty years, having fun with it sparingly on membership occasions. By no means earlier than provided for public sale, this Gullwing is a real standout among the many many examples which have beforehand graced the public sale stage, retaining the essence of a well-maintained and lovingly cared-for 300 SL with a complete, California-from-new provenance. 

Parts of this text have been referenced from Gooding & Firm

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