A prestigious Mercedes could become the most expensive pre-World War Two car by selling for almost £10 MILLION.
The 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K was the ultimate motor of its day thanks to its power, design, engineering superiority and eye-watering price-tag.
And the 540 K ‘Special Roadster’ was the top of the range – a two-seat supercharged convertible capable of an impressive 105mph.
Mercedes charged owners a staggering 28,000 Reichsmarks (£2,400) when the Special Roadster went on sale, the equivalent of around £150,000 today.
This red model was delivered new to Reginald Sinclaire, who was known as an “airplane-flying, cattle-ranching, socialite” from Colorado, USA.
He kept the Mercedes in a large garage alongside a fleet of luxury models from the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley and Duesenberg at his farm in Colorado, Ohio.
Sinclaire owned the Mercedes until the 1950s and it has changed hand a number of times over the years with the current owner buying it in 1989.
Despite being almost 80 years old, the luxury car has been driven just 10,277 miles – an average of 128 miles per year.
It is now set to change hands again for a record-breaking figure.
The Mercedes, one of just six in existence, was today (Thurs) described as a car of “unparalleled elegance” by RM Sotheby’s ahead of its sale in Arizona at the end of the month.
They have given the Mercedes an estimate of $10 – $13 million (£6.85-£9m).
If it hits its upper estimate the final price, which includes taxes and premiums, will be around $14.5 million (£10m).
This would put it in the top 15 cars sold publicly and the highest for a pre-World War Two car, beating the $11.7m paid for a 1936 Mercedes 540K in 2012.
Only classic Ferraris and one 1950s Mercedes have sold for more than £10 million.
Ian Kelleher, a director at RM Sotheby’s, said: “In the world of luxury automobiles, the 540 K is a car with few peers and effortlessly checks all the boxes when it comes to collectability, namely extreme beauty, power and rarity.
“Very few Special Roadsters were built in this most desirable configuration of high doors, long tail, and factory left-hand drive, of which only six are believed to exist today.
“These cars are held in esteemed collections and rarely come to public market- when they do, few rival the provenance of the Sinclaire 540 K.
“The fact that it is coming to market for the first time in decades makes its offering all the more special and sets the scene for a very exciting auction.”
