2016 RM Sotheby’s Arizona Sale (Top German Cars Preview)

1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster
1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster – Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster is expecting to be the star of the 2016 RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale but several further German cars are on offer. Three Mercedes Benz 300 SLs are expecting to sell for over a million dollar, as is these sports cars more luxurious sibling, a 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet A. An almost brand new 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder is expected to sell for around $1.5 million with a 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort probably available for slightly less.

Top Mercedes Benz and Porsche Cars at Arizona 2016

The following Mercedes Benz and Porsche cars are expected to sell for over a million dollar at the 2016 RM Sotheby’s Arizona classic car auction:

Year Car Estimate $
1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen 10,000,000 – 13,000,000
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder 1,300,000 – 1,600,000
1958 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1,250,000 – 1,500,000
1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing 1,100,000 – 1,500,000
1988 Porsche 959 Komfort 1,100,000 – 1,400,000
1957 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet A 1,000,000 – 1,300,000
1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1,000,000 – 1,200,000
2005 Porsche Carrera GT 850,000 – 925,000

1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster

1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen (est. $10,000,000 – 13,000,000) is the leading entry for the RM Sotheby’s 2016 Arizona sale. It is also by far the car with the highest estimate on offer at the 2016 Scottsdale, Arizona classic car week. If the estimate is reached, a new Scottsdale / Arizona record will be set.

1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen is an original US delivery car with known history. It has the desirable longtail and high door configuration. It is one of the earliest 540 Ks made and may have been in effect a pre-production demonstration model. The car is believed to have covered only 10,277 miles since new.

Barrett-Jackson’s top car at the 2016 Scottsdale classic car auction week is a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A that should achieve around $3 million.

Mercedes Benz 300s a the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2016 Auction

1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Marcel Lech ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Mercedes Benz 300 SLs are hugely popular at car auctions and although several failed to sell at too high evaluations in 2015, many will be on offer at Scottsdale and Arizona 2016. RM Sotheby’s and Gooding have three each with Bonhams offering a further roadster. Estimates range from $900,000 to $1,800,000.

1958 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster

The 1958 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster (est. $1,250,000 – 1,500,000) is the most expensive 300 SL on offer from RM Sotheby’s at Arizona 2016. This roadster is in a recently restored condition. It is finished in anthracite over grey.

1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing

1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing
© Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing (est. $1,100,000 – 1,500,000) on offer is considered to be in an exceptionally authentic condition with many of the chrome work original. The paintwork was changed from ivory to silver but the red interior is largely original. The car has the original chassis, engine and body numbers. The car is in a well-maintained condition but has never received a full restoration.

1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster

1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster (est. $1,000,000 – 1,200,000) is an early-production roadster with “Euro” headlights and a removable hardtop. The car is an older cosmetic restoration, which sits well with current preservation rather than over-restoration trends.

1957 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet A

1957 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet A
Robin Adams ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet A (est. $1,000,000 – 1,300,000) is one of only 49 examples built making it rarer, but still less desirable than the sexier 300 SLs that it shares its engine with. The car is in a fully restored condition in correct colors and with many period additions.

Porsches at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2016 Sale

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder (est. $1,300,000 – 1,600,000) is a technological tour de force in the spirit of the Porsche 959. The 918 is a hybrid-hypercar with electrical motors on both axles to recover energy during braking. It is four-wheel drive and the 4,593 cc V8 engine has an output of 608 bhp plus a further 279 bph available from the dual electric motors for a total 887 bhp. The car has a top speed of 345 km/h, can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 2.6 seconds, and could run purely on electric power for up to 31 km. Only 918 of the Porsche 918 model were built, of which a couple have been destroyed already, making this Porsche, despite its lack of age, a future collectible similar to modern Ferraris. (Bonhams will similarly offer an almost new McLaren P1 at its Scottsdale 2016 sale, while Barrett-Jackson has another 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder on offer.)

Another modern Porsche that may sell for top dollar is a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT (est. $850,000 – 925,000). It is a single-owner car that has been driven only 1,600 miles (but still managed to rack up a $24,000 service bill!)

1988 Porsche 959 Komfort

1988 Porsche 959 Komfort
Tom Gidden ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort (est. $1,100,000 – 1,400,000) is one of only 329 of Porsche’s first supercars. The car comes with a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity and has covered only 25,500 km. Porsche 959s only recently started to sell for over a million dollars encouraging more owners to bring their cars to the market. The 959 is also helped by the 25-year rule that allow the car to be driven in many US states without the need for emission and safety certificates.

A Buggati and Unique SS Jaguar at Arizona 2016

Two further European cars, which are obviously not from German origins, are expected to achieve more than a million at the RM Sotheby’s 2016 Arizona Sale:

1939 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster

939 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster by Van den Plas
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1939 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster by Van den Plas (est. $1,500,000 – 2,100,000) is fitted with coachwork by the Belgian ancestors of the more famous British-based Vanden Plas coachbuilder. The chassis was built in 1939 but Van den Plas only completed the body after the Second World War. The car was shown at the 1948 Brussels Motor Show but unfortunately a British-Belgian partnership was not established.

1931 Bugatti Type 49 Roadster by Gangloff

1931 Bugatti Type 49 Roadster by Gangloff
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1931 Bugatti Type 49 Roadster by Gangloff (est. $900,000 – 1,100,000) is one of only 470 examples of the Type 49 produced. It is on a short wheelbase and the body by Gangloff has a dickey seat and shape that inspired Bugatti’s design for the Type 55.

The 17th annual RM Sotheby’s Arizona classic car auctions are scheduled for 28 & 29 January 2016 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix.

For More on the RM Sotheby’s Arizona Sales 2016 See Also: