125 Years Of Auto History Travels To Monterey California
A celebration encompassing the history of the automobile and the 125 year anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz 1886 Patent Motorwagen (shown above) is creating a blissful paradise for car aficionados heading to the Monterey Peninsula for the annual Pebble Beach Automotive Week and Concours d’Elegance August 16-21, 2011.
At the heart of the four day auto extravaganza is a significant number
of world-class Mercedes-Benz collector cars that represent the marque’s
famed history throughout the world. On Sunday, August 21st, The Pebble
Beach Concours d’Elegance is featuring five special classes across the
famed 18th fairway to mark Mercedes-Benz 125 year anniversary including
one class with nine pre-war Grand Prix vehicles known as “white
knights.” The classes also include Mercedes-Benz 380K-770K, 300 SL
Gullwings and Roadsters, and a preservation and 125 year celebration
group covering Benz, Daimler, Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz. Over fifty
cars including some of the rarest examples representing the
Mercedes-Benz brand are traveling to Monterey, some over great lengths
including parts of Europe and South America.
“The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance showcases special vehicles
every year, but this coming weekend establishes a new realm to mark a
historical milestone for the Mercedes-Benz brand,” said Ernst Lieb,
President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. “There are treasures from every
era descending on to Monterey, which captures the essence and
fascination of the three pointed star from design to innovation, and a
legacy that is unmatched.”
The Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge on the 3rd Fairway leading to the Lodge
at Pebble Beach is also themed around the anniversary milestone. It is
featuring not only classic and rare vehicles including the American
Mercedes of 1905, which was built in conjunction with the William
Steinway Co. in Long Island City, NY., but also the future of
Mercedes-Benz innovation with displays of the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster and
the Concept A-Class.
Several high profile auctions are also taking place with multiple
rare Mercedes-Benz vehicles on the blocks. Headlining RM Auctions’
Monterey sale, August 20th, is an exquisite 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K
Spezial Roadster, chassis 154140, from the private collection of Sam and
Emily Mann (shown above). One of just a select few built with the most desirable
configuration of high door, long tail and covered rear spare, of which
it is believed just three examples survive, 154140 is expected to
establish a new world record for a Mercedes-Benz sold at auction when it
crosses the podium on Saturday evening.
The stunning 540 K will be surrounded by an impressive series of four
other supercharged eight-cylinder cars from the 1930s – each recently
inspected by an expert from Mercedes-Benz Classic in Germany – as RM
Auctions celebrates the marque’s 125th anniversary with one of the most
important collections of Mercedes-Benz automobiles ever offered at
public auction.
The Gooding Auction on August 21st is featuring a 1959 190 SL
Roadster owned by singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow that is going on auction
with proceeds of the sale to benefit the Joplin Schools Recovery Fund.