Extraordinarily rare Mercedes Gullwing raced by Stirling Moss – complete with tartan seats – is expected to fetch $7 million at New York auction after being restored following 40 years in storage
Original Article – 3 November 2015 – dailymail.co.uk
A very rare Mercedes ‘Gullwing’ – heroically raced by Sir Stirling Moss – is expected to sell for $7million at auction.
The British sporting hero got behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Sportabteilung’ Gullwing for the 1956 Tour de France.
He ended up coming second overall, losing out to Marquis de Portago who was behind the wheel of a Ferrari 250 GT.
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Sportabteilung’ Gullwing was raced by Sir Stirling Moss in the 1956 Tour de France
The vehicle has now come up for auction in New York and it is expected to sell for as much as $7million
Sir Stirling Moss talks with co-driver Georges Huel and Harry Schell while leaning against the Gullwing
In 1966, the Moss Mercedes was bought by the father of its current owner, who drove it regularly for two years before putting it into storage for the next 40 years.
The car was then recommissioned by the son who spent three years returning it to its Tour de France specification.
It will now be sold by RM Sotheby’s at its auction in New York on December 10.
Experts estimate it could sell for as much as $7.6million – another staggering figure for an ex-Stirling Moss car, which are now typically among the most valuable and sought-after cars in the world.
Alain Squindo, Vice President, RM Sotheby’s, said: ‘This car illustrates an important and lesser-known chapter in the Gullwing racing legend
‘Not only is it rarer than the ever desirable alloy-bodied Gullwings, but its desirability is amplified by its astonishing provenance.
‘None other than Sir Stirling Moss drove the car to a second place finish at the ’56 Tour de France, beaten only by de Portago in his Ferrari, which RM sold for a world record $13.2 million in Monterey earlier this year.
‘It begs the consideration of any serious collector in search of the ultimate Gullwing for their stable.’
Inside the Gullwing glove compartment are two books detailing the state of Mercedes-Benz in the 1960s
The vehicle also retains its stunning tartan seats, which were used to help propel it to victory
Inside, the vehicle’s dash remains the same and in perfect condition after being kept in storage for 40 years
The rare Mercedes is to be sold at auction next month and is expected to fetch as much as $7million
The vehicle has a top speed of 160mph – an incredible feat for a car built 60 years ago
It was in this vehicle that Sir Stirling Moss came second overall, losing out to Marquis de Portago who was behind the wheel of a Ferrari 250 GT, in the 1956 Tour de France
British racecar driver Stirling Moss test drives the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, later dubbed the Gullwing
