Tag Archives: Bring a Trailer

Auctions

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG sold for $775,000

The collector car market has a habit of rewriting its own rules, but every so often a sale comes along that makes even seasoned enthusiasts question what they’re looking at. That’s exactly what happened when a virtually untouched 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe sold for an astonishing $775,000 on Bring a Trailer, setting a new high-water mark for the iconic gullwing.

The numbers alone are enough to grab attention. This particular SLS had covered just 250 miles since leaving the factory, making it about as close to a brand-new example as collectors are ever likely to find. Still, few expected bidding to climb anywhere near three-quarters of a million dollars.

As the auction unfolded, the price steadily climbed before reaching an already eye-opening $575,000. Another bidder nudged the total to $576,000, suggesting the sale was nearing its conclusion. Then everything changed. A newly registered account submitted a massive $775,000 bid, instantly ending the contest and leaving observers wondering whether someone had accidentally added an extra digit.

Speculation spread quickly across enthusiast forums and social media. Many believed the bidder had intended to type $577,000, while others questioned whether the transaction would ever be completed.

Bring a Trailer wasted little time addressing the rumors. According to the auction platform, the winning bidder manually entered the amount and then confirmed it through an additional verification screen, making the commitment deliberate rather than accidental.

Even so, skepticism remained until the sale received multiple independent confirmations. The dealership representing the vehicle later announced that payment had been received in full, while Hagerty Price Guide publisher Dave Kinney confirmed he had personally reviewed documentation verifying that the wire transfer had successfully cleared. At that point, any lingering doubts disappeared—the $775,000 sale was real.

Whether this transaction establishes a new market benchmark is another question entirely.

Before this auction, the most expensive Mercedes-Benz SLS sold on Bring a Trailer was a Black Series, which achieved $755,000 in 2022. Standard SLS AMG models have typically traded for substantially less, with one notable example bringing around $401,000. That makes this latest result remarkable not only because of its record-setting figure, but because it was achieved by a standard coupe rather than the more exclusive Black Series variant.

Of course, this wasn’t just any SLS. Ultra-low mileage examples occupy a unique corner of the collector market, where originality often carries more weight than drivability. Cars with delivery mileage are increasingly viewed as investment-grade assets, and buyers willing to pay a premium for the best examples continue to push prices into uncharted territory.

That said, the SLS AMG has more going for it than an odometer reading.

Developed as the first AMG model engineered largely in-house, the SLS arrived as the spiritual successor to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing while forging an identity entirely its own. Beneath its impossibly long hood sits AMG’s naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V8, producing 571 horsepower and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque. It’s an engine celebrated for its thunderous soundtrack, razor-sharp throttle response, and old-school character—qualities becoming increasingly rare in today’s era of turbocharging and electrification.

Performance remains impressive even by modern standards, but perhaps more importantly, the SLS represents the end of an era. It combines dramatic styling, iconic gullwing doors, a naturally aspirated V8, and rear-wheel drive into a package that’s unlikely to be repeated by Mercedes-AMG.

The question now is whether this sale signals the beginning of a new pricing era or simply reflects what one determined collector was willing to pay for an almost untouched example. History suggests that singular auction results don’t always redefine the market overnight, but they often reveal where demand is heading.

Either way, one thing is clear: the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is no longer simply a modern performance car. It’s rapidly cementing its place among the most desirable modern classics—and after a $775,000 hammer price, collectors everywhere will be watching the next auction a little more closely.

Source: Bring a Trailer

Auctions

1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS “Evo 3.6” is for sale

For decades, the Dino lived in Ferrari’s shadow.

Created at the insistence of Enzo Ferrari himself and named in honor of his late son Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari, the sub-brand was never intended to be a bargain-bin alternative to Maranello’s finest. Yet history has a way of rewriting narratives. While the Dino 206 GT and later 246 GT and GTS rolled out of Ferrari’s factory and shared much of the company’s engineering DNA, the absence of the famous prancing horse on the nose left many collectors treating them as second-tier Ferraris for years.

Not anymore.

A heavily reimagined 1972 Dino 246 GTS currently crossing the auction block in the United States is attracting the kind of money typically reserved for the marque’s most celebrated classics. With bidding already sailing past $800,000 and the auction still open, this once-overlooked sports car is proving that the Dino name has finally earned its place among Ferrari royalty.

Then again, this isn’t your average Dino.

The car underwent a comprehensive restoration and transformation by British specialists Moto Technique between 2017 and 2018. While the original 246 GTS relied on a charismatic 2.4-liter V-6 mounted behind the driver, Moto Technique decided nostalgia wasn’t enough. In its place sits a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Tipo 105C V-8 equipped with individual throttle bodies, revised cylinder heads, and a bespoke MoTec engine-management system.

The result is approximately 400 horsepower—nearly double the output of the original car.

Power is routed to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, preserving the mechanical interaction that makes classic Italian sports cars so addictive. Supporting upgrades include a larger aluminum radiator, coil-over suspension, and anti-roll bars front and rear, all intended to ensure the chassis can keep pace with its vastly increased performance.

The visual changes are just as dramatic, although they’re handled with enough restraint to avoid upsetting purists entirely.

During the restoration, the body was stripped to bare metal before being refinished in deep black paint. New plexiglass headlamp covers sharpen the Dino’s already gorgeous front-end design, while larger 17-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires bring modern grip levels to a shape penned more than half a century ago. Behind those wheels sit brakes sourced from a Ferrari 360 Modena—a clear sign that Moto Technique expected this Dino to do more than simply pose for photographs.

Inside, the transformation continues.

Daytona-style seats trimmed in red and black leather create a cabin that’s equal parts classic Ferrari and bespoke grand tourer. Matching red carpeting brightens the interior, while a gated shifter preserves the tactile charm enthusiasts expect from an Italian exotic. There’s even a modern audio system with iPod connectivity, a subtle reminder that this Dino was built to be driven rather than preserved as a museum piece.

Since the restoration’s completion, the car has covered just 13,679 kilometers, suggesting it has been enjoyed enough to stay healthy while remaining remarkably fresh.

The irony is impossible to ignore. A model once dismissed as “not a real Ferrari” is now commanding supercar money thanks to a build that boldly abandons originality in favor of performance. Yet perhaps that’s exactly why bidders are lining up. The Dino was always celebrated for its beauty and balance. This example simply asks the question: what if Ferrari had kept developing it?

Judging by the auction results so far, plenty of collectors are willing to pay handsomely for the answer.

Source: Bring a Trailer

Auctions

This 2200-KM Volkswagen Scirocco Is Basically a Brand-New 1992 Time Capsule

Few cars wear their survival story as proudly as this 1992 Volkswagen Scirocco GT II. In a world where most second-generation Sciroccos were modified, neglected, or simply driven into the ground, this Jasper Green Metallic time capsule has somehow escaped all three fates—and it may just be one of the lowest-mileage Volkswagens left on the planet.

With only around 2200 kilometers showing on the odometer after 34 years, this Scirocco doesn’t merely look preserved; it looks frozen. The paint still carries the deep gloss that defined early-1990s Volkswagen showroom floors, while the original 14-inch alloy wheels appear as though they’ve spent more time under fluorescent lights than on asphalt. Which, in a way, they did.

According to the auction listing, this GT II sat inside a German showroom for more than a decade before finally finding its first owner in 2003. That strange limbo likely saved it from the fate suffered by so many of its siblings. The Scirocco was never treated as a collectible in period. It was a stylish front-drive coupe that spent most of its life being driven hard, modified poorly, or discarded once hot hatches evolved beyond it. Seeing one survive in this condition feels almost improbable.

The interior is where the car really sells its story. Open the door and you’re greeted by gloriously loud patterned cloth seats that perfectly capture Volkswagen’s playful early-’90s design language. Modern interiors may obsess over minimalism and giant touchscreens, but this cabin reminds you that cars once had personality. The original cassette deck remains in place, a tiny detail that somehow matters enormously, and the small sunroof adds just enough flair to elevate the whole package from economy coupe to genuine junior grand tourer.

Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter inline-four producing 90 horsepower and 136 Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels. By modern standards, those numbers barely register, but that misses the point entirely. The Scirocco has never been about outright speed. It’s about lightness, simplicity, and the kind of analog charm that disappeared long before “driver engagement” became a marketing phrase.

The car received its last service in 2023, though another inspection is recommended before it returns to regular road use. That caveat feels almost ceremonial. Cars like this aren’t really bought to commute; they’re bought because they preserve a moment in automotive history that has mostly vanished.

Unsurprisingly, the auction has already generated significant attention, including interest from buyers reportedly considering importing the car to the United States. And honestly, it’s easy to understand why. Pristine Mk2 Sciroccos have become almost mythical, especially untouched examples finished in period-correct colors with virtually no mileage.

In today’s collector market, rarity alone isn’t enough. Authenticity matters more. This Scirocco has both—and in quantities almost nobody expected to see again.

Source: Bring a Trailer