Tag Archives: Mercedes-Benz

Auctions

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is up for auction

Between 1954 and 1963, Mercedes-Benz produced a two-seat sports car, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. For the first three years it was produced only as a coupe (1,400 units produced) and in 1957 it was replaced by the Roadster version. By 1963, 1,858 examples of the Roadster had left the production line, and one of them, the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, is up for auction.

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL is powered by a 3.0-liter M198 inline-six engine taken from the fixed-roof variant. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an all-synchromesh four-speed manual transmission. The engine has Bosch mechanical direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication, and aluminum cylinder head. Braking and stopping are handled by servo-assisted hydraulic brakes with finned drums all around, and duplex actuation at the front wheels.

This example is finished in Silver Gray (DB 180) and is in good condition. It is equipped with European-specification headlights with single-piece glass covers as well as front and rear bumper guards, a left-fender-mounted mirror, pivot-out door handles, a locking fuel door, wide-profile rocker panel end flanges, four- wheel independent suspension with a low-pivot rear axle, and a black convertible top. It is mounted on 15″ steel wheels wrapped in 185HR15 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires.

Inside, the bucket seats are trimmed in red leather covering the door panels and dash, with matching carpets. In front of the driver are an ivory-color steering wheel and a five-digit odometer showing 743 miles. Additional equipment includes roll-up windows, an ivory-color shift knob, a lockable glove box, a clock, a dash-mounted ashtray and cigar lighter, and a Becker Mexico radio.

The car was refurbished from 2005 to 2007, and the works included a repaint in silver, a re-trim of the interior in red leather, and an overhaul of the 3.0-liter M198 inline-six. It comes with a copy of its factory delivery note, invoices for parts used during the refurbishment, a two-piece fitted luggage set, and a clean Florida title.

The auction ends on March 17 and the highest bid at the time of writing was $949,000 USD.

Source: Bring a Trailer

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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL is up for auction
News

Mythos is a new Mercedes sub-brand

Two years ago, Mercedes announced the arrival of a new sub-brand of highly exclusive collector cars, Mythos, whose story should begin next year. It will be a luxury car with sports characteristics.

Mercedes announced that this model will be produced in small numbers and that it will be intended for the biggest lovers of this brand and collectors. This will mean that the cars will not be cheap at all, and are already predicted to be around $300k, which is not too far from the current AMG range.

However, is this a good move considering the existence of the Maybach? The answer might be, yes. Mercedes bases this move on the growth of demand for Maybach in 2023 (+19%).

Also, it is believed that the new model will not be an extreme sports car. BMW’s Alpina is most often mentioned as the direction in which Mercedes will go, but with far greater possibilities for individualization.

It seems that Mercedes-Benz is making a big turn in its plans, since a few days ago the Chairman of the management board of Mercedes-Benz Ola Källenius announced that the company will continue to develop ICE and hybrid cars after 2030.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

News

Mercedes will continue to develop ICE and hybrid cars after 2030

Although the EU has ordered manufacturers to switch to full electrification by the end of the decade, the latest information suggests that Mercedes may continue to develop ICE and hybrid cars after 2030. The reason lies in the decline in demand for electric cars in Europe, but also in the high prices of electric vehicles.

According to data for January, the demand for electric cars on the German market dropped by 54.9 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Some of the reasons are the decision of the German authorities to temporarily suspend subsidies for the purchase of new EVs, current state of the German economy, geopolitical tensions in the region, inflation, but also the bad infrastructure of charging stations. This led buyers to turn to proven options, gasoline and diesel cars. In January, 9.1 percent more gasoline cars were sold compared to the same period in 2023, while demand for diesels increased by 9.5 percent.

Chairman of the management board of Mercedes-Benz Ola Källenius said that PHEV cars will remain in use for years to come, regardless of the fact that plug-in hybrids were the first to be removed from the list of state subsidies.

Mercedes had high expectations when it comes to electric vehicles, but now plans and predictions are changing. Källenius believes that only 50% of cars sold by 2030 will be EVs.

Is this the only way for European manufacturers to counter the conquest of Chinese electric cars that are arriving in large numbers on the European market, or are manufacturers finally realizing that electrification is going too fast and that currently “green energy” is not green? The future will show.

Source: Mercedes-Benz