£2.8m Mercedes headlines Bonhams|Cars FOS auction

Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet

Sold for £299,000

When it was new, the 280 SE 3.5 cost $3,500 (£2,755) more than its saloon car equivalent, meaning it was a rare sight even in its day. Today, however, that rarity translates to strong values. This example is further bolstered by the fact it’s one of only 68 in right-hand-drive, and was originally supplied as a UK car.

Porsche Carrera RS 2.7

Sold for £322,000

This Porsche Carrera RS 2.7 is accompanied by a detailed history file that includes information of the first German owner. During its life, the car was converted from Touring to Lightweight specification and has enjoyed regular use – making it the ideal purchase for someone who wants to enjoy RS ownership by putting miles on it.

Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback

Sold for £354,200

The HJ Mulliner bodied Bentley R-Type Continental is considered by many the pinnacle of the company’s post-war activity. This example is still finished in its original colour scheme with one-off features specified by the original owner, including  leather-covered sun visors, and an offset organ-style throttle pedal.

Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Cabriolet A

Sold for £368,000

We’re back with cars from the Tom Scott Collection. Another rariity, this Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet A. The Sc was the most desirable variant of the range-topping 300 S, and only 49 were built as cabriolets (verses 98 coupés and 53 roadsters). One of its historical owners was John Calley, formerly a president of Warner Brothers.

Ferrari 488 Pista Piloti

Sold for £408,250

The most modern car in this top ten is a Ferrari 488 Pista Piloti Coupé from 2020. It takes is place in history as the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the legendary F40, and this example provided the change to obtain one in nearly-new condition – it has covered just 100 miles.

Aston Martin DB6 Volante

Sold for £448,500

Introduced in 1965, the Aston Martin DB6 was the update to the DB5, the model immortalised by James Bond. The Mark 2, as seen here, was announced in 1967, adding power-assisted steering as standard and the option of electronic fuel injection. This example has been in the same ownership for 30 years, has matching numbers, and has covered a scant 3000 miles since 2007.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 'Crown Edition’

Sold for £563,500

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was collaboration between the German firm and it’s British Formula 1 partner of the time. It mixed supercar performance with grand touring sensibilities, arguably putting it into a class of its own. In 2006, the 722 Edition was introduced with a number of upgrades, and the Crown Edition was the same car in all but name. This one smashed through its estimate, which had been pegged as £200,000 to £300,000.

Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Spider Corto

Sold for £608,600

This Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 has been given bodywork inspired by Carrozzeria Touring using original coachwork plans. It was entered into the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2013 and has been little used since last changing hands in 2021. It’s final sale cost overshot the upper estimate by more than £100,000.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Sold for £1,045,400

We venture into seven figures with this Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. The convertible version of the Gullwing was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, and 1,858 of them were subsequently built. It was the first Mercedes-Benz to emphasise luxury alongside performance, essentially templating the marque’s future trajectory. This example has led a pampered life with much restoration and recommissioning work in recent years.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

Sold for £1,135,000

What price gullwing doors? This coupé version of the 300 SL sold for £90,000 more than its open-top sibling, both cars coming from the Tom Scott Celebration. Only 59 were delivered new to the UK, with owners including F1 team owner Rob Walker, Aston Martin proprietor David Brown, and King Hussein of Jordan, who was studying in Britain at the time. Bonhams has sold this example to its two previous owners.

Mercedes-Benz 36/220 S-Type

Sold for £2,871,000

The Mercedes-Benz S-Type was conceived just after the merger between Daimler and Benz while Ferdinand Porsche was in control of engineering. It was an all-rounder, at home on track and on the road, the Roots on-demand supercharger boosting power from 122PS (90kW) to 182PS (134kW). The Depression suppressed sales to just 174 cars between 1927 and 1930, making it rare and sought-after today. Little wonder, then, that this generated the highest bid of the Goodwood Festival of Speed sale, beating its upper estimate by more than £300,000.

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Photography by Nick Wilkinson and Bonhams