RM Sotheby’s is delighted to announce a remarkable single-owner collection that will headline its upcoming Munich auction on 23 November. The collection boasts a remarkable selection of important cars that range from 1897 to 1965, featuring some very rare and historically significant examples from Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Veritas, and Aston Martin.
The star of the sale is undoubtedly the 1923 Mercedes 2.0-Litre Indianapolis Sports Racer. One of four examples prepared by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft for the 1923 Indianapolis 500, this was the last of Paul Daimler’s masterpieces before he left the company. Boasting outstanding provenance and previously residing in well-known collections since the 1940s, this automotive masterpiece is estimated to sell for between €3,800,000 and €5,000,000 EUR.
Sharing the spotlight is a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Roadster by Corsica, which is offered for the first time in 26 years. A fine example of Mercedes-Benz’s legendary Supercharged leviathan, it was delivered new via Mercedes-Benz dealer and racer Gordon Watney. Later re-bodied by Corsica to become a stunning open two-seater, this wonderful car is the winner of the 1997 Co-Chairman’s Trophy at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the winner of the 1999 Public Referendum Vote at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and is estimated at €3,500,000 – €4,500,000 EUR. This is complemented by a fine 1929 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Roadster by Sindelfingen. This example has participated in extensive historic rallies and tours, including the Mille Miglia Storica. Accompanied by FIA Historic Vehicle Identity papers issued in 1995, it is estimated to sell between €1,300,000 – €2,000,000 EUR.
Porsche is represented by an incredible 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder by Wendler. A significant specimen of one of the most important and famous competition Porsche models, this example was raced in period in a number of SCCA events in the United States. Seldom seen with 550 Spyders nowadays, this example retains its matching-numbers engine and gearbox and is eligible for major driving events and concours d’elegance worldwide. Accompanied by two inspection reports performed by Andy Prill and Jochen Bader, highly respected Porsche specialists, it is estimated to sell for between €3,400,000 – €4,200,000 EUR. A 1957 Porsche 356 A Carrera GT Speedster by Reutter will also be offered as part of The Aumann Collection, this one being an extremely rare and desirable ‘Four-Cam’ GS/GT Speedster. Accompanied by a sizeable history file, spare wheel, and tool roll, this silver metallic over black interior example is estimated to sell for between €650,000 – €800,000 EUR and is offered without reserve. Another 356 will cross the block in Munich, this one being a 1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster by Reutter, which is presented in beautiful red over a black leather interior (Estimate: €190,000 – €250,000 EUR and is offered without reserve).
Also on offer will be two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs, one a 1957 Roadster and the other a 1955 Gullwing. The Gullwing is presented in its factory configuration of Silver Grey Metallic over optional Red hide and boasts the highly desirable works delivered rudge-wheels. The Gullwing is known as a true icon of the classic car world, and it’s an ideal blue-chip classic for international tours and rallies. It is estimated at €1,400,000 – €1,800,000 EUR. The 300 SL Roadster is from the first year of Roadster production, is finished in its factory shade of Graphite Grey over dark green leather, and retains its matching-numbers body, chassis, and straight-six engine (Estimate: €950,000 – €1,200,000 EUR).
A 1913 Mercedes-Knight 16/45 HP Tourer will also be offered in Munich, with this example providing a fascinating insight into the history of Daimler. Entered into production after Daimler acquired the patent for a slide-valve engine, this machine was capable of a remarkable 80 km/h in 1913 (Estimate: €300,000 – €400,000 EUR). This is followed by an even earlier example with an 1897 Benz Velo. The successor model to the car that started it all, the Benz Patent Motorwagen, this was the world’s first standardised serial production car (Estimate: €200,000 – €300,000 EUR and is offered without reserve).
The sale features a trio of BMW 327/8s from the collection. This includes a 1937 BMW 328 Roadster which offers known ownership from new, and which was originally owned by the Prince of Leiningen, but the car was later confiscated during World War II. This 328 then spent its life in the United States and then the United Kingdom before returning to Germany. Wearing a handsome green exterior over black leather interior, this is estimated to sell between €550,000 – €700,000 EUR and is offered without reserve. Also offered is the 1939 BMW 328 ‘Special Competition’ Roadster. Boasting an impressive track record of period race entries in the United States; claimant of multiple 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place finishes in SCCA races, this example has entries to iconic racetracks like Watkins Glen and Bridgehampton to its name. Presented with its unique body style that deviates from the standard 328 shape, this highly eligible example is estimated to sell for between €380,000 – €500,000 EUR and is offered without reserve. Also featured is a 1939 BMW 327/28 Sport Cabriolet, a fine example of one of BMW’s most accomplished pre-war sports touring automobiles. Finished in blue over black with a grey leather interior, it is estimated to sell for between €140,000 – €180,000 EUR and is offered without reserve.
Veritas was a successful and important producer of sports racing cars in the postwar period and three examples feature in the collection. The first is a 1948 Veritas RS, which is a beautifully restored example and is accompanied by its period-correct body. Boasting a remarkably full history file including details on period race history and the restoration, this fine machine is estimated to sell between €550,000 – €750,000 EUR and is offered without reserve Also offered is a 1947 Veritas Grossmutter, which is the very first Veritas produced and used a 1939 BMW 328 chassis. Powered by an engine based on the BMW 315/1 six-cylinder block, this restored example boasts a fascinating history file and period race history (Estimate: €400,000 – €500,000 EUR). Rounding the trio is a 1949 Veritas Meteor, powered by a Heinkel-tuned version of the BMW 328 six-cylinder engine. This finely restored example is estimated to sell between €250,000 – €350,000 EUR and is offered without reserve.
A fine 1965 Aston Martin DB5 will be offered from The Aumann Collection, the only example that comes from a non-German marque. This particular car is a rare left-hand-drive export model delivered new to California and which left the factory wearing Autumn Gold over a Beige leather interior. Offered with a copy of its original Aston Martin build sheet, this example boasts the rare Normalair air conditioning optional extra (Estimate: €750,000 – €850,000 EUR and is offered without reserve).
Other examples that will be offered from the collection include a 1951 Volkswagen Beetle ‘Split-Window’, which is a rare and early example of the desirable ‘Split-Window’ Type 1 Beetle (Estimate: €20,000 – €30,000 EUR). This is followed by a 1940 Opel Olympia OL38 Roadster by Gläser (Estimate: €20,000 – €30,000 EUR), and a 1951 Opel Olympia Two-Door Saloon (Estimate: €20,000 – €30,000 EUR).
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