MERCEDES-BENZ 540 K SPECIAL ROADSTER REALIZES $9.9 MILLION TO SET NEW ARIZONA AUCTION RECORD

January 30, 2016 by RM Sotheby's

PHOENIX, Arizona (January 29, 2016) – A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster sold for an outstanding $9,900,000 at RM Sotheby's Arizona Biltmore sale in Phoenix tonight to enter the history books as the most valuable automobile ever sold during the famed Arizona auction week. The previous record for an automobile sold in Arizona was held by a Ferrari 250 LM, which garnered $9.625 million at RM's 2015 Arizona Biltmore sale.

One of the most prestigious and beautiful automobiles of the interwar years, the extremely elegant Special Roadster, chassis no. 130894, was one of very few built in the most desirable configuration of high doors, long tail and factory left-hand drive. An original U.S.-delivery car with known history from new, it was offered in Phoenix in wonderful, restored condition with a mere 10,277 miles on its odometer and following 26 years in single ownership.

Bidding on the stunning automobile opened at $5 million before quickly climbing to a final $9,900,000. In addition to setting an auction benchmark for an automobile sold in Arizona, the strong price ranks the vehicle as one of the most valuable pre-war automobiles ever sold at auction.

Other highlights of RM's Friday sale session at the Arizona Biltmore included a 1952 Cunningham C-3 Coupe, one of just 19 built, which sold for $1,210,000—a new auction record for the marque—and a 1939 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster that realized $1,402,500 to set a new auction benchmark for a Jaguar SS 100.

Full results from RM Sotheby's Arizona Biltmore sale will be posted online at www.rmsothebys.com.

*Prices are listed in USD and are inclusive of 10% buyer's premium for automobiles.

About RM Sotheby's

RM Sotheby's (formerly RM Auctions) is the world's largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With 35 years' experience in the collector car industry, RM's vertically integrated range of services, from private treaty sales and auctions to estate planning and financial services, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. As a company, RM Sotheby's has established numerous auction benchmarks, including the current record for the highest-grossing collector car auction of all time, with $172.9 million in sales at its 2015 Monterey event. In February 2015, RM formed a strategic partnership with Sotheby's, uniting the two companies for the full calendar of future automobile auctions. For further information, visit www.rmsothebys.com.