Torpedo Roadster
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis #: 35949
Engine #: 72151
Registration #: Commission Number 40156
The imperialist mindset of the early 20th century would be a source of great contestation all around the globe. However, it would also provide a source of fine materials not seen in Europe and North America. These materials and elements provided automotive artists a whole new arsenal in which to fashion elegant works of mechanized art. To do these elements justice; however, an imperial chassis and body design were needed. An example that certainly fits those requirements would be the Saoutchik-bodied Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo.Daimler and Benz had only merged together in 1926 as a result of the hard economic times in Germany following the First World War. Up until this point the two manufacturers had been in competition against one another. However, the merger meant the bringing together of two great companies behind one idea—Mercedes. The merger meant a change in focus somewhat. Instead of building their own reputations on their own, the company could now pool its talent and come up with a reputation that had the potential of being second to none. Given the fact the company had the talents of Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, Hans Nibel and Fritz Nallinger as just some of its major influences meant the company certainly could do just that.
It was the 1920s, a period of great economic prosperity in the United States and in other parts of Europe. This would be Mercedes' target audience and the talents of all involved within the company meant an onslaught intended to make the company the very best.
A total of 12 Torpedo Roadsters would be designed to sit atop the 680 Type S chassis. The car would feature greatly contoured front fenders that trailed backward and blended into the sides of the car while smaller rear wheel arches would cover the rear tires. The nose of the car would feature a long, tall nose to cover the large six-cylinder engine. The low-sitting chassis meant the two-seat passenger compartment would sit well down behind the large engine. This enabled the designers at Saoutchik to fashion a car with a very low windscreen and a top body line that ran almost seamlessly from the nose to its waterfall-style tail-end.
The engine would undergo a complete overhaul while a number of other components, like the gearbox, would be entirely rebuilt. Great care and attention would be given to restoring and retaining many details that could have otherwise been replaced. One such example would be to re-engrave the Saoutchik plates on either side of the car. One very important piece of the restoration puzzle would come in the form of finding new lizard hides from which the upholstery could be made. This would require hides from Southeast Asia. The hides would be cut and then sewn together for use on the seats, door panels and lid that conceals the car's top.Once again, the rich interior, incredible glossy wood inlay and two-tone exterior finish would shine as it did back in 1928. The quality of the restoration would be rewarded when it made its appearance at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Scoring 100 points, the Mercedes-Benz would go on to earn the Best of Show title. The car would also earn Restoration of the Year at the 2012 International Historic Motoring Awards. Then, in early 2013, the car would receive First in Class at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy.Presented for sale for just the fourth time in its entire life, the 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster by Saoutchik would come to the RM Auctions Monterey Auction a multiple award winner and one of just three short-windshield examples ever to be built, and the only known survivor. This rich, deep history and the rich and luxurious appointments inside and out of the Torpedo Roadster meant only the very serious would be its future owner. And no matter who that would be, the Mercedes-Benz 680S is certain to be an imposing and imperial-like addition. As bidding came to a close at RM Auction's Monterey Sale, the car had been sold for the sum of $8,250,000 including buyer's premium.Sources:
'Lot No. 216: 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster by Carrosserie J. Saoutchik', (http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1061167). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1061167. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
By Jeremy McMullen
Torpedo Roadster
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis #: 35949
Engine #: 72151
Registration #: Commission Number 40156
During the late 1920s, the Model S was the ultimate supercar. This 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S wears a Torpedo body created by Jacques Sautchik. Saoutchik created seven avant-grade Torpedo Tropedo bodies for the mighty Mercedes-Benz 680S chassis, all differing in their details. This beautiful 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo Roadster with coachwork by Saoutchik has been housed for a number of years at the Owls head Transportation Museum. It was ordered by Mrs. Levine of France but the sale was never final. It remained in a showroom in New York before being purchased by Frederick Henry Bedford. After his death in 1952 it was stored for over thirty years. For Mrs. Bedord's 75th birthday the car was sent by her family to Reuters Shop for a restoration. After two years it emerged in pristine condition with the original cream colored body and red suspension and frame. The cloth top is tan and the interior is made of a fine, red leather.At the 2006 Christies auction, held at the Monterey Jet center, the one-owner car was auctioned where it was estimated to fetch between $3 and $4 million dollars. Of the 53 items offered for sale, 39 found a new home totaling a combined income of $9,651,608. The Saoutchik Roadster sold for $3,645,000.
When first created, the Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo Roadster was one of the fastest sports cars ever created. It was a product of the recent merger between Mercedes and Benz and continued their reputation for building sporty vehicles. Saoutchik in Paris finished the design in a striking Torpedo body which is truly one of the finest creations of its day.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2013
Torpedo Roadster
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis #: 35949
Engine #: 72151
Registration #: Commission Number 40156
This 1928 marries a spectacular Mercedes-Benz 680S chassis with the latest avant-garde coachwork. Jacques Saoutchik made perhaps a dozen Torpedo Roadster bodies, each differing in their details, and this Mercedes-Benz 680S is thought to be the only remaining survivor of three low-windshield Torpedo Roadsters. The combination of chrome accents with low windshields makes this Torpedo, shown first at the 1928 New York Auto Show, both a sports car and a luxury touring car. 'The car is really everything,' said Concours Chairman Sandra Button in describing the Torpedo's win. 'it has fantastic German engineering, elegant French styling, and a wonderful restoration by Paul Russell. It's a car you can imagine racing as well as touring. It's just a marvelous embodiment of everything that is Mercedes-Benz.' Paul Andrews, the car's owner when it was named Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2012, stressed the whole package: 'There's not a bad line on this car. It was the sports car, the high-performance car of its era, and then Saoutchik gave it style and grace. It has power and it has beauty.'
1928 Mercedes-Benz Model S
Mercedes-Benz
2017 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
Pre-Auction Estimates :
€6,500,000-€8,000,000
Lot was not sold
2013 RM Auctions - Monterey
Sale Price :
USD $8,250,000
1928 Mercedes-Benz Model S Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Mercedes-Benz Model S
(Data based on Model Year 1928 sales)
1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180-S-Type Supercharged Sports Tourer Chassis#: 35920 Sold for USD$5,395,000 2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | ![]() ![]() |
1928 MERCEDES-BENZ TYP S 26/120/180 SUPERCHARGED SPORTS TOURER Chassis#: 35323 Sold for USD$4,812,500 2017 Bonhams : Scottsdale, AZ | |
1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster by Carrosserie J. Saoutchik Chassis#: 35949 Sold for USD$8,250,000 2013 RM Auctions - Monterey | ![]() ![]() |
1928 Mercedes-Benz 36/220 6.8-litre S-Type Four-Seat Open Tourer Chassis#: 35906 Sold for USD$4,543,096 2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia | |
1928 Mercedes-Benz S 26/180 Boattail Speedster Sold for USD$3,740,000 2010 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | ![]() ![]() |
1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 S-type 6.8-litre supercharged Torpedo Roadster Sold for USD$3,363,278 2008 Bonhams - Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles Automobiles d'Exception |
Mercedes-Benz Model Ss That Failed To Sell At Auction
1928 Mercedes-Benz Model S's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1928 Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/180 Sports Tourer | 35920 | 2017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $5,000,000 | $6,000,000 | |
1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 Type S Sports 4 by Sindelfingen | 35947 | 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | $3,500,000 | $4,000,000 | |
1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo-Sport Avant-Garde by Saoutchik | 35949 | 2017 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba | $6,500,000 | $8,000,000 |
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1928 Mercedes-Benz Model S
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