1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster Sold for $9.68 Million at Monterey

The star lot of the second night at RM Auctions’ Monterey Sale, the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen has set a new world-record price for a Mercedes- Benz at auction, selling for a hammer price of $8.8 million ($9.68 million with buyers premium). Opening bid start at $4million, and then right up to $5, then $6, then $6.5m, then $7m,… and finally stop at $8.8 million!!!

The stunning 540 K was joined by a magnificent series of four other supercharged eight-cylinderMercedes-Benz automobiles from the 1930s, each fetching multi-million-dollar results before the packed house.

Other highlights included a superb roster of historic Ferraris, lead by the sale of a rare alloy-bodied1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione for $5,280,000.

Unofficial million-dollar-plus sales from Saturday, August 20, 2011 RM Auctions’ Monterey Sale

• Lot 229 – 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder – $2,530,000
• Lot 232 – 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster – $4,620,000
• Lot 236 – 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Coupe - $3,080,000
• Lot 237 – 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta – $3,685,000
• Lot 238 – 1958 BMW 507 Roadster – $1,072,500
• Lot 242 – 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster – $9,680,000
• Lot 244 – 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione – $5,280,000
• Lot 247 – 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Roadster – $3,767,500
• Lot 248 – 1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe – $1,980,000
• Lot 249 – 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A – $2,970,000
• Lot 251 – 1924 Mercedes-Benz 28/95 Sport Phaeton – $1,017,500
• Lot 252 – 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe – $2,090,000

The Saturday night sale marked the conclusion of RM’s biggest ever Monterey sale, which attracted record bidder registrations from 20 countries, including Argentina, Japan, and United Arab Emirates.