Rare, Historic Benz Cars go to Auction

Press Release

Valuable rarities from the late Gerhard Schnuerer to star in highly anticipated March sale

Bonhams is very pleased to announce the collection of respected southern California collector Gerhard Schnuerer at our Amelia Island Auction next month.
Focused on cars from his native Germany, and focused on only the best, Schnuerer was passionate about the entire timeline of the automobile – from the earliest pioneers to the latest supercars. Among the 20 examples being presented by Bonhams is a representation of the very best of Mercedes-Benz.

An extremely rare 1897 Benz 10hp Mylord Coupe, of which just two are known to exist, is not only one of the oldest Benzes, it's one of the world’s oldest cars. Tremendously historic, especially considering that the invention of the automobile had only occurred a decade prior, it’s among the earliest examples of a twin-cylinder engine and kingpin steering. It’s also a capable motorcar as it has completed the London to Brighton Run with Jutta Benz, great-granddaughter of Carl Benz, as a passenger.

The 1911 Benz 50hp Victoria is also an astounding rarity as it’s believed to be the sole surviving example. Even more interesting is its history, which is known from new. Ordered new by Grand Trunk Railroad magnate Charles Hayes at a cost of 20 times more than a Ford Model T, Hayes went down with the Titanic before he could take delivery. The remarkable open touring Benz also wears its original Demarest coachwork and is a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance award winner.

 

Another standout is the 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. With an expert restoration blessed by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, the elite matching-numbers sportscar had the distinction of being driven by Stirling Moss as lead driver of the 2015 Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, as well as featured in the Mercedes-Benz commercial “Timeless” with Roger Federer.

 

Other noteworthy cars in the collection include a 1918 Opel 14/38 that is believed to be the sole surviving example, and significant WWII military vehicles like the amphibious 1944 Volkswagen Schwimmwagen, a 1944 Volkswagen Kubelwagen, and the half-track motorcycle 1945 NSU Kettenkrad.

Of course, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupe bears mentioning as this supercar became an instant legend upon its debut.

The marvelous Gerhard Schnuerer Collection will be joining a wonderful assembly of collectors’ cars in Amelia Island, Florida on Thursday, March 5th, such as the impressive British and European sportscars of the Dean Edmonds Estate, not to mention the dune buggy and the Rolls-Royce driven by Steve McQueen in the movie “The Thomas Crown Affair.”

More details can be found online at Bonhams.com/Amelia.

Photo courtesy Bonhams
Photo 1: L-R: 1897 Benz, 1911 Benz, 1918 Opel, 1958 300 SL.
Photo 2: 1897 Benz 10hp Mylord Coupe
Photo 3: 1911 Benz 50hp Victoria
Photo 4: 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster