A Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing captured the attention of Artcurial’s Automobile Legends auction in Paris, selling for €4.4 million and becoming the top lot of the sale.
The event, held at The Peninsula Paris, featured a particularly rare and fascinating example: a 300 SL in authentic garage-find condition, completely original and never restored. With just 34,000 km on the clock, the car is one of the best-preserved examples still in existence. Delivered new in France, it is part of a select group of approximately thirty examples destined for the domestic market at the time.
What makes this Gullwing even more desirable is its technical configuration: high-performance NSL engine, sports suspension and Rudge centre-lock wheels, solutions that bring it very close to the specifications of the more extreme versions, including those with aluminium bodywork intended for competition.
Overall, the Paris auction raised approximately €15 million, confirming its status as one of the most solid events on the international calendar. Alongside the Mercedes, other lots of great historical and collectible significance were also included.
Among these, the Ferrari F92A, raced by Jean Alesi in the 1992 Formula 1 World Championship, stands out, selling for over €2.9 million. The Tyrrell 018-Ford Cosworth, the first Formula 1 car driven by the French driver, also achieved a good result, selling for over €800,000.
Among historic grand tourers and sports cars, a first-series 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 reached €1.4 million, while a Porsche Carrera GT nearly reached €1.65 million, confirming the continuing high interest in modern supercars with a historic pedigree.
French models also performed well: an Alpine A110 prepared to Jean-Pierre Jabouille’s specifications and an Alpine A610 Olympique attracted the attention of collectors, achieving significant sales.