A rare classic car with an estimated value of up to £750,000, or approximately 24.3 billion VND, according to RM Sotheby’s, specialists in auctioning classic cars. It’s astonishing that a car that looks like scrap metal could be worth so much. The entire body is rusted, with missing headlights and a mirror on one side, a damaged front end, flat tires, and engine trouble.
It’s unbelievable that this car is up for auction with a starting price equivalent to 24.3 billion VND. This 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster possesses an extremely rare feature: it is one of only 27 cars in history fitted with Rudge wheels, derived from racing cars. Even the convertible 300 SL Roadster model was produced in limited numbers, with less than 1,000 units manufactured worldwide between 1957 and 1963.
While the car boasts rare and sought-after wheels, it’s undeniable that beyond the initial investment of 24.3 billion VND (and potentially more after the auction), the buyer will have to spend a significant amount to restore it to its former glory.
Restoration won’t come cheap. Images: RM Sotheby’s
The original Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster featured a distinctive red paint job and a cream-colored leather interior. Under the hood was a 6-cylinder engine capable of delivering an impressive 225 horsepower in its heyday.
The biggest draw of this “scrap” car is that it has barely clocked 18,000 km over its decades of existence. Moreover, a trace of the car’s history based on its chassis number reveals that it has had only one owner, a man named Thompson from Kitzingen, Germany, since it left the factory.
This is what the car will look like after restoration. Image: Robb Report
Another reason for the auction house’s confidence in setting a high price, besides the rare wheels, is that 300SLs often fetch astronomical prices. The most expensive 300SL on record sold for a whopping $3.4 million earlier in 2024.
In Vietnam, a silver Mercedes-Benz 300SL with a red interior and gull-wing doors was spotted and shared on social media. Many believe it belongs to Dang Le Nguyen Vu, the “Coffee King of Vietnam,” based on the location where the photos were taken.
