Hagerty Silver Arrow

Rumor: Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow sold for record $142 million

By Hagerty Insider

 

Note: This is a developing story that includes informed speculation—details may prove inaccurate. 

Reset the search engines and reset your memory—the record for the most expensive car ever sold is believed to have been smashed, without a Ferrari in sight.

Rumors from multiple Hagerty sources suggest that Mercedes-Benz, the company that brought us the first motor car—Carl Benz’s Patent-Motorwagen of 1886—has sold one of its treasured Silver Arrow racing cars for 135 million euros (£115 million; $142M).

If confirmed, it would mean that the allure of one of the German marque’s most significant racing cars has powered nearly three times the value of the Ferrari 250 GTO that sold at Monterey in 2018, and more than twice the rumored $70M (£52M) paid for another GTO private sale in 2018.

Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow Uhlenhaut Coupe rear three-quarter action
James Lipman

The seller, on behalf of Mercedes-Benz, presented around 10 (possibly fewer) carefully selected car collectors who were not only wealthy enough to bid but would satisfy the strict criteria laid down by the German car manufacturer. The company wanted to ensure that any custodian of the Silver Arrows racing car would lavish it with the same care and attention as Mercedes, as well as continue to share the car at events and not sell it on to a third party.

Potential buyers are believed to have been hosted over lunch at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, in Stuttgart with key collectors flying in on private jets on May 6. The grand venue was closed that day for “an event” and is due to open again on May 15.

For the full story and the latest updates, head over to Hagerty Insider.