Teutonic beauties rule at Sotheby’s Munich auction

For collectors with a personal interest in German machines – and who may have a stash of frequent-flyer miles to cash in – it’s a good idea to check out a leading auction of beautiful cars will take place in November at RM Sotheby’s in Munich.

The event, the third of its kind, will feature more than 40 classics, mainly selected by brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche And BMW. There is even a Volkswagen 1951 Beetle “Split Window” bug as part of the lineup, as well as a handful of BMW motorcycles.

The sale, sponsored by RM Sotheby’s, is scheduled for November 23 at the historic Motorworld location in Munich. The lots span most decades of the 20th century. Centuryfrom 1897 to 1965, although historians might note that there is also an 1897 Benz Velo (chassis number 610!) that is expected to sell for at least $200,000.

Don’t ask us to pick favorites, but here’s a selection of some of the key offerings:

1923 Mercedes 2.0-liter Indianapolis Sports Racer.
One of the four examples prepared by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft for the 1923 Indianapolis 500, this was Paul Daimler’s last masterpiece before leaving the company. It is estimated to sell for between $4.2 million and $5.5 million.

Porsche 550 Spyder from 1955 by Wendler.
An important example of one of Porsche’s most important and famous competition models, this example was raced in a number of SCCA events in the United States during its period. It features a matching-numbers engine and transmission. It is estimated that the car will sell for between $3.75 million and $4.6 million.

Two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs, one a 1957 Roadster and the other a 1955 Gullwing.
The Gullwing is presented in the factory configuration of Silver Gray Metallic over optional Red hide; estimated at $1.55 million. The 300 SL The Roadster is from the first year of Roadster production, is finished in the original Graphite Grey over dark green leather color and still features the same bodywork, chassis and straight-six engine (estimated value: $1.05 million).

1965 Aston Martin DB5.
The only example to come from a non-German brand. This particular car is a rare left-hand drive export model that was delivered new to California and left the factory with Autumn Gold over a beige leather interior. Offered with a copy of the original Aston Martin build description, this example features the rare Normalair air conditioning as an optional extra; $830,000 to $940,000 and is offered without a reserve price.

1951 Volkswagen Beetle ‘Split-Window’‘, which is a rare and early example of the sought-after ‘Split-Window’ Type 1 Beetle. Estimate: $22,000 – $33,000.

For an overview of the complete list, please visit Sotheby’s website here.