A 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for a world record $3.7 million as the top result at the Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 auction.
A single-owner, 1,380-km 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for a sensational €3,143,400 ($3,709,212) at the Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 Sale to almost double the auction world-record price for this popular classic car. A higher mileage 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing from the same owner sold for a more conventional $1,195,576. The most-expensive car in the sale – a Le Mans participating 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB4/ Daytona Group IV – failed to sell.
Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 Sale
The fifth Artcurial Le Mans Classic car auction was held on 7 July 2018 during the Le Mans historic classic cars racing weekend.
Artcurial earned €12.6 million ($14.7 million) with a sell through rate of 58% from around hundred lots on offer. Four world auction records were set.
The Le Mans participating 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB4/ Daytona Group IV, estimate: €6,5 – 7,5 million / $8 – 9,3 million, and 2012 Aston Martin One-77 Q-Edition (est. 1.9M – 2.3M €) failed to sell.
Top Results at the Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018
The ten highest priced paid the Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 were as follows:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Price (€) | |
| 1 | 1963 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster | 3,709,212 | 3,143,400 |
| 2 | 1956 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,195,576 | 1,013,200 |
| 3 | 1975 | Lamborghini LP400 Countach Periscopio | 1,153,332 | 977,400 |
| 4 | 1968 | Lamborghini Miura P400 | 984,592 | 834,400 |
| 5 | 1970 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider Conversion | 698,238 | 584,100 |
| 6 | 2014 | Mercedes Benz SLS GT AMG Roadster final edition | 654,074 | 554,300 |
| 7 | 2014 | Mercedes Benz SLS GT AMG Coupe final edition | 576,666 | 488,700 |
| 8 | 1966 | Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 | 506,338 | 429,100 |
| 9 | 1970 | Dino 246 GTL | 351,640 | 298,000 |
| 10 | 2015 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL 63 AMG Hamilton edition | 302,434 | 256,300 |
Top Mercedes-Benz Results at Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018
Five of the top ten results at the Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 sale were for Mercedes Benz cars:
World Record 1963 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster
The top result at the Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 car auction was a new world record €3,143,400 ($3,709,212) paid for a 1963 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster. This magnificent result almost doubled the previous record for a 300 SL Roadster – $2,035,000 paid at Gooding Amelia Island 2014.
More than 60 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadsters have sold for over a million dollar since 2014. Prices were weaker in 2016 and 2017 than in previous years and although several sold for just above a million dollar early in 2018, at least three Roadsters have sold for above $1.5 million this year.
To achieve such a result the Roadster must of course have been special. This 1963 Mercedes Benz 300 SL is highly original, as it has been driven only 1,380 km since new. It is one of only 57 produced in the final year of the Roadster’s production. Its sole owner was a Swedish dentist, who died intestate in 2011 and the car was sold by the Swedish government for a charity.
See: 2018 Artcurial Le Mans Classic Mercedes Benz 300 SL Announcement for more on the car and its owner.
1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing
A 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing from the same owner as the Roadster sold for a more conventional $1,195,576 – a fine result and a reminder to owner of Roadsters with more than 1,380 km on the clock that their cars are not suddenly worth three times more just because a prime example sold for $3.7 million.
This Gullwing had a relatively low 62,000 km on the clock. It started life in Portugal before being imported to Sweden.
Modern Mercedes Benz SLs at Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018
Three modern Mercedes Benz sports cars were also among the top ten results at the Artcurial Le Mans Classic 2018 auction. A world record price of $689,238 was paid for a 2014 Mercedes Benz SLS GT AMG Roadster final edition – arguably the spiritual successor of the classic 300 SL Roadster.
The Le Mans participating 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB4/ Daytona Group IV, a 2012 Aston Martin One-77 Q-Edition (est. 1.9M – 2.3M €), and several high-end Porsches failed to sell at the auction.
