Wanderlust

Category: European Market Finds

  • Market Find: Graphite Grey 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster in RM Sotheby’s Münich Sale

    Market Find: Graphite Grey 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster in RM Sotheby’s Münich Sale

    In a world of neutral cars painted every shade of grey and silver, how are there not more green interiors? In our opinion, a bold-colored interior such as red, blue and especially green take a neutral tone car from forgettable to must-have. It’s on that theme that we’re directing your attention to RM Sotheby’s upcoming Münich auction and this Graphite Grey (graphit grau; non-metallic UNI; DB 190; Mercedes-Benz) over green 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (VIN 198.042.7500672).

    1957 was the first year of production for the 300 SL Roadster, with 554 produced that year. The car is finished in its factory shade of Graphite Grey, paired with reupholstered dark green leather. This roadster is a North american specification car acquired by the Germany-based consignor in 1986.

    More information is provided by RM Sotheby’s, including confirmation that the green interior isn’t original. It reads:

    “A copy of the original delivery card details that chassis 198.042.7500672 was finished by the factory in Graphite Grey, while the interior was trimmed in optional Cream leather. Arriving in the USA on 25 November 1958, a Becker Mexico radio and whitewall tyres were also selected.

    According to Eric Le Moine’s 300 SL registry, chassis 198.042.7500672 was owned on the West Coast by Mr Tom McBurney of Santa Barbara in California. Fittingly for a Roadster, it remained on the state’s coastline, being acquired in 1974 by financier Mr Alfred T Moret in Carlsbad. This example was then bought by The Aumann Collection, who imported the car to Germany in 1986 to add to an illustrious collection.

    Subsequently reupholstered with the current dark green leather, the car is fitted with its matching-numbers body, chassis, and 3-litre straight-six engine. Please note that it appears as though the front chassis crossmember has been replaced at some point in the car’s life, but all other numbers match.

    Further complemented by a history file, this Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster could be returned to its factory colour combination by its next owner. Alternatively, the car is ready to be enjoyed in its current form by virtue of offering the ultimate droptop driving experience.

    Check out more information on the car HERE.

  • Market Find: Rare Ruby Red 1994 Audi RS2 Hits Market in Austria

    Market Find: Rare Ruby Red 1994 Audi RS2 Hits Market in Austria

    At the time of the Audi RS2 Avant built by Porsche for the brand of the four rings, Audi exclusive wasn’t really a fully formed service yet and custom paint, while it occurred, was few and far between. Fortunately, Audi did offer plenty of color options despite the rarity of the Porsche-built Avant, and Ruby Red (rubinrot; pearl effect; X6; Audi) was one of those colors.

    Most enthusiasts, even in North America where the car was never sold from new, are familiar with the RS2 and likely have seen it in more common colors like RS Blue Pearl Effect (M8, now Nogaro Blue), Laser Red (H1), Polar Silver (D1), Ragusa Metallic green (Y7).

    Eleven paint colors were offered in all, and it’s probably surprising that Ruby Red (a.k.a. Rubinrot) wasn’t more popular. It’s not far from Porsche’s Arena Red, another dark metallic red from the 964 and 993 era made famous in the iconic “Kills Bugs Fast” print advertisement.

    Despite the Porsche association and the popularity of Arena Red, not many RS2s were ordered in Ruby Red. So, when one ops up on the internet in what looks like a private party sale (seen here on Autoscout.de) we think it’s worth calling out.

    Notably, this car has reportedly logged 119,000 km (73,943) miles, which appears to be well below the mileage we typically see on RS2 Avants. It also appears to be largely stock, another rare occurrence in the used RS2 market. For collectors, this one would be notable in any color due to these factors.

    Notably, it does appear to show some wear on the driver’s seat grey Alcantara surface. The listing (translated in full below) also indicates a respray by the car’s original owner in Germany. All-in-all though, that’s not much… so long as the notoriously low resolution photos typical on European mass car sale sites like Autoscout are accurate.

    The full listing with translation by Apple can be seen below:

    In the rare original color ruby red
    *Repainting would be done at the previous owner in De
    *Grey/Wise Alcantara Equipment.( In this color / equipment combination there should only be 4 pieces)
    *with Austrian individual approval year 2020, DE first delivery
    *Engine, chassis, brakes ……. Series, no tuning!

    Selling for time reasons because I also ride a motorcycle!
    It’s too bad that it usually just stands, in the last 4 years I haven’t driven 1000 kilometers with it!
    Only recently (2024) a large service would be carried out such as B. timing belt change, engine oil + filter etc…. with invoice.

    First contact only possible by mail and if you are seriously interested you can leave me your phone number! I will then contact you personally by phone or Whatsapp.
    After contacting us, even more photos and a tour video can be sent via WhatsApp.
    Will only be given to real lovers / connoisseurs or collectors who know their way around and appreciate a vehicle!

    Preferred sale in Germany, vehicle should remain in Austria if possible.
    Always remember, the vehicle is already 30 years old (oldtimer) and of course has normal signs of use.

    Please only contact us if you are seriously interested and have a suitable financial background.
    Possible exchange as a down payment if it is an everyday car such as an Audi A1/S1 or A3, from year of construction 2013 with a maximum of 150.tkm (each 2.0 liter engine: from 150hp diesel or from 190hp petrol)
    If you are seriously interested, simply make an offer and if it is reasonable, I will contact you at short notice.
    Mfg Markus

  • Market Find: First Publicly Available 2024 Aston Martin Valour

    Market Find: First Publicly Available 2024 Aston Martin Valour

    So far as we know, the car you see here is the first Aston Martin Valour to hit the open market and come publicly available. We found it via UK Aston Martin specialists Nicholas Mee, and rather unsurprisingly… it is UK spec with right-hand drive.

    Specifically, this car is believed to be one of just 20 UK-specification cars built, Aston Martin’s Q division finished it in Special Caribbean Pearl, a color that is a throwback to the 1960’s era of production. Inside, the car boasts bespoke Onyx Black, Sahara Tan and Alcantara.

    Optional extras added to the specification of this car include; 110th anniversary pack, Bronze anodized front grille and rear strip, Bronze interior brightwork, walnut gear knob, Bronze coloured brake callipers, Carbon Fibre performance seats, Dark Knight carpets, gloss Carbon fibre lower package, gloss carbon fibre side fender vent and Exo blades, gloss Carbon fibre interior upper package, gold under bonnet pack, Q sill pinstripes, Q 21” Bronze tinted wheels, Q Satin Carbon fibre treadplates, Sports steering wheel with Carbon fibre and Alcantara, Havana Tan interior stitching and Tan seatbelts. Further, unique features to this particular car also include, Union Jack Aston Martin wing badges and leather headlining with Aston Martin artwork. A full and detailed specification is available on request.

    The Valour is undoubtedly a future classic, with design highly-inspired by Aston’s one-off Victor. It’s powered by Aston’s 5.2-liter V12 twin turbo boasting 705 bhp and 550 lbs ft of torque. That’s all paired to a 6-speed manual transmission, offering the highest performance paired with an analog experience.

    Check out more photos and an in-depth description on the Nicholas Mee website HERE.

  • Market Find: BMW Individual Bronzit Metallic 323ti Sport Edition

    Market Find: BMW Individual Bronzit Metallic 323ti Sport Edition

    When you think of the auto show circuit, chances are the Geneva Motor Show comes to mind. Before COVID turned the world on its head, Geneva in March was must-see TV for auto enthusiasts around the world. Manufacturers would bring concepts and incredibly high spec builds, all positioned atop 7 to 8 figure booths, in an attempt to gain as many eyeballs as possible. This Tailored Driver is especially special to us because per the seller, it happened to be on BMWs booth in 1998.

    Yes, adjacent to the then new E46 generation 3 series sat this BMW Individual Bronzit Metallic (bronzit; metallic; 139; BMW) 323ti Sport Edition (VIN: unknown). While we can’t seem to find any images to support this claim, we certainly can picture this sitting under the lights, being crawled over by journalists, customers, and engineers from competing companies all the same. BMW Individual Bronzit Metallic really pops here in the most late-90s way possible.

    Since it left that show in Switzerland, this BMW Individual Bronzit Metallic 323ti Sport Edition has covered an impressive 345,000 km (214,000 mi), and so far as we can tell remained in good visible shape and largely unmodified apart from a Supersprint exhaust. With a slightly dipping Euro to USD ratio, the asking price of 9,900EUR (about $10,800 at time of writing) makes it a pretty interesting proposition too.

    If you’re ready to own a piece of history, you can find additional details here.

  • Market Find: Verde Pallido 1974 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

    Market Find: Verde Pallido 1974 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

    We love to watch the European market for cars that become available and are older than 25 years, the latter because that makes them an easy import into the U.S.A. One car that grabbed our attention is this light green 1974 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 at AutoSL.de, a sportscar and exotics dealer with locations in Neuss and Düsseldorf Germany.

    For those unfamiliar with the 308 GT4, it is one of the last remaining “bargains” in the Ferrari space. It shares an engine with the Ferrari 308 made famous by Magnum P.I., but it’s configured as a 2+2 and bodywork by Bertone that seems, at least in profile, influenced by the Lancia Stratos. Interestingly, the Ferrari Dino GT4 is the only Ferrari designed by Bertone from the factory.

    Without the voluptuous curves of the earlier 246 Dino, nor typically the Ferrari badges on European models, nor even the Magnum P.I. product placement, the 308 GT4 tends to be forgotten about, and that is a shame. It is getting noticed though, with Hagerty on-air personality Jason Camisa and Hagerty Driver’s Club Magazine Editor-in-Chief Larry Webster both more recent collector owners of their own GT4.

    In this case, this ’74 green on tan specimen appears to be in incredible shape and has logged 98,000 km (about 60,000 miles), and has had just one owner with full records according to the dealer. What the dealer doesn’t specify is the specific name of this green hue.

    The unique green color on this car is believed to be Verde Pallido, the light green famously sprayed on a Ferrari 250 GTO for Stirling Moss and raced in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans by Innes Ireland and Masten Gregory.

    It’s beautiful and it’s also available. More importantly, as a car older than 25 years, it is easily importable into the U.S.A.

  • Market Find: 1995 BMW M3 Coupe (E36) in Daytona Violet

    Market Find: 1995 BMW M3 Coupe (E36) in Daytona Violet

    The E36 generation of BMW M3 is a modern young timer classic, meaning any clean and modestly-miled up specimen is likely to draw a premium. Throw in special paint such as BMW Individual Daytona Violet (daytonaviolett; metallic; 283; BMW) and now you have something extra special. Take for example this 1995 M3 Coupe we’ve just run across.

    There’s something about the E36. It lacks the 80s-tastic box flares of the E30 M3, or the truly unique M3 cues of the E46. Instead, like other performance cars of the early 90s (looking at you Porsche 964, Audi S2 or Volkswagen Golf VR6 Highline), it’s understated enough that casual observers might have a hard time picking it out of a lineup of lesser yet well-kitted 3 series models. Well… maybe lesser models in normal colors.

    This specific M3 Coupe isn’t just interesting because of its spec. If you decide you want it, it’s also going to be interesting to get transact upon. Why? Well, it’s located not far from Cannes, France. So, you’d have to import it.

    On the downside, it’s a U.S. spec car meaning less horsepower. On the upside, U.S. spec cars tend to hold their value better when resold in the American market, and we’re guessing any importation duties were paid back in 1995 when BMW brought the car into the U.S.A. in the first place. You don’t have to pay those duties a second time.

    Not paying a second round of duties is a bonus you wouldn’t enjoy on a European spec car, though we doubt it’ll cover your shipping. You’d also have to find someone to import it at the very least. For that we’d suggest Orchid Euro in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Orchid specializes in importation of cars older than 25 years, uses automotive transport vessels rather than risking it shipping in containers, and has a network of people in Europe who can get eyes on and even handle transport to the port of Emden, Germany from which they ship. That all comes with a fee, but we’ve found them to be reasonable and have used their services ourselves.

    So, interested in chasing this M3 down? You can find it listed HERE.

    Editor’s note: while not a BMW Individual build, Daytona Violet was a one year only color, with just 519 sold in the US. As such, we found it a fitting addition to our records, and a vehicle well worth featuring.

  • Euro Market Find: Amaranth Violet Porsche 968 Clubsport

    Euro Market Find: Amaranth Violet Porsche 968 Clubsport

    Even though we’re primarily a U.S.-based publication and tend to focus on North American cars, we occasionally pivot to other markets. That might be to cal out a particularly unique color or compelling specification, or in the case of our Market Find series, it might be to call out a car that is either older than 25 years (so an easy import) or on the NHTSA list of importable cars. In the case of this purple 1995 968 Clubsport, it’s both older than 25 years and also a desirable model in an even more unique Paint to Sample color.

    First, a little background. America did get the Porsche 968 coupé and cabriolet, however the more aggressively sporting Clubsport model never came here. And while the engine was largely the same as the U.S. model (think 964 RS America), it got a host of upgrades and lightening measures in order to make it more of a turn key track weapon with practically a 50:50 weight distribution. Since attaining 25 year status, 968 Clubsports have begun finding their way into the U.S., and Paint to Sample specimens tend to be the preferred lot.

    When we consider Paint to Sample on the 968 Clubsport, we tend to see of that era’s Carrera Cup colors. Think Maritime Blue, Ruby Stone, Mint Green, or Speed Yellow. This one painted Amaranth Violet (L39D) may be the first purple 968 Clubsport we’ve seen.

    This car was a Belgian-delivered example featuring the standard seats in black cloth, multi-function steering wheel, rear seats with backrests, basic alarm system and power door windows and mirrors. The car has logged 178,464 km (110,892 miles). It’s currently for sale in Belgium at Autos-David.be with a price of €44999.

  • Market Find: Sea Green BMW Individual 328i Convertible

    Market Find: Sea Green BMW Individual 328i Convertible

    To summarize a point often made during these early days of Tailored Driver– green is good. When paired with a price of entry that’s not completely out of most budgets, it’s even better. But for this one, you’ll need to bring a boat.

    Finished in BMW Individual Sea Green Metallic (seagrün; metallic; 393; BMW) and paired with green leather seats and matching soft top, this BMW triples down on a good thing. While not the full ITB experience of a euro-market M3, this 328i sports the M appearance package and a manual transmission which will be a lot easier to maintain properly with parts easily found stateside.

    At time of writing, this Tailored Driver has an asking price of €16,999 and is located in Hamburg, Germany. At current exchange rates, that’s about $18,750 plus shipping and handling.

    Check out the full listing on Mobile.de.

  • Only Fully Aluminum-Bodied Aston Martin V12 Zagato in Existence Goes on Sale

    Only Fully Aluminum-Bodied Aston Martin V12 Zagato in Existence Goes on Sale

    • Incredibly rare car is also one of only two pre-production coupes built from a limited run of just 64 models
    • Owned by Aston Martin until 2016, then bought by a high-profile collector, it has been the subject of a full recommissioning by the Gaydon-based supercar maker
    • Beautiful aluminium body features traditional Zagato styling cues, including a ‘double-bubble’ roof and short overhangs
    • Finished in Aston Martin Racing Green and currently for sale at Bell Sport & Classic’s dedicated showroom in Hertfordshire

    Markyate, Hertfordshire, UK –  Bell Sport & Classic is delighted to offer for sale an incredibly rare, limited run Aston Martin: a one-of-one fully aluminium-bodied V12 Zagato.

    Originally unveiled at the 2011 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DB4GT Zagato, the V12 Zagato went on to win the ‘Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes’ before going into a limited production run of just 64 cars.

    All V12 Zagatos are special, but the model at Bell Sport & Classic is unique. Not only is it one-of-two pre-production versions, built to tour the world as show cars for prospective clients at exclusive events, but while all other cars in the limited run feature a hand-crafted aluminium and carbon skin, this car’s body is made solely from the lightweight metal.

    Owned by Aston Martin itself up until 2016, this right-hand-drive example was due to go to Zagato to form part of the design house’s own collection. However, a very special Aston Martin client – and the car’s only owner – persuaded the company to let him purchase it, and before it was delivered to him, underwent a full recommissioning.

    Originally painted Titanium Grey, it was refinished in Aston Martin Racing Green and the interior retrimmed, while Aston Martin engineers are also rumoured to have fettled the 5.9-litre V12 engine to give it a little more power than the standard car’s 510bhp. Under the bonnet, it also features the original plaque denoting its pre-production model status.

    Featuring design elements seen on previous cars from the Milanese carrozzeria such as the ‘double-bubble’ roof and short body overhangs, inside the hand-trimmed leather features the quilted Zagato motif, which is carried across the door cards and seats accompanied by a matching leather bag set. It also comes with a book detailing its recommission, further adding to its appeal.

    Tim Kearns, Managing Director, Bell Sport and Classic said: “We are very pleased to offer for sale this truly unique Aston Martin V12 Zagato. All of the cars in the limited run of 64 are, of course, very special indeed but this outstanding example is one of only two pre-production cars and the only fully aluminium-bodied model ever made. It has been treated to a meticulous recommissioning by Aston Martin itself and would be a wonderful addition to any collection.”

    About Bell Sport & Classic
    Bell Sport & Classic brings together a highly experienced world-class team to offer unrivalled expertise and authenticity across the sales, service and restoration of the world’s most revered classic and modern classic supercars, specialising in Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

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