What: 1984 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL 5.0 AMG “Blueberry” Color: : Lapis Blue Metallic (lapisblau; metallic Uni; DB-932; Mercedes-Benz) VIN: WDB1260371A077462 Mileage: 114,294 miles Price Estimate: $150,000 to $200,000 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Deerfield Beach, FL Link: RM Sotheby’s
Vintage Mercedes-Benz AMG’s built long before Mercedes’ own buyout of the firm tend to command a premium by collectors in the know. That statement is true for any pre-buyout AMG, but even amongst those, this Lapis Blue 500 SEL known as “Blueberry” is special.
You see, it was the personal car of AMG North America founder and CEO Richard Buxbaum. Augmentation to the car was done in period under the personal supervision of Hans Werner Aufrecht as a Christmas gift to Richard and his wife Robin back in 1984.
Inside, the car gets extended Orion Grey leather upholstery with custom door cards completed by Gemballa.
The car was driven plenty in period and has logged miles to show for it. That said, it’s also got $120,000 in receipts for mechanical and cosmetic restoration since October 2022.
Obviously this car has a very unique and historic backstory. RM Sotheby’s goes above and beyond to tell that story in detail, so we highly recommend clicking through and digging in. Beyond that, their lot listing includes historic photos, documents, build list, etc. Make sure to check it out.
What: 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG Color: Mercedes-Benz Lapis Blue Metallic (lapisblau; non-metallic Uni; 945U; Mercedes-Benz) VIN: WDB2020331F827875 Mileage: 111,776 km, 69,454 miles Price Estimate: $60,000 to $80,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction 2025, Amelia Island, FL Listing: Link
During the era Mercedes-Benz was producing its first-generation W202 C-Class, special paint colors were less common than the more apparent MANUFAKTUR presence today. Bold colors like the Lapis Blue shade shown here were even less common, except perhaps in Europe where home market offerings were a bit more fanciful.
When it comes to the W202 C43 AMG, only 3,085 of the cars were produced at all. This was the early Mercedes-owned AMG era, and the cars were made worthy of the badge by Stuttgart fitting its 4,266 cc DOHC V8 engine good for 302 hp paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission…. not to mention all the expected braking and suspension upgrades. These cars are often most easily spotted for their subtle bodywork upgrades and more obvious 17-inch Monoblock wheels.
These cars are just becoming classics given their relative production years, not to mention the resurgence of the so-called “rad era”. They’re even more special when you see it’s a rare-at-the-time special order paint in a color as bold as this Lapis Blue hue. Worth noting, there’s a more commonly found Lapis Blue Metallic from Mercedes that is considerably darker.
In period, this C43 was a competitor to the BMW M3 or Audi S4, so you have to wonder the thinking of the buyer who dreamed up this particular specification. As it turns out, the car was ordered via the Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart dealership. That’s literally ground zero when it comes to Mercedes-Benz home town, where Mercedes clientele probably don’t get any more savvy. You have to figure too that the owner of such a car wouldn’t want to be missed by Audi or BMW drivers (much less the Porsche types) while blasting down the unlimited speed zones of the A8 Autobahn between Stuttgart and Münich.
We can draw conclusions, but whatever that buyer was thinking, he or she appears to be the only one thinking of it. This car is believed to be one of one, the only W202 C43 built in that particular bold Sonderlackierung (special-order) shade of Lapis Blue. Inside, that blue was paired with Graphite / Anthracite AMG leather upholstery (code 581A). It’s also reportedly got a long list of factory options.
The car spent most of its life registered in Germany, remaining well-maintained, well-preserved and highly original without any modifications. To prove this, the offering includes documented owner history, the Mercedes-Benz factory data card, associated books and AMG Classic Conversion Certificate.
