Interesting info - Mercedes 540K expected to set auction record

[sjordan2]

Interesting tidbits of information about the Von Krieger 540K coming up for auction at Pebble Beach this Sunday. For example, Jay Leno says he'll be there, but won't bid on Nazi-era German cars.

1936 Mercedes could break record at Pebble Beach auction | Auto news | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

[JunkPile]

Nice ride. That picture looks like one of Harry's "Real or Model" topics

[sjordan2]

Nice ride. That picture looks like one of Harry's "Real or Model" topics

Actually, it looks like Harry's Pocher 540K (if he ever finishes it).

[Harry P.]

Actually, it looks like Harry's Pocher 540K (if he ever finishes it).

Yeah, yeah... I'll finish it one day.

BTW... Jay Leno won't bid on Nazi-era German cars? Mercedes-Benz was building cars long before the Nazis came to power, they built cars while the Nazis were in power, and they continued to build cars long after the Nazis were history. I like Jay Leno, but I don't see why he links M-B to the Nazis.

[charlie8575]

What a cool story to go along with the car, too.

Charlie Larkin

[sjordan2]

Yeah, yeah... I'll finish it one day.

BTW... Jay Leno won't bid on Nazi-era German cars? Mercedes-Benz was building cars long before the Nazis came to power, they built cars while the Nazis were in power, and they continued to build cars long after the Nazis were history. I like Jay Leno, but I don't see why he links M-B to the Nazis.

It's hard to say how "willing" Daimler Benz and just about every other German industrial company was, but they certainly were major contributors to Hitler's war machine. And, in the automotive part of their business, they provided many staff, parade and personal cars for Reich members. Mercedes executives Uhlenhaut and Porsche served a couple of years in prison after the war. It's even claimed that VW solicited slave labor from the Nazis.

But I would grant this particular car special dispensation if I were Leno. Countess Von Krieger was dating a Jewish man, worked to protect him, fled to Switzerland with the car to escape the Nazis, and then took it with her to New York. The car sat in a Connecticut barn for decades.

But if Mercedes' Nazi participation is the problem, there are plenty of cool pre-Nazi and postwar Mercedes to collect. Of course, if people were to boycott products from nations with dastardly deeds in their history (including the U.S.) nobody would buy anything from anybody and commerce would cease to exist. For example, Ming vases are highly prized collector's items and go for millions, never mind that the Ming dynasty was known for brutality and slaughter.

In any case, SOMEBODY is going to spend $15 to $20 million for this car.

Edited August 18, 2012 by sjordan2

[crazyjim]

Nazi's? Give me a break. What about VW, Mitsubichi, Sony, etc., etc. That's a nice looking car.

[sak]

Yeah, yeah... I'll finish it one day.

BTW... Jay Leno won't bid on Nazi-era German cars? Mercedes-Benz was building cars long before the Nazis came to power, they built cars while the Nazis were in power, and they continued to build cars long after the Nazis were history. I like Jay Leno, but I don't see why he links M-B to the Nazis.

Perhaps he dont got a problem with the car but perhaps with who drove it. Adolf Hitler might have had the most badass car of all time but it sure would feel creepy driving it.

Edited August 18, 2012 by sak

[sjordan2]

Perhaps he dont got a problem with the car but perhaps with who drove it. Adolf Hitler might have had the most badass car of all time but it sure would feel creepy driving it.

Read above about Countess Von Krieger, who owned the car. Not exactly a Nazi.

[Maindrian Pace]

The 540K is certainly my favorite German car of that era, and I don't think that Leno would mind adding it to his collection. He has a lot of money, but who is to say how much he has available? 15-20 million is a lot of cabbage, even to the wealthy, and he just took a substantial pay cut. He might have to off a few Duesenbergs to buy this, and he may well like those better.

-MJS

[sjordan2]

The results are in: The car sold for much less than anticipated at $11.77 million. The GT40 Mk1 Gulf car set a new American car auction record at $11 million.

Edited August 20, 2012 by sjordan2

[fumi]

It's hard to say how "willing" Daimler Benz and just about every other German industrial company was, but they certainly were major contributors to Hitler's war machine. And, in the automotive part of their business, they provided many staff, parade and personal cars for Reich members.

Don't forget Ford and GM.

But if Mercedes' Nazi participation is the problem, there are plenty of cool pre-Nazi and postwar Mercedes to collect. Of course, if people were to boycott products from nations with dastardly deeds in their history (including the U.S.) nobody would buy anything from anybody and commerce would cease to exist. For example, Ming vases are highly prized collector's items and go for millions, never mind that the Ming dynasty was known for brutality and slaughter.

No, Ming dynasty was not known for brutality and slaughter. That would be Yuan dynasty, the one before Ming, when Mongolians ruled China.

[Jantrix]

The results are in: The car sold for much less than anticipated at $11.77 million. The GT40 Mk1 Gulf car set a new American car auction record at $11 million.

The idea of having that much disposable income is mind boggling to me, much less spending it on a car you can't drive.

[Harry P.]

The idea of having that much disposable income is mind boggling to me, much less spending it on a car you can't drive.

Cars like that aren't bought to be driven, but as investments, like fine art.

[drball]

I do not get it either. I have several jewish friends that drive German cars with no problem and the Jewish owned company I worked for had no problem purchasing process equipment from companies that contributed machinery to the Nazi war effort.

[Junkman]

Perhaps he dont got a problem with the car but perhaps with who drove it. Adolf Hitler might have had the most badass car of all time but it sure would feel creepy driving it.

Adolf Hitler didn't have a car at all. The cars he used belonged to the motorpool of the Reichskanzlei and would have been available to any German Chancellor, exactly like politicians before and after him had/have cars at their disposal.

In fact, Hitler did not like the 770Ks and G4s. He found them way to ostentatious and voiced this at numerous occasions.