A Rich Owner Abandoned This 80-Mile Mercedes SL For 21 Years After Losing The Keys
A modern classic Mercedes SL with just 80 miles on the clock from new is coming up for auction with a bizarre back-story.
The owner of this 21-year-old SL500 was so filthy rich that when she lost the keys shortly after being given the car as a birthday present, she never bothered to order new ones and the car simply got forgotten. For two decades.
Even more astonishing is that the letter that comes with the car, confirming the car’s history, is written by the owner’s butler. This is, well, unusual. Chris Routledge, CEO of auction house Coys, said:
“This is a car with a fantastic story! Purchased as a birthday present and driven only 80 miles before the owner lost the keys and never drove it again. It even comes with a letter written by the owner’s butler verifying its mileage and its provenance.
“Had she not lost the keys and used it regularly, we estimate it would now be worth between £5,000 and £7,000, but the fact that it has kept such a low mileage and has not been driven in more than twenty years makes it worth between £45,000 and £55,000.
“What happened with the keys remains a mystery but the car comes with new keys for the new owner.”
The 1996 R129 SL is reportedly ‘unblemished’ and forms part of Coys’ Spring Classics auction on Wednesday. Also on offer are several classic Aston Martins and Jaguars, a 1923 Rolls-Royce 20HP, a Lamborghini LM02, a 1989 AC Cobra and a number of supercars from the 1980s and 1990s. The sale is being held at the Royal Horticultural Society in London’s Vincent Square.
Comments
Just 80 miles?! Wow
What if it was a 73… (Thank God it isn’t lol)
That would double or triple the price
20 years on a car park and still shiny and no rust? Wow is that car secretly a volvo?
It probably was a private car park where one of the owner’s butlers takes care of the cars
Hm might wanna get new tires thou
And fluids, and gaskets, and brakes, and fuel, and, well, basically everything that’s not metal or glass.
Even some plastic bits may need replacing, especially those exposed to sunlight for decades.
No Rust, A Volcedes (Volvo And Mercedes Mix) xD
Pity it wasn’t in a barn, it could’ve been a barn find then!
Carparkfind doesn’t have the same ring :/
What an idiot.
well , maybe if he live in my country he can make a custom key after loosing it
Like a screwdriver? Lol
It’s still lost half its value from new. Think how much a Porsche of the same age and condition would be
That is only because the usual media muppets haven’t yet started filming them all saying “Grab one before prices start going up”
MattKimberley what is a Lamborghini LM02? I think you might have meant to write LM-002