It will be a very busy weekend for RM Sotheby's in two week's time as the auctioneer will not only stage its traditional, and now three day Monterey sale but will also offer this McLaren F1 in a special online, sealed-bid auction. Delivered new to England, this two-owner machine is the only one fitted with BMW Z1 Roadster derived headlights as part of an experiment to improve night-time visibility. Not seen in public since 2012, chassis 059 is offered from the Pinnacle Portfolio collection.
The first day of the Monterey Auction is reserved for the Masterworks of Design collection, which comprises of close to 50, predominantly pre-War cars, many of which have not been seen for many years. That is certainly the case for the trio of Mercedes-Benz 540 Ks featured today. With a $9 - $12 million estimate, the most valuable of these straight-eight engined machines is this Spezial Roadster. It was sold new to the King of Afghanistan and today is one of three known to exist with a the long-tail, covered spare tyre bodystyle. Chassis 154075 joined the Masterworks of Design collection in the early 1990s and has survived in remarkably original condition. Fitted with the standard Cabriolet A body, the second 540 K featured today retains all of its major components and was only lightly restored. A right-hand drive example, 130941 should sell over $2 million. Even rarer is this Lancefield Drophead Coupe as it is the only known Lancefield bodied 540 K to have survived. It features a distinct disappearing top and like the other two has been part of the same collection for around 30 years. Chassis 169317 would be an excellent candidate for a concours-winning restoration as it retains all its major components and there is also a wealth of period information available.

Enjoy the links:

1998 McLaren F1 (059)

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster (154075)

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Lancefield Drophead Coupe (169317)

1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A (130941)