120-Year-Old Mercedes Goes on Sale

Coming this March, Gooding & Co is all set to create a stir in the classic car aficionado circles by auctioning a truly extraordinary item. The item in question is none other than the 1903 Mercedes-Simplex, often hailed as the very first supercar in recorded history. As we speak, only five of these iconic automobiles are known to have withstood the test of time.

A prized possession of Alfred Harmsworth, the founder of the Daily Mail newspaper, this vintage beauty came with a $10,000 price tag back in 1903. In today’s economic terms, that translates to a staggering $350,000. For the better part of six decades, the car enjoyed a place of honor at the National Motor Museum of Great Britain.

The Mercedes-Simplex was in production from 1902 to 1905, under the watchful eyes of its designer, Wilhelm Maybach. The car was equipped with a nine-liter engine that had the capability of delivering a solid 60 horsepower.

The car was not just a marvel to look at, but also performed impressively on highways as well as rally tracks. It even went on to bag several racing titles. Its groundbreaking design and performance found a fan in German Emperor Wilhelm II, who was among those who admired the car that went on to set the benchmark for supercars.

It is currently speculated that this coveted lot might fetch more than ten million dollars, thereby securing its place as the most expensive car in history. If this happens, it will break the current record held by the 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6, which was auctioned for an incredible $9,245,000.