Owners have consigned two famed and supercharged pre-war cars to Bonhams’ sixth annual Scottsdale auction. A 1928 Mercedes-Benz Type S 26/120/180 sports tourer with coachwork by Erdmann & Rossi and a Zagato-bodied 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 gran sport spider have been added to the docket for the sale scheduled for January 19 at the Westin Kierland resort.
“Authentic and original, these exceptional models represent the finest automobiles of their era,” Bonhams said in its news release.
“We are honored to have been selected to represent these important cars at auction,” said Rupert Banner, vice president for motoring for Bonhams’ U.S. efforts. “Both the Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo models are tremendously desirable and rarely come up for public sale, so this represents a very uncommon opportunity.”
Ferdinand Porsche was head of design at Mercedes when the 1928 Type S was developed and produced.
“It is a masterstroke of mechanical art and, being both sporty and elegant, is an optimum multi-purpose luxury vehicle that when new represented the pinnacle of automotive achievement,” Bonhams reported.
“With an original body and matching engine, this exquisite convertible – chassis number 35323 – has been featured in numerous books about Mercedes-Benz and is a multiple Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance prize winner, including First in Class. Soon to celebrate its 90th anniversary, the relevance the Type S model commands today is testament to its enduring excellence.”
Bonhams noted that the 1931 Alfa is “one of a very few that can claim known ownership from new.”
Chassis 10814358 “is well known in Alfa circles and, as a model, famous throughout the world as one of the definitive sporting cars of all time,” the auction house added. “Additionally, this car has the distinction of having been raced in Switzerland in the 1940s and ‘50s.
“Bearing the pedigree of two legendary automotive powerhouses, Alfa Romeo and Zagato, it’s no wonder why this Italian Spider – nimble, fast, striking and refined – is so sought after.”
