Mercedes to start selling classic cars

Mercedes has announced a novel idea that will see classic cars sold directly to the public through a new website run by its museum in Stuttgart.

The website, alltime-stars.com, is up and running and currently is selling everything from an ultra-rare 280kW E60 sedan, to an actual AMG CLK LM that raced at Le Mans in 1998. For vintage car fans there’s even a rare, fully restored, 1929 630 Kompressor.

Three different classes of classics will be sold through the official Mercedes website - Premium, Collectors and Drivers Edition.

Premium Edition cars will come with very low mileage. They’re also the vehicles that will have been fully restored by Mercedes-Benz Classic in Fellbach/Stuttgart.

Collector Edition models, meanwhile, are cars that are still in ‘excellent’ condition but have some patina that, the Museum says, gives them a ‘special character’.

Finally, Drivers Edition covers the vintage and modern classics that people will want to drive rather than store in climate-controlled showrooms - these will always be in ‘excellent’ mechanical condition, but might need some further cosmetic work.

All models sold will have the added advantage of undergoing an extensive 160-point inspection before being offered for sale.

Collectors buying direct from the museum will also benefit from being able to see the cars displayed in the flesh at the museum in Stuttgart (although, not handy for us on this Hemisphere.)

Mercedes says its new classic sales programme will benefit buyers because it guarantees ‘maximum transparency’. Apparently, a team of consultants will work tirelessly to document your future car’s history and identify any non-standard vehicle modifications before handing the car over.

And the price for this service? The stunning 1994 black 6.0-litre V8 E60 AMG that caught our eye will set you back a shocking $287,000, while the ’29 630 Kompressor? That’ll cost you a cool $1.3m. The Le Mans racing CLK LM, meanwhile, is selling for what’s thought to be an undisclosed seven figure sum.