Vintage car that survived World War 2 hits auction for £770k after spending 50 years on display in a museum

A RARE vintage car smuggled retired of the Soviet Union aft being hidden from the Nazis is acceptable to fetch £770,000 astatine auction.

The Special-Roadster-Style 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K spent 5 decades connected show successful a Danish depository aft surviving the demolition of World War II.

The conveyance underwent important rebuilding and has present returned to its archetypal glory.

This stunning classical is 1 of lone 342 models ever built and has a rich, fascinating history.

Originally suffering terrible harm during the war, it was aboriginal purchased successful the 1960s by Baron J.O. Raben-Levetzau, the proprietor of Denmark’s Aalholm Automobile Museum.

The Baron commissioned a afloat restoration of the car’s damaged body, wherever it became a prima grounds for 50 years earlier the museum’s closure successful 2012.

The car was subsequently bought by a backstage collector who oversaw a meticulous seven-year refurbishment.

The enactment paid off, arsenic the conveyance went connected to triumph 4 best-in-show awards, earning accolades from car enthusiasts, including features by renowned TV personalities Jay Leno and Dona.

Now, the car is up for auction again, boasting a 5.1-litre M24 inline-eight engine, producing 160 horsepower with a roots-type supercharger, and a four-speed manual transmission.

Despite being 90 years old, it has lone 43,000 miles connected the clock, making it an irresistible portion for collectors.

Finished successful striking burgundy with tan leather upholstery and a acheronian brownish convertible top, the 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500 K is not lone a testament to German engineering but besides a portion of history.

Luxury Auto News described the conveyance arsenic “an exquisite blend of vintage elegance and mechanical excellence.”

Hosting the auction, Bring a Trailer highlighted the car’s resilience and singular travel done time.

The institution said: “The car survived WWII, though its assemblage was severely damaged.

"Thanks to a implicit restoration successful the 1960s and again successful caller years, it stands contiguous arsenic a portion of automotive art.”

With specified an exceptional backstory and restoration, this Mercedes-Benz is expected to seizure the attraction of collectors worldwide, solidifying its spot arsenic 1 of the astir iconic and invaluable pre-war vehicles.

The Mercedes, which boasts a 5.4litre engine, was antecedently sold for $6.6million (£5.3million) astatine an auction successful Arizona, United States.

A spokesperson for auctioneers RM Sotheby's said: "The 540 K Special Roadster is regarded by galore arsenic the precocious constituent of the classical epoch among German automobiles.

"It reflected the restless pursuit of perfection by Mercedes-Benz's engineers, technicians, craftsmen, and coachbuilders.

"It is among the astir instantly recognisable, valuable, and desirable of each automobiles built during the classical era, and acquiring 1 is an instant people of discerning sensation and prestige for immoderate collector.

"It has a fantastic communicative and is an fantabulous restoration.
"We are delighted with the terms it achieved."