Rare, barely-driven Mercedes 1000 SEL Autosalon 2000 Super Sport seeks new owner

RM Sotheby’s will be holding an auction in late August dedicated, among other things, to this rare Mercedes 1000 SEL Autosalon 2000 Super Sport, which emerged in 1987 and still has only around 26,200 kilometers (16,300 miles) on its odometer.

Powering the car is a 5.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 with undisclosed specs. Depending on the version, it could produce between 242 and 300 horsepower (180 and 224 kilowatts). The torque should lie in the range of 390 – 455 Newton-meters (288 – 336 pound-feet).

The unique build is based on the Mercedes 560 SEC, which comes priced between U.S. $60,000 and $70,000 even now. The tuner shop – Autosalon 2000 in Miami – no longer exists.

On the outside, the luxury vehicle sports a rather controversial metallic widebody kit. Actually, we are told it was perceived as such even when it premiered, so this is not the case of being unable to appreciate a retro look. The blinds-like front grille, Ronal alloy wheels finished in white and the ornamental cover between the taillights look rather odd at best.

In turn, the interior is a work by Belgian tuner Carat by Duchatelet. It has its merits (such as the foam-white leather trim mixed with burl) and downsides (such as the weird instrument dials and the ultra-cheap-looking Kenwood radio).

Despite the abovementioned issues, this retro piece may end up fetching a tidy sum at the auction, especially since its future owner will be able to tune it to perfection without too much sweat.