High society… rare, low mileage 1960 Mercedes-Benz with aristocratic pedigree up for auction
17/06/2025
- A 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL supplied new to the Ninth Earl of Shannon is going under the hammer
- Estimated at £120,000 - £140,000, the 190SL is a rare example and warranted to have covered just 39,900 miles from new
- It will be auctioned by H&H Classics on Wednesday 25th June at the UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire
A stunning 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, supplied new to Richard Boyle, the Ninth Earl of Shannon, and today showing fewer than 40,000 warranted miles, is going under the hammer with H&H Classics.
A rare model, one of just 562 examples built across all right-hand drive markets, it will be auctioned on Wednesday 25th June at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
The Roadster, assumed to have been used at the Earl’s English and Irish estates and almost certainly host to a variety of famous faces during its early years, has been given a guide price of £120,000 - £140,000.
The car was taken off the road in the mid to late 1970s by the Earl and dry stored for three decades before being treated to a four-year, photographically documented, bare metal restoration.
This spectacular example with matching chassis, body and engine numbers, previously benefited from expert attention by marque specialists Hilton & Moss, and Roger Edwards.
Furthermore, the bonnet is also stamped with the body number, indicating that it is original to the car and has never been replaced.
The Ninth Earl of Shannon served as a page at the coronation of George VI in 1937 and has also appeared in no fewer than twenty-seven artworks held by the National Portrait Gallery.
Damian Jones, director at H&H Classics, said: “This 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a very special car due to its rarity, history, condition and low mileage.
“What’s more, it is offered for auction at much less than the cost of comparable renovation today. We’re thrilled to offer it at our Millbrook Sale, which is our first auction at this historic motoring venue.”
It will be offered for sale with factory hardtop, restoration photographs, copy factory order form and history file, while it has an MOT certificate valid until May 2026.
Damian added: “Most recently, the car has benefitted from engine bay detailing and minor cosmetic improvements by the same company that refurbished the right-hand drive 190SL which set a new world record auction price of £226,000 four years ago when we auctioned it.”
Enthusiasts and collectors looking to view or inspect the car in person ahead of its sale can do so by visiting Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire on Tuesday 24th June from midday onwards, and again the following day from 9am. The auction itself will commence at midday on Wednesday 25th when registered bidders can place bids in person, online, via telephone or beforehand by leaving a commission bid.
Further information about the car and all the other entries in the sale can be found online at www.handh.co.uk.
Notes
Established in 1993, H&H Classics is the longest continually trading specialist automotive auction house in the UK and Europe. With centuries of collective market expertise in the classic and collector vehicle industry, H&H Classics prides itself on delivering the highest levels of service to its buyers and sellers, ensuring an experience which is easy and enjoyable.
Over the past 32 years, H&H Classics has achieved world record prices for classic motorcycles, cars, and competition cars such as a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB, 1968 Lotus 49B, 1996 Subaru Impreza WRC, as well as royal cars including Queen Elizabeth II’s Daimler, Prince Phillip’s Lagonda and Princess Anne’s Bentley.
To find out more about H&H Classics, upcoming auctions or for enquiries, please visit www.handh.co.uk
Useful Links
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Pictures
For a full set of high-resolution images which accompany this release, please visit the following Dropbox link.
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A stunning 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL is going under the hammer with H&H Classics at its upcoming Millbrook auction.
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Estimated at £120,000 - £140,000, the 190SL is a rare example and warranted to have covered just 39,900 miles from new.
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