A rare 1923 Mercedes Typ 122 sports car is set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby's auction in Munich. This exceptional vehicle is one of only four ever made, specifically designed for the legendary 500-mile race in Indianapolis. It represents the last engineering feat of Paul Daimler before his departure from the family company.
The car, previously owned by Formula 1 mogul Bernie Ecclestone, features a unique four-cylinder, 2-liter engine. Its design includes a cooling jacket and cylinder head welded to the cylinders, along with a three-bearing crankshaft mounted on rolling bearings. Notably, it boasts dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, producing an impressive 150 horsepower thanks to a Roots supercharger.
This particular chassis, numbered 26913, served as a backup during the race. After a mishap with the lead driver, Max Seiler, his nephew Karl Seiler took the wheel and managed to finish eighth after driving 320 miles.
Following the race, the car changed hands multiple times, including ownership by renowned Japanese collector Yoshiyuki Hayashi and later, Bernie Ecclestone. Currently owned by German collector Dieter Aumann, the vehicle underwent an engine restoration by Capricorn Engineering in 2011. While the body has been reconstructed, the original body remains intact and is included in the auction lot.
RM Sotheby's estimates the sale price of this extraordinary Mercedes to be between €3.8 million and €5 million.