.jpg?p=120522_05:21)
.jpg?p=120522_05:22)
.jpg?p=120522_05:23)
.jpg?p=120522_05:24)
.jpg?p=111221_03:51)
Bankers! Theo Paphitis! Lord Sir Alan! DUMP GOLD! BUY 1955 MERCEDES SL LIGHTWEIGHTS!
Yep, it's official*. 1955 lightweight, alloy-bodied Mercedes-Benz SLs are a better investment than gold. In June 2011, one of the 29 road racers sold for $2.5m (£1.6m) through Coys auction house; this weekend, an identical car sold for $4.62m (£2.68m) after commission at Gooding & Company's American sale in Scottsdale, Arizona.
See more pics of the 1955 Mercedes-Benz SL
According to maths, that's an 84.8 per cent increase. Gold, on the other hand, has risen just 3.9 per cent. That's a return of Lots Less. And you don't get to drive around in a Mercedes SL Gullwing for a bit.
Which would be a terrible shame. Based loosely on MB's circa-1952 racer, the 300SL was the fastest production car of its day. It got a tubular spaceframe chassis and, in all-aluminium-panel flavour, was the sportiest and lightweightiest of the SL range - it had 80kg less mass than the standard effort.
This or two Veyrons, TopGear.comniverse? Now read about the new SL
*Not in any way official.
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
swooopy commented on this article
at 03:22 pm on 23 January 2012
Not bad, not bad. Looks better than gold too.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
papaji commented on this article
at 03:24 pm on 23 January 2012
id rather buy two bugatti veyrons but still pretty good for a gullwing
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
anthonyclark commented on this article
at 03:34 pm on 23 January 2012
My mum came out in 1955 she has got a set of gullwing doors too , I wonder if i could get that much for her. what ya think top gear!!
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
derekhenigsmith commented on this article
at 04:25 pm on 23 January 2012
well I think im just gonna blow 4.62 million today for no reason
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
MercedesSLS_AMG commented on this article
at 04:26 pm on 23 January 2012
That's not bad for a 1 of 29 road racing production vehicle.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.