This 1927 Mercedes-Benz S Boattail Speedster was once co-owned by two of the Marx brothers and is the actual car used in the legendary "Muroc match race."
As the legend goes, Zeppo Marx got into an argument with dinner guest Phil Berg who owned a Model J Duesenberg. Marx swore his Mercedes would blow the doors off Berg's Duesenberg so they arranged a race at Muroc dry lake in the desert north of Hollywood.
Both owners hired professional drivers to pilot their cars and the bet was $10,000, big money in 1932. The race drew a crowd of over a thousand, many of them big time Hollywood actresses and agents. When it was over, Berg's Duesenberg laid waste to the Marx's Mercedes to the delight of the crowd.
According to Gooding and Co. which will put the car up for auction in August, the Mercedes has never left Southern California and still wears '50s era license plates. It's never been auctioned either, so look for it to fetch big money during the Pebble Beach weekend this summer.
ed124c says:
07:28 AM, 06/ 4/10
Today is vintage car day on Insideline, folks. So don't miss it!
throwback says:
09:46 AM, 06/ 4/10
American muscle rules!! I have never heard this story.
firstwagon says:
07:13 PM, 06/ 5/10
The next long term test car?