A Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL rebuilt by Pininfarina with a new coupe body is expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000 at an auction in August, despite its far-from-ideal condition.
The German manufacturer never produced the 300 SEL as a coupe. According to unofficial reports, an industrialist from Netherlands asked Mercedes-Benz to produce just one such car as an exception. The company declined, and he ultimately decided to hand his 1969-model-year sedan over to Pininfarina for a complete overhaul.
The Italian coachbuilder came up with a new body design for it including sportier-looking front, rear and pillars. The team that worked on the project fabricated the stainless-steel parts by hand.
The stock 6.3-liter V8 rated at 250 PS (247 hp / 183 kW) was allowed to remain as is.
Rumor has it that the man who ordered the coupe paid 400,000 Dutch Gulden for it, which roughly translates into just under 1,000,000 USD in modern currency. He ended up barely ever driving it, though, preferring to be chauffeured in other cars. The 300 SEL Coupe will be sold as is – unrestored, with all wear-and-tear marks, scratches and corrosion in place.