• Sold new in Germany
• Resident in Romania for over 60 years
• Professionally restored in the USA in the early 1990s
• Former participant on the Mille Miglia retrospective
• Present ownership since 2003
• Recently recommissioned by Jim Stokes Workshops Ltd.

We have Emil Jellinek to thank for the existence of the 'Mercedes' marque. Jellinek, a wealthy Leipzig-born businessman, was an admirer of the cars of Gottlieb Daimler, and had won the touring car class at the La Turbie hill climb in 1899 at the wheel of one of Daimler's creations. Jellinek began selling Daimlers to wealthy enthusiasts on the French Riviera, and it was the death of Wilhelm Bauer at the wheel of one of these cars that prompted Jellinek to demand something better. Bauer had crashed while competing in the 1900 La Turbie hill climb, and Jellinek believed that the Daimler's top-heavy design had been a major contributing factor. He demanded something with a lower centre of gravity and commissioned the pioneering manufacturer to construct a new car that had to be light, fast, and beautiful, backing his proposal by paying up front for 36 cars at a total cost of 550,000 gold marks. "I don't want a car for today or tomorrow," he is quoted as saying, "it will be the car of the day after tomorrow." Jellinek registered the trademark in 1902, naming the 1901 Mercedes 35hp after his daughter, Mercedes.

At the end of the First World War, both Daimler and its rival Benz went back to producing cars. Trading conditions in the early 1920s, though, were extremely difficult: the war had left Germany's economy in ruins and there was rampant inflation. Of the 86 German motor car factories operating in 1924, only 19 were in existence three years later. If the two great rivals were to survive, it would have to be in partnership. On 1st July 1926, Daimler and Benz completed their merger, the two companies having paved the way with a technical co-operation agreement in 1924. By this time, Paul Daimler, founder Gottlieb's son and the company's Chief Engineer, had moved to Horch, his place being taken by Professor Ferdinand Porsche. Like his predecessor, Porsche was an advocate of forced induction, and although he would leave Daimler-Benz in 1928, his legacy was a range of supercharged Mercedes-Benz cars that are the stuff of legend.

Building on their experience of forced induction, which they had first applied to aero engines during WWI, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft had introduced the world's first supercharged production cars, the 6/25/40hp and 10/40/65hp, at the 1921 Berlin Automobile Show. A brace of overhead-camshaft fours, the newcomers displaced 1,568 and 2,614cc respectively. (The three figures refer to nominal rated horsepower, horsepower un-blown and horsepower with blower engaged respectively).

Carrying cabriolet coachwork, chassis number '27241' was sold new in Germany on 9th November 1924 and then shipped to Romania. Seized by the authorities in the 1950s, the Mercedes remained in a Romanian museum for the next 30-or-so years before being retrieved by the first owner's son and returned to Germany circa 1989. In 1991 the car was sold to Mr Curtis Graf of Irving, Texas, USA. Mr Graf had the Mercedes professionally restored from the ground upwards and drove it in various events including 'The Great American Race' in 1991 and 'Mille Miglia of Colorado Grande' in 1992.

The car's next owner, noted Mercedes collector Mr Rolf Meyer of Germany, purchased it in the late 1990s and subsequently participated with the car in the 2000 edition of the Mille Miglia retrospective and, before doing so, had the engine overhauled by his mechanic. Mahle pistons were installed and the crankshaft, oil pump and valves replaced with new components. It should be noted that the carburettor, (larger) supercharger and ignition system are not original, while the gearbox and (repaired) radiator are the car's original components.

At some time the original cabriolet body had been replaced with the two-seater sports body the car carries today, which was patterned on an actual 1924 Sportwagen and is similar to that of the sports model in the Stuttgart museum. Finished in white with black hood, the body is mounted on the original chassis, which has been shortened. Other notable features include alternator electrics, a modern air filter, a cartridge-type oil filter, twin electric cooling fans, and a Hadco distributor.

Tom Scott Senior purchased the Mercedes at the Artcurial auction in Paris, France in February 2003. Kept on static display as part of the owner's private collection of fine Mercedes-Benz motor cars, this 10/40/65 has recently been recommissioned by Jim Stokes Workshops and comes with their detailed report and invoices totalling £5,428. Works undertaken included changing the oils, coolant, and the battery. JSW's report states: "The vehicle drove OK, both the clutch and the gearbox are operating correctly. Caution must be taken due to the poor braking efficiency." JSW were pleased that the car was brought into operational condition with little difficulty, while listing further works that may be required to meet full and frequent road use. JSW would be pleased to advise the successful purchaser on such matters.

Accompanying paperwork includes a copy of the 2003 auction catalogue description and invoice; copy Texas Certificate of Title; history from Texas Motor Works; a selection of restoration photographs; old German Fahrzeugbrief; and a FIVA Identity Card. The Lot will also be subject to the reduced import rate of 5% should it remain in the UK.

An incredibly rare sight in period and even rarer today, the 10/40/65 represents the genesis of the Mercedes Kompressor motor car.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.