AUTOMOTIVE LEGACY: The Tom Scott Collection of Mercedes, Benz and Mercedes-Benz

Destined for the Goodwood Festival of Speed sale this July with a chance to preview the headline motor car in Paris

LONDON, ENGLAND – January 17, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Debuting in Paris this February, Bonhams|Cars is delighted to announce an impressive collection of Mercedes, Benz and Mercedes-Benz motor cars. The Tom Scott Collection comprises nine motor cars held for over three decades in the same family and preserved to the highest standards. The focus of the collection is almost exclusively Mercedes, Benz, and Mercedes-Benz, showcasing Tom Scott’s interest in this historic marque. The collection is expected to realise in excess of £4,500,000.

The collection will be offered at Bonhams|Cars’ renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed sale in the UK on Friday 12 July, 2024. Highlighting this remarkable selection is the 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 S-Type Tourer. Enthusiasts and potential buyers will have the unique opportunity to preview this gem in Paris this February. The S-Type will first be showcased at Bonhams|Cars ‘Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris’ Sale in the Grand Palais Éphémère from 31 January – 1 February, then at Rétromobile, Paris’ annual classic car show, at Bonhams|Cars’ stand (located @ 1J051) from 1 – 4 February.

A highlight of the Tom Scott Collection, this car also formed part of the legendary C. W. P. ‘Peter’ Hampton Collection for many years. Very much the definitive supercar of its day, the low-slung 6.8-litre straight-six S-Type, with its screaming ‘Kompressor’ (supercharger) engaged, is of the type that would propel the likes of factory team driver Rudolf Caracciola to many victories for Mercedes-Benz against the might of Alfa Romeo, Bentley, and Bugatti. This example, chassis no. 35985, was delivered new to a Cecil Harcourt-Smith, via British Mercedes-Benz Ltd., in December 1928. It was subsequently raced by the Duke of Grafton and ultimately acquired in 1960 by noted collector Peter Hampton.

The collection was assembled and curated by Tom Scott Senior who, along with his brother Tim, built a hugely successful business in the construction industry. Upon the sale of the business in the 1980s, Tom Snr. would pursue his twin passions of horology and collector motor cars – specifically those of the Mercedes-Benz marque. Upon Scott Snr’s death in 2012, the collection remained in the family and came under the management of Tom Jnr. who continued to ensure the motor cars were maintained in the purpose-built climate-controlled motor house.

Bonhams motoring department has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Scott family, stretching back to the days before Brooks merged with Bonhams. James Knight, consultant to Bonhams|Cars, remembers meeting Tom Snr. at the 1991 Lord’s Cricket Ground auction sale in London, whereupon he acquired the ex-Peter Hampton S-Type – now the star of the collection on offer. “It gives me great pleasure and much pride to represent the Scott family interests and support them with the dispersal of this impressive collection. We anticipate much interest in these ‘fresh to market’ motor cars that will no doubt attract global participation”.

The Tom Scott Collection represents some of the finest road cars built, from the S-Type to a trio of ‘300s’ – a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Cabriolet. Other highlights include the first supercharged Mercedes model, a 1924 Mercedes 10/40/65 Sport Tourer 10/40/65 Sport, that once formed part of the Rolf Meyer collection and a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda that was delivered new to the Channel Islands and, as such, has covered less than 13,500 miles from new.

The Tom Scott Collection includes:

  • 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen Three Wheeler Replica, high quality edition produced by John Bentley.
  • Ex-Rolf Meyer Collection, 1924 Mercedes 10/40/65 Sport.
  • Ex-Robert Arbuthnot, Edward Mayer, CWP Hampton, 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 S-Type Sports Tourer.
  • Ex-Warner Brothers President John Calley, 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Cabriolet.
  • 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, original Rudge wheel example.
  • 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, late series, disc brake example.
  • 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Roadster with Hard Top, Channel Islands since new and just 13,215 miles recorded.
  • 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, rare right-hand drive example.
  • 1937 Morgan 4/4 Roadster.

About Bonhams|Cars

Bonhams|Cars uniquely offers a choice of live, online and private platforms for buying and selling collector cars—platforms characterised by levels of trust, reliability, and transparency born of over three decades of experience asthe premier automotive auction house. Through prestigious live auctions around the world, 24/7 online auctions, and our recently introduced Private Sales service, Bonhams|Cars makes it simple for buyers and sellers to find the platform that best meets their needs.

Bonhams|Cars host 17 live auctions annually, participates in all the significant concours around the world, and presents unique selling opportunities at international events such as the 2023 Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the official auction partner of the Formula 1 Paddock Club™, Goodwood Motorsport Events in the UK, The Quail on the Monterey Peninsula in California, The Audrain Concours in Newport, Rhode Island, and The Zoute Concours d’Elégance in Belgium. At Bonhams|Cars Online, formerly The Market by Bonhams, we provide our clients with fast, expert, accurate and agile single-car auctions, 24/7. With dedicated motoring departments in London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Brussels, and beyond, Bonhams|Cars has a world-class team with expertise in all divisions, from vintage cars to racing motorsport and automobilia to motorcycles.

For more information, please visit BonhamsCars.com

Source: Bonhams|Cars

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