Mercedes-Benz 680 S Sports Tourer – 1928
Marca : Mercedes Benz
Modello : 680 s
Versione : Sports Tourer
Anno : 1928
Telaio N. : 35323
Motore N. : 66540
Carrozzeria : erdmann & rossi
Motore : 6 cilindri in linea
Cilindrata : 6.789 cc
Distribuzione : SOHC
Valvole Cilindro : 2
Alimentazione : Compressore volumetrico Roots
Potenza : 180 CV a 3.000 giri/min
Top speed Km/h : 176
Auction Result
2017 – Scottsdale – Bonhams – $ 4,812,500
This ‘Car of Kings' was one of few that were delivered new to North America. It was originally commissioned on February 13, 1928 and was shipped to Berlin to be equipped with coachwork by Erdmann and Rossi, one of only a handful so bodied. Ranked among the elite of European coachbuilders, Berlin-based Erdmann & Rossi specialized in bodying prestige makes including Horch, Maybach, Packard, Cadillac, Bentley, Rolls-Royce (they were Germany's official importer) and, of course, Mercedes-Benz.
Their distinguished clientele included European royalty, industrialists, actors, pilots and racing drivers. Built under Kommission order number 37831, Erdmann and Rossi would most likely also have been working on the consecutive number order 37832 a 630K which was also built for the American market.
The completed car was photographed by the works in 1928, an image which by merit of distinguishing features and being captioned with its ‘Kom' number can be seen to be repeated in countless reference works on the marque, including the aforementioned Herbert Lozier book, Werner Oswald's ‘Mercedes-Benz Personenwagen 1886-1984', and Michael Frostick's ‘The Mighty Mercedes'. Interestingly, as new it wore a single central Mercedes-Benz badge on the V of its radiator as was common practice for ‘SS' models, as opposed to a three pointed star on either side of the ‘V'.
The magnificent car would then leave Europe for the next 80 years at this point, being destined for the Mercedes-Benz Company, New York, where it was received on consignment on January 23, 1929. By the end of April 1929 it had found its first custodian, as noted on the factory records.
