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Forty of the most outrageous Mercedes-Benz creations from the 1970s through the early 2000s are heading to the block together, as Global Icons: The Patina Collective goes up for sale through Broad Arrow Auctions. The no-reserve online sale runs from August 10 through August 21, 2026, giving enthusiasts a rare shot at some of the wildest widebody specials the three-pointed star ever inspired.
Billed as Global Icons: The Patina Collective, the consignment celebrates Mercedes-Benz's so-called "Youngtimer" period, when the brand's staid W-body sedans, coupes, and wagons were handed over to independent tuning houses and transformed into outlandish personal statements. Names like AMG, Brabus, Koenig Specials, Zender, and Schulz worked their magic on everything from humble diesel wagons to top-shelf coupes, bolting on flared fender extensions, deep front splitters, multi-piece wheels, and interiors trimmed to order. The result is a rolling time capsule of an era when excess was the point, not an afterthought.
All 40 lots cross the block without reserve, and the estimates range from four figures to serious money. Topping the charts is a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 E AMG 6.0, a Porsche-built sedan turned AMG special estimated at $150,000-$180,000, closely trailed by a 1993 500 E Limited Prototype estimated at $100,000-$150,000 and a 1992 190 E 2.6 AMG 3.2 estimated at $80,000-$90,000. Other standouts include a 1990 300 CE-24 widebody built by Vitt Performance, a 2008 Maybach 57 S, and the catalog's opening lot, a 1973 450 SLC finished in period Koenig-Specials widebody form.
Previews are scheduled for August 14 through 16 at the consignor's facility, with in-person visits available to registered bidders by appointment. Bidding opens Monday, August 10, at 10:00 a.m. ET and begins closing the following Friday, August 21, with lots closing in 60-second intervals until the gavel falls on the final car. Online bidder registration is free, and a 10 percent buyer's premium applies on the hammer price.
For a generation of enthusiasts who grew up watching these cars in magazines and movies, Global Icons: The Patina Collective is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bring one home. Full details, the complete lot list, and bidder registration are available now through Broad Arrow Auctions.
