Rare 1929 Mercedes become world's second most expensive car

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LONDON (AFP) - An ultra-rare 1929 Mercedes has become the second most expensive car the world has ever seen after selling at a British auction on Friday for 4.18 million pounds (6.16 million euros, 7.43 million dollars).


The 7.1 litre SSK sports car -- bought by a collector in 1941 for just 400 --was sold to an unidentified European phone bidder during the sale in Sussex, southeast England, auctioneers Bonhams said.


The Mercedes, in near-original condition, was one of 38 cars discovered in barns belonging to reclusive collector George Milligen, who died in May at the age of 94. His cars fetched more than six million pounds in all at the sale.


Milligan bought the two seater Mercedes for just 400 pounds in 1941, when German-made cars were -- understandably, during World War II -- very unfashionable, Bonhams said.


It was sold by Bonham's chairman Robert Brooks, who while working at another auction house, Christie's, also auctioned off the most expensive car ever, a 1931 Bugatti Royale, bought in 1987 for 5.5 million pounds.