There are few cars more of-an-era than a C126 Mercedes-Benz equipped with a tuner body kit, BBS mesh wheels, and Styling Garage’s one-of-57 ‘Gullwing’ conversion. This white-over-grey machine, which Styling Garage dubbed a “Marbella” after the coastal city in Southern Spain, is the epitome of 1980s style excess. It goes without saying that I’m absolutely here for it.
With the doors deployed upward and the US-market amber turn signals, it sort of looks like a seagull in flight, doesn’t it? This gorgeous gull is coming up for auction at RM Sotheby’s Munich sale later this month, so if you absolutely have to have it, cut yourself a line (of credit?) and get bidding.
Back in 1984 your portfolio had to be pretty damn stacked in order to afford one of these machines. For one thing, a 500SEC cost nearly $60,000 if you were to buy one from the Mercedes dealer. The Styling Garage body kit and gullwing conversion reportedly doubled that price. Calculating for inflation, this car would cost the 2024 equivalent of at least $364,000!
I have only ever seen one of these wild things in person. Back in late 2017 one was hauled out for Radwood SoCal, and it was incredible to lay eyes on. Since that moment, whenever I think about the 1980s, I instantly picture this car, perhaps the most 1980s of them all.
RM Sotheby’s says this car was originally delivered to a Ferrari collector (and likely Cocaine Cowboy) in Oakland, California. The car, which has covered just 62,000 miles since new, was kept in NorCal until it was exported back to Germany in 2010 by the current owner and seller. Since 2010 the car has received thousands worth of maintenance, including a $6,300 bill to rehab the gullwing door hydraulic lift mechanisms.
If you absolutely have to own one of these, be prepared for the attention that a car like this will bring. You may become too powerful for your own good. But if that sounds good to you, be the high bidder on Saturday, November 23. The pre-auction estimate says you’ll end up spending between $373,000 and $426,000 for the privilege.
