The Classic Sale at Silverstone 26th & 27th August 2022

168 The Classic Sale at Silverstone - Cars introduced as a right-hand drive model in early 1967) and the roof vent. Interestingly, the data-card for Moss’ Pagoda shows the rare reference ‘Code 992 - engine must be specially selected on the Dynotech for best maximum performance’ – very fitting for such a recipient! Loyal to the brand, and no doubt with a PR opportunity in mind, Moss and Mercedes-Benz arranged for the car’s collection from the factory, the moment captured in a famous historic photograph (see image), which was published with the caption “Former racing driver Stirling Moss, 36, being ‘flagged away’ by his old chief, Alfred Neubauer, 75, when he visited Stuttgart, Germany, to pick up his new Mercedes-Benz 230SL sports car. In the passenger seat is Stirling’s wife Elaine” Moss’ affection for his brand-new Pagoda was evident, as he assigned his very distinctive registration number, ‘M7’, to it (seven being his lucky number). Accompanying paperwork in the car’s history file confirms this, showing it was registered with Greater London Council, and benefitting from a service in Mayfair (where Moss lived) at 11,136 miles. Moss thoroughly enjoyed the car and can be seen in the driver’s seat of it captured in another period photograph (see image attached), we believe in attendance at Silverstone with his friend Rob Walker. Moss’ association with the Pagoda model was also used in a commercial context, with him stood next to a similar left-hand drive car (made to look like his actual car bearing the ‘M7’ registration number) in numerous advertisements for ‘J Wax’, with one using the strapline ‘Stirling Moss tells how to keep your car looking new – like his’. The car presented here is Sir Stirling Moss’ 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL (W113) Pagoda, accompanied by a copy of its original factory special order form which is made out to ‘Stirling Moss of London, England’, a copy of its data-card, its original service booklet, handbooks and historic registration documents – with numerous references to Moss being the first owner and confirming the car’s special features and fascinating provenance. Remarkably, the car also has a fully documented history of ownership, servicing and mileage up to the present day - there are green logbooks, receipts, MOT Certificates, bills of sale and associated paperwork going right back to 1966! Following Moss’ ownership, in 1968, the car was bought by a Mr Mitchell, and wore the registration number ‘0017’. Again, the car’s history file documents servicing between 1968 and 1974 (14,336 - 49,700 miles) in Brentford, Chelmsford and Chingford. In November 1970, there is an invoice for the car being repainted in Jaguar Pearl Grey (the colour it still wears today). In October 1974, according to a purchase receipt, it was sold via Hurst Park Automobiles of Surrey to a Mr McBride (who part-exchanged his Ford Granada Estate as part of the deal). Mr McBride subsequently took the car to Northern Ireland and had the registration ‘BO13’ assigned to it. He routinely (between 1974 and 1976, and 49,700 - 72,728 miles) had it serviced at Isaac Agnew Ltd. of Belfast, a very well-known Mercedes-Benz main dealership. Mr McBride was friendly with the Sales Director of the dealership, a Mr Jack McAleer. Jack was a highly revered figure within the NI car community, known as ‘Mr Mercedes’, having started at Isaac Agnew Ltd. as a 16-year-old, working his way up to become the Sales Director. He dedicated his working life to promoting and selling Mercedes-Benz cars, working with the marque for some 54 years, an achievement acknowledged with a special award from Mercedes-Benz. Being such a brand stalwart, Jack subsequently bought the car from Mr Mitchell, registering it in September 1977. The Pagoda formed part of a small collection of very special Mercedes-Benz cars owned by Jack, proudly displayed for a time in his showroom as a centrepiece, being well- known as the ‘Moss Pagoda’. So much so, that in February 1981, again captured in a period photograph, Moss visited the dealership and enthusiastically signed his former car’s service booklet (on page 13), with Jack looking on. During the 1980s, the car was moved to live at Jack’s nearby family home, a large but not ostentatious Victorian house. The story goes that Jack sold some of his Mercedes-Benz cars to fund the renovation of the original garage at the house into a proper snooker room, with two adjoining annexes. The car resided in an annex, whilst snooker and socialising were enjoyed nearby. With the popularity of snooker at its peak, and with Jack’s connections and typical Irish affability, the car was admired and talked about in the company of such luminaries as Ray Reardon, Alex Higgins and Barry McGuigan, all being guests of Jack. The car’s boot made a good store for spare snooker balls apparently! In her youth, one of Jack’s daughters Sarah remembers the car going to various classic car events; on one occasion, at the request of Jack, it was swiftly returned to the house on a trailer as it had started to rain, and Jack didn’t want it to get wet! The car remained safely tucked-away in Jack’s snooker room, with the family growing up around it, not really questioning why a car lived in the house, before it was utilised as part of a five-car SL display at the dealership to celebrate the launch of the new R230SL in 2002. Jack sadly passed away in June 2012, after which the ‘Moss Pagoda’ was gifted to his daughter. In October 2019 the car was moved out of the house and into storage at local well-respected Mercedes-Benz specialists, unsurprisingly run by a long-term friend of Jack and his family. Apart from the colour change in 1970, we understand the car to be wholly original and unrestored, it being ‘as it was’ when owned by Sir Stirling Moss. Indeed, the unique hardtop is still present and operational, as is the original factory-fitted radio, whilst the larger Moss-requested engine starts and runs well. The car’s low mileage of 79,485 is correct and fully verifiable (via much supporting paperwork). It must be noted that the car has been sitting a while but has been run- up regularly and stored well over the years. It has recently benefitted from some fresh fuel and a new battery, but will require some further recommissioning, especially to the brakes. Given everything, especially its original state of preservation, surely there is no other Pagoda more worthy of being returned to its former glory by a new owner - what a hugely rewarding task. Over the years, Silverstone Auctions has been privileged to sell many classic cars owned by prominent figures and celebrities. However, it is not often we have had the opportunity to sell a particular car with such a strong association to its original owner – a Mercedes-Benz personally chosen and specified by Sir Stirling Moss, not just one of the greatest racing drivers for the Mercedes-Benz marque, but one of the greatest racing drivers ever and rightfully recognised as a true British icon. This is a very special opportunity to buy a legitimate piece of both British and motor racing history, a car with genuine and verifiable provenance, a history file going back to when it was new, coming to market for the first time in 45 years, and from a family’s loyal and dedicated ownership. It is a real honour to represent it at auction, in the very fitting setting of Silverstone circuit.