"AUSSIE" MERCEDES TO BE AUCTIONED THIS JULY

With history that includes service on a Queensland sheep station, the 1909 model 35hp Mercedes is set to be the showcase of Bonhams' inaugural Mercedes-Benz Sale, to be held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, on July 12. The Sale will feature 40 motor cars manufactured by the renowned German marque over its more than century-long history.

The Mercedes' Australian connection goes back to 1914, when it served as the car for the Station Manager of Isis Downs sheep station, located on the Barcoo River in Queensland's central west. The 5.3 litre shaft-drive tourer remained on the property until the early 1930s.

In its prime (around the time the Mercedes was purchased), Isis Downs was one of Queensland's largest stations, covering 2,430 sq km, running 230,000 head of sheep, and employing up to 150 during shearing season. The property also featured a unique semi-circular woolshed built in 1912, and a 'Renard road train' imported by station owners Clarke & Whiting to transport bales of wool by road at a time when rail and large teams of horses or bullocks was still the norm.

Constant exposure to the harsh conditions of the Australian outback, along with the rough terrain, soon emphasised any weakness in a vehicle. The Mercedes was one of the few brands whose cars were built with the quality to withstand the rigours of rural life, thus they became favoured by wealthy landowners.

Following its tenure on Isis Downs, the 35hp Mercedes was purchased by a neighbouring farmer in the 1930s and remained there until the 1960s, when it was rescued and restored. Despite being more than a century old, the car has had only five owners since new.

The 35hp Mercedes has its origins in 1901, and set an entirely new benchmark in motoring. Features include a low-built steel chassis, a light and powerful engine with gated manual gearchange control and honeycomb radiator (instead of primitive gilled-tube type). Combined, they made the Mercedes easy-to-drive and provided the basis of the modern motor car.

The 1909 Mercedes offered for sale retains these original features, with Bonhams speculating that the ex-Australian example may be the world's oldest shaft-driven 35 hp Mercedes. It was with this model, first launched in 1908, that Mercedes introduced shaft drive into their cars. By 1914, the whole range of passenger cars was equipped with shaft drive instead of the previous chain drive.

James Knight, Group Motoring Director at Bonhams commented, "We had been in discussion for a while with the Mercedes' Australian owner and are delighted to have secured such an interesting early Mercedes for the Sale.

"When we were in a position to announce the Mercedes-Benz auction to him, he did not hesitate and jumped at the opportunity to sell his car at the home of the marque. The Sale is attracting motor cars from all over the world and this extremely important entry further endorses the stature of the event."

When it goes to auction on July 12, Bonhams estimate the 1909 Mercedes will sell in the $480,000-680,000 (AU$710,000 - AU$1,006,000) range. For more details ahead of this auction, go to www.bonhams.com