LONDON.- On 12 July 2014, Bonhams’ Mercedes-Benz Sale will feature a choice selection of some 40 motor cars manufactured by the renowned German marque over its more than a century-long history.

The modern engineering giant that is Daimler, manufacturing Mercedes-Benz motor vehicles, can trace its automotive roots back to 1886 when Carl Benz patented his pioneering Motorwagen, and Gottlieb Daimler fitted one of his new internal combustion engines into a four-wheeled carriage. Fourteen years later, in 1900, wealthy entrepreneur Emil Jellinek commissioned Daimler to create what passed into history as the first, ‘modern’ motor car, which he marketed under the name of his then 11-year-old daughter Mercedes.

In 1926 the Daimler and Benz companies merged, the combine subsequently marketing its mainstream product under the Mercedes-Benz brand name.

Today, the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Museum building outside the main factory gates in Stuttgart-Unterturkheim provides a stunning 16,500sqm of state-of-the-art exhibition space. This international award-winning Mercedes-Benz Museum to automotive attainment and quality will now host the new Bonhams Mercedes-Benz Sale.

Worldwide consignments are anticipated and this Sale will celebrate the Mercedes-Benz marque’s unrivalled entire history as one of the world’s most forward-thinking motor car manufacturers. This world-class Sale will also celebrate the great German marque’s strong relationship with Bonhams – the international motor car and fine art auctioneer.

The Bonhams motoring team has enjoyed excellent relations with Mercedes-Benz Classic since the early 1990s. This affiliation was reinforced last summer when the two teams collaborated closely prior to the successful sale of the 1954 ex-Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes-Benz W196. This 2.5-litre straight-8 engined Grand Prix car was marketed by Bonhams to secure the World record auction price for any motor car of £19.6m Sterling (€23,600,000 – US $30,180,000).

James Knight, group director of the Bonhams Motoring Department, said: “Following the great partnership that was formed between these two well-known brands when Bonhams so successfully sold the Mercedes-Benz W196 last year, it seemed a natural progression for us to work together once again to conduct a unique, single-marque auction at Mercedes-Benz’s museum in 2014.

“We have developed the annual Bonhams Aston Martin Works Sale with Aston Martin Lagonda Limited in the UK, and we look forward to developing another single-marque sale in Europe in partnership with at the prestigious Mercedes-Benz brand. We hope this will be the first of many future Bonhams Mercedes-Benz sales.”

Michael Bock, head Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic at Daimler AG, added: “We share an idea with Bonhams: Both of us stand for unique and authentic vehicles. We regard classic vehicles as a key heritage for society. And valuing authenticity plays an important role in this.” says Michael Bock. “For this reason, we are delighted that the prestigious auction house Bonhams will offer a range of inimitable classic cars of Benz, Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz in our Museum on 12 July 2014. The Mercedes-Benz Museum will provide the appropriate setting for the auction but will not be offering any vehicles from its own collection.”