STUTTGERT.- In only its second year, Bonhams Mercedes-Benz auction, in association with the Mercedes-Benz Museum, achieved an over-all sale total of €13 million (£9.5 million), exceeding the previous years’ results, and seeing a total 92.9% of lots sold by value.

A spectacular 1938 540 K Cabriolet A was the top lot in the sale. The days auction was the first time the 540 K had been publicly offered, building the excitement for bidders both in the room and online, with the hammer finally falling at €2,760,000 (£2,034,396) to a private German buyer.

One of only 18 produced, a 1931 770 “Grosser Mercedes” Cabriolet D was an additional rare and opulent highlight of the sale. Originally the property of German actor, producer and director, Erik Charell (noted for the 1930 resurrection of the play The White Horse Inn (Im weißen Rössl)), the “Grosser Mercedes” sold to an auction room bidder for €2,311,500 (£1,703,806).

Elsewhere, a quartet of iconic 300SL motor cars, both Gullwing coupés and roadsters, achieved excellent prices. Top lot of the series was the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster previously owned by German industrialist Alfried Krupp, being offered for sale after 35 years of continuous private ownership, selling for €1,121,250 (£826,473). Also attracting spirited bidding, having remained for 48 years in one family , the 1961 300SL disc brake roadster achieved €1,092,500 (£805,281); and the 1957 300SL roadster with factory hardtop sold for €1,058,000 (£779,851). Completing the four, the 1957 Gullwing Coupé, sold for €1,046,500 (£771,375).

Additional highlights include the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Coupé, sold for €572,700 (£422,137); a 115-year-old Benz Ideal 4½ Vis-à-Vis sold for €212,750 (£156,818); and after fierce bidding on the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 15/75 PS Mannheim 370 S roadster, the gavel finally fell at €552,000 (£406,879).

Malcolm Barber, Bonhams Co-Chairman and auctioneer for the day, said: “With a full sale room, active internet bidding, and international bidders both in the room and on the telephone, we saw spectacular prices for cars in exemplary condition and with great provenance. Bonhams holds the auction world record for any Mercedes-Benz, achieving £19,601,500 for the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R Formula 1 single-seater in 2013 - a world record that demonstrates the perfect relationship between Bonhams and Mercedes-Benz.”

"I'm delighted that the Bonhams international motoring team were our partners at the Mercedes-Benz Museum once again in 2015," says Michael Bock, head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Customer Centers. “The auction was a great success. This high level event represents a further consolidation of the excellent relationship between Mercedes-Benz Classic and Bonhams which has been established for two decades."

“We’ve had another wonderful result here within the walls of the prestigious Mercedes-Benz museum and look forward to returning to Stuttgart next year for the third edition of this successful sale in partnership with Mercedes Classic,” said Philip Kantor, Bonhams European Head of Motorcars.

Bonhams motoring department will next host their annual single-marque Aston Martin Works Sale on 9 May, followed by the Spa Classic Sale, taking place on 24 May.