A Masterpiece of Automotive History

The upcoming RM Sotheby's Monterey auction is set to feature an extraordinary vehicle: the 1904 Mercedes Simplex 40 HP, currently held by the Owls Head Transportation Museum. With a pre-sale valuation between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000, this vehicle is widely considered one of the most historically significant cars from the Veteran era to be offered at public auction in recent years.


Setting the Standard for Modern Engineering

Launched in 1903, the 40 HP model served as the pinnacle of the revolutionary Simplex series. It featured a robust 6.7-liter T-head four-cylinder engine, dual camshaft-operated valves, and a sophisticated honeycomb radiator. Notably, it introduced the industry's first four-speed gearbox with an H-pattern shift, all integrated into a pioneering modern C-channel steel chassis. This design became the blueprint for the modern automobile, influencing countless competitors for decades.


A Distinguished Provenance

The vehicle's history is meticulously documented. Originally ordered by Emil Jellinek in 1903 and completed in 1904, it eventually came into the possession of Adolphus Busch, the co-founder of Anheuser-Busch, who had the car maintained at his German estate in 1909. Over the following century, the Mercedes passed through the hands of prominent collectors, including George Waterman and Kirk Gibson. It was later acquired by former IBM president Thomas J. Watson Jr., who commissioned a restoration in 1971. Watson subsequently founded the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Maine and gifted the car to the institution in 1977.


Remarkable Preservation

What sets this specific specimen apart is its high degree of originality. Components such as the aluminum fenders, floorboards, panels, and even the ignition system remain factory-original—a testament to its preservation despite its age. The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center recently conducted an rare in-person inspection of the vehicle, and it has been formally invited to the 2026 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. All proceeds from the auction will support the STEM educational initiatives at the Owls Head Transportation Museum.