Photo: Autoleitner
Certain historic vehicles aren’t meant for the average collector, and they’re definitely not good for showing off. No one wants to be seen in Ceausescu’ or Hitler’s cars, or even known to be in possession of them.
While dictatorial rides are best suited in a museum, where they’re accessible to the general public while serving an educational purpose, there is still a handful of them that can be owned without the guilt attached to most. This is probably one of them: a very rare Maybach 57S Coupe that belonged to Muammar Gaddafi.
“Belonged” is somewhat of an overstatement. Libyan dictator Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, also known as Colonel Gaddafi, ordered this ultra-rare Maybach in 2010, but he never got to take delivery of it (he was killed in 2011). So, while it was his on paper, it was never his to enjoy, which should make it more appealing to regular collectors.
Maybach planned to make some 100 units of this two-door variant of the 57S limousine from Mercedes-Benz, under license at German coachbuilder Xenatec, but only eight were ever made because they were painfully expensive. This is the fourth and, according to the listing at Autoleitner, it is the example with the least miles showing. So not only is this a very rare collectible, but it also comes in mint condition.
Powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine that produced 612 PS (603 hp) when new, mated to an automatic transmission, this 57S Coupe shows just 2,300 km (1,429 miles) on the clock, put there by the second owner who is now selling it. With a two-tone exterior and matching interior, it’s specced admirably for those times, including a rear-view camera, rear and front parking sensors, remote cruise control, in-car phone, Bluetooth, massage seats and electronically adjustable headrests, and fire extinguisher.
Available in the Netherlands, the asking price for this collectible is €961,950, which is $1.16 million at today’s exchange rate – only some $200,000 over the selling price back in the day.
“Belonged” is somewhat of an overstatement. Libyan dictator Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, also known as Colonel Gaddafi, ordered this ultra-rare Maybach in 2010, but he never got to take delivery of it (he was killed in 2011). So, while it was his on paper, it was never his to enjoy, which should make it more appealing to regular collectors.
Maybach planned to make some 100 units of this two-door variant of the 57S limousine from Mercedes-Benz, under license at German coachbuilder Xenatec, but only eight were ever made because they were painfully expensive. This is the fourth and, according to the listing at Autoleitner, it is the example with the least miles showing. So not only is this a very rare collectible, but it also comes in mint condition.
Powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine that produced 612 PS (603 hp) when new, mated to an automatic transmission, this 57S Coupe shows just 2,300 km (1,429 miles) on the clock, put there by the second owner who is now selling it. With a two-tone exterior and matching interior, it’s specced admirably for those times, including a rear-view camera, rear and front parking sensors, remote cruise control, in-car phone, Bluetooth, massage seats and electronically adjustable headrests, and fire extinguisher.
Available in the Netherlands, the asking price for this collectible is €961,950, which is $1.16 million at today’s exchange rate – only some $200,000 over the selling price back in the day.
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