But as the war turned against Germany, the car was used much less and its latter wartime service remains unknown.
After Germany`s capitulation in 1945, the car was seized by American forces and used by U.
Army Military Police stationed in Le Havre, northern France.
It was shipped to the United States in 1946, where it was bought by Tom Austin, a rich tobacco planter from Greeneville, Tennessee.
After falling into disuse, with apparently little understanding of its provenance, the car was eventually recognized and restored by two classic car hunters in 1976 before being sold on to Ralph Engelstad, owner of the Imperial Palace Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
At the time, it had an odometer reading of just 33,309 kilometers and auctioneers claimed it has only added 50 kilometers over the subsequent 40 years.
Following the death of Engelstad, the car was sold in 2004 as part of a 21-car package of significant Mercedes-Benz automobiles.
The identity of the current owner has not been revealed, although onereport suggested it was last purchased by a Russian billionaire in 2009.
The auction begins at 5 p.
local time Wednesday in Scottsdale.
After Germany`s capitulation in 1945, the car was seized by American forces and used by U.
Army Military Police stationed in Le Havre, northern France.
It was shipped to the United States in 1946, where it was bought by Tom Austin, a rich tobacco planter from Greeneville, Tennessee.
After falling into disuse, with apparently little understanding of its provenance, the car was eventually recognized and restored by two classic car hunters in 1976 before being sold on to Ralph Engelstad, owner of the Imperial Palace Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
At the time, it had an odometer reading of just 33,309 kilometers and auctioneers claimed it has only added 50 kilometers over the subsequent 40 years.
Following the death of Engelstad, the car was sold in 2004 as part of a 21-car package of significant Mercedes-Benz automobiles.
The identity of the current owner has not been revealed, although onereport suggested it was last purchased by a Russian billionaire in 2009.
The auction begins at 5 p.
local time Wednesday in Scottsdale.
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