A Mercedes 560 SL, delivered to Donald Trump in 1987, found its way to Germany 11 years ago. But no buyers have come forward since.
For the past 11 years, no one has been interested in buying a former Mercedes that belonged to Donald Trump. The car, a 1987 560 SL, has been for sale at a car dealership in Germany without finding a buyer.
The car was originally purchased by Donald Trump as a gift for his then-wife, Ivana Trump. It still bears a Florida license plate reading "Ivana 1" and has been considered a 'historically interesting' collector's item. Yet there has been little interest in the car for more than a decade.
Car dealer Baris Baz, who owns Baz Dream Cars, bought the Mercedes in 2014 in Palm Beach, Florida. The deal was arranged through his father and a business partner, but the car has since been in storage without finding a buyer.
– I haven't actively tried to sell it. Many people have asked about it, but few have made a concrete offer, Baz tells Autobild .
Although several people have expressed interest, only two people have actually made bids. One was for 100,000 euros, while the other was for 110,000 euros. Baz himself paid around 40,000 euros for the car in 2014, but believes its value is higher, so he has declined the offers he has received.
The car has only covered about 1,900 kilometers and is in good condition. It has a V8 engine with 231 horsepower. The original paint in the color "Barolo red" is largely intact, although some parts have been repainted and the original leather seats have been replaced. However, the old seats are still included in a possible sale.
Marius Brune, an expert in collector cars, estimates that a former celebrity-owned car can have a higher value than a regular model of the same type. However, he points out that the car would probably have an easier time selling in the US than in Europe.
– If there is a "celebrity bonus", the price can be significantly higher, but the market in Germany is different, says Brune.
For Baz, the matter is not about politics. He sees the car purely as a business opportunity and believes that Donald Trump's name could be a factor in attracting buyers.
"I grew up with Donald Trump and watched his TV show 'The Apprentice.' He's one of the most famous people in the world," he says.
Another detail that could affect the sale is that the car was never registered in the EU. It still has its original US registration certificate, which documents that Ivana Trump drove it around.
Some dealers therefore consider the car to be a used car, which can affect its market value. If that is the case, we will only get an answer on the day a buyer (maybe) comes forward.
The question is whether Baz can find a buyer who will pay the price he believes the car is worth. So far, no bid has been high enough for him to sell.
