Hitler’s Nazi-parade Merc set for auction

A1939 luxury Mercedes limousine used to carry Adolf Hitler aroundGermany will be auctioned in the US state of Arizona next month — one ofonly four such models ever built.Powered by a 7.7-litresupercharged engine capable of exceeding 100 mph, the Mercedes-Benz 770KGrosser — known to the world as the “Super Mercedes” — was a potentpropaganda symbol of the Third Reich which the Fuhrer rode standing inthe front seat.Billed as “the most historically significantautomobile ever offered for public sale”, the imposing four-doorconvertible will be offered to bidders at the Worldwide Auctioneersevent in Scottsdale on January 17 at the city’s annual classic carevent.The car — which carried the number plate 1A 148461 — was usedto ferry Hitler on his victory parade through Berlin following thestunning defeat of France, and for a state visit by Italian fascistdictator Benito Mussolini.As the conflict turned in the Allies’favor, it fell into disuse in France and was captured after the war byUS forces who, apparently unaware of its provenance, put it into amilitary police motor pool.After the war it went briefly to aprivate owner in Belgium before being sent to the US where it made itsway to the Greenville, North Carolina bureau of Veterans of ForeignWars, which used the car for parades, carrying dignitaries and Gold StarMothers.It then changed hands several more times within the USbefore being sold to a European collector in 2002, then to a Russianbillionaire in 2009. US media reports say it could sell for milliondollars. Worldwide Auctioneers did not reveal the current owner’s identity but it is not thought to have been sold since that time.“Thepurpose of this display is absolutely not to glorify Hitler and hisdestructive policies,” the auction house wrote in a post on its websitelast week.“It is to show you one of the outstanding cars of thecentury, built by gifted people, and representing the highest incraftsmanship.