Avid car collector and renowned actor Rowan Atkinson CBE will be putting his rare 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500E up for sale at the upcoming Classic Car Auction (CCA), which is taking place on May 25 at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre in the UK. Apart from being one of only 29 left-hand-drive variants to be imported into the UK, this particular car has the unique distinction of having been owned by the famous actor twice in its lifetime.
Purchased by Rowan in 1991, it remained in his possession for four years before he sold it on to its second owner, who had it for the next 23-years. Then in 2017 Rowan repurchased the car, no doubt to enjoy the unique charms of what is a stealthy performer with little outward hint of the 322hp 5.0-liter V8 that lurks under its hood. Gary Dunne, Classic Car Auctions auction manager commented: “We are delighted to be offering a car direct from Rowan Atkinson. We often have unusual stories and this one is one of those, especially for a celebrity to repurchase his car after such a long period.”
Like most of Rowan’s cars, including his recently sold McLaren F1, the 500E is no garage queen and has seen regular use over the years. Showing a healthy 193,000 miles on its odometer, it remains in good condition overall. However, the guide price has been set to allow for some minor tidying up by its new owner. The car comes with a comprehensive history file as well as an MOT until 2020. It’s a unique opportunity for someone to own a historically significant car that is starting to pick up in value.
Images courtesy of Classic Car Auctions
