In March 2025, the unique Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL 5.0 AMG, known as Blueberry, will be auctioned at the auction house RM Sotheby's . This sedan is not just a rare car, but a true legend, created especially for Richard Buxbaum, director of AMG North America. The car was given to him personally by Hans-Werner Aufrecht, one of the founders of AMG, and is distinguished by both an exceptional design and serious technical improvements.
The Blueberry sedan got its name from the rare color Lapis Blue Metallic, a shade that Mercedes-Benz used for only four years (from 1980 to 1984). Buxbaum, as a big fan of bright cars, complained about the lack of Mercedes in non-standard colors, and this gift from AMG was a real surprise for him.
In addition to the exclusive color, the Blueberry has a rich Orion Grey leather interior, hand-finished in the Gemballa atelier. The door skins are complemented by blue stitching, a four-spoke Italvolanti Corsa steering wheel is installed, as well as seats from the S-Class coupe. Special attention has been paid to the aerodynamic body kit and new wheels, and the suspension has Bilstein shock absorbers, which significantly improves the car's handling.
Under the hood remains the standard 5.0-liter V8 engine with a power of 269 hp and 393 Nm, but AMG installed a special sports exhaust system that improves the sound and response of the accelerator pedal. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission and an AMG limited-slip differential, which significantly improves the dynamic characteristics of the sedan.
Buxbaum actively uses Blueberry in his everyday life: he takes his children to school, meets guests at the airport and demonstrates the car's capabilities on the highways of Chicago. In 1986, the car was purchased by the famous American billionaire Rick Cohen, and after a series of resales, the car ended up with Buxbaum again in 2022.
The restoration of the legendary sedan is large-scale: over $ 100,000 was spent on mechanical repairs and cosmetic work. The Chicago workshop The Last Detail restored the technical part - the fuel system, suspension, brakes and cooling system. At the same time, Drycenation specialists returned the interior to its original luxury, including the restoration of the wooden inserts in the cabin.
The appearance of Blueberry at auction is a unique event for collectors and fans of Mercedes-AMG. This car not only demonstrates the heyday of AMG in the 1980s, but is also a living part of the history of the legendary brand.