Engineering in Motion

Today, let's have a look at the 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Torpedo Roadster, clothed by Saoutchik. A remarkable combination of enormous engineering and beautifully restrained proportions. Nearly a century later, it still looks like the definition of a grand touring automobile. What a delightful vehicle!

Oct 6, 2026

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Replies (10)

· 3w

Wallis C. Bird used to own this white one, witch has not been seen since 62'

· 3w

Jonah, it was not white, and it has been seen in the last 30 years or so.

Here is a decent link talking about the auction:

https://thousandislandslife.com/amazing-links-to-the-thousand-islands-first-murder-now-a-sham-auction-part-ii/

· 3w

Here is the 4 place version. This was owned by Howard Fafard at one time and was maroon.

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· 2w

@jonahzivin Here is the Bird car taken around 1990. Is that the Blackhawk Museum? Note the addition of the chrome trim.

· 1w

Unknown 680S (possibly 35968 as it was in the New York atea) at the first AACA meeting in 1944 and shown by F.J. Mayer.

What makes this interesting is that Mayer was based in the UK, so strange that he would be at the founding of the AACA during war time. He was also known to own many S Mercs, but none of them were a Saoutchik.

· 1w

Jonah,

Same car taken a bit later?

· 1w

That looks to be the car entered by Rush, I will try to identify it later tonight. The Saoutchik is still a mystery.

I also have tried to find where I found these photos originally, with no success. As i'm not 100% sure it was the first AACA meeting. I suspect they came from an early Horseless Carriage Gazette, as I think I found them originally on the internet archives.

· 1w

This should be a 680 S or 710 SS Cab A, I can only account for one car in this style that survives and I dont think it ever was in the US. I doubt it survives or has been rebodied .

· 1w

Jonah, the photo looks like the 1950s or perhaps the early 1960s. Possibly rebodied but the chassis is definitely around somewhere.

· 3d

Jonah, did you see that Mark Hyman has this listed as sold in his last emal?