The Peter F. Baumberger Collection of Motorcars
* All sold with No Reserve *
20 Aug 2010
Gstaad Palace Hotel
Switzerland
Lot No: 4
One owner from new
1999 Mercedes-Benz ML430
Chassis no. WDC1631721A118273
Estimate: CHF8,000 - 12,000
Footnote:
It wasn't until 25 years after Range Rover invented the luxury SUV that other marques realized that the British firm might just be on to something. Knowing a good thing when they finally noticed it under their noses, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo, Audi et al made a frantic leap for the bandwagon – but all were beaten to market by the Mercedes M-Class.
It arrived as a single model, the ML320, towards the end of 1997. Using a traditional off-road ladder frame construction, it also featured a comprehensive '4ETS' four-wheel drive set-up with front, centre and rear differentials – although they were controlled electrically. Low range gearing was also included, activated by a switch on the dash.
Other features were more modern. The M-Class used indep