Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet Sells for Half Its Record Price at RM Sotheby’s Auction
A Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet that previously set a Belgian auction record by selling for 1,2 million euros in October 2017 has fetched 612,500 euros when put back under the hammer in September 2026. The vehicle was sold as part of an extensive collection belonging to the late Willy Michiels, a Belgian businessman known for his ventures in the gaming industry, including the founding of Napoleon Games.
RM Sotheby’s auctioned the vehicle alongside other cars from Michiels’ estate. While the Landaulet brought in nearly half its original 2017 price, the broader collection of 28 vehicle brands outperformed expectations, generating a total of 6,59 million euros against an expected 5 tot 6 miljoen euros. The proceeds from the sale of the Maybach were directed to a Mercedes children’s fund.
Charity Premium Versus Market Value
The original 2017 sale in Knokke functioned as a charity auction hosted by Bonhams, where Mercedes donated the full proceeds to the Laureus Sport for Good foundation. Ahead of that event, auction specialists estimated the final vehicle of the 99-unit production run at approximately 640,000 euros. Michiels placed the winning bid of 1,2 million euros with the understanding that the inflated sum supported charitable causes.
The 2026 auction figure of 612,500 euros aligns closely with that initial 2017 pre-sale estimate, indicating that the vehicle’s underlying market value remained stable rather than depreciating by half. Other vehicles in the Michiels collection achieved strong results. A 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for 1,22 million euros, slightly exceeding its top estimate, while an Adenauer cabriolet once used by Princess Astrid brought in 143,750 euros.
Rare Automobile Sales Reach Record Levels in Belgium
The market for vintage and rare automobiles in Belgium maintained high activity levels surrounding the RM Sotheby’s event. In a separate auction held in Knokke less than four weeks after the Michiels estate sale, a LaFerrari established a new Belgian public auction record by selling for 5,181,250 euros—more than four times the price realized by the Landaulet. Another 300 SL Roadster, manufactured in 1957, crossed the block at the same event for 1,041,250 euros.
Michiels passed away in 2020 at the age of 82, having served three terms as mayor of Haaltert after building an entertainment empire that featured jukeboxes, bingo machines, and arcade games throughout Flemish cafes.
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