8 Of The Best German Grand Tourers Sold On Collecting Cars

When it comes to cars, it’s often said that the English have style and charm, Italians have noise and flamboyancy, while German marques are best known for their refined approach, mating powerful engines within sturdy shells and with thoughtfully designed cabins.

Thanks to these attributes, some of the best continent-crossing cars ever made originated from Germany; vehicles that feel at home both on the daily commute and maybe even at 155mph on the Autobahn. Here we explore the sold section for eight of the country’s best grand tourers, including classic coupes, open-top cruisers, and an innovative sports car.

Mercedes-Benz has created some of the most revered grand tourers, and this 280 SE 3.5 Coupe represented one of the most sought-after classic models from the marque.

It was one of just 88 Australian-market examples, and the handsome bodywork was finished in Midnight Blue, while Light Ivory leather adorned the sumptuous cabin. The original Becker Mexico radio cassette player had been modified for Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay connectivity. In the seller’s opinion, it was “one of the best presented and preserved examples offered for sale in the southern hemisphere”.

Fitted with a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V8, producing around 231bhp and driving the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission, this very well-presented coupe was sold via Collecting Cars in August 2023, with a winning bid of A$180,000.

With its sleek coupe bodywork, well-proportioned features, comfortable uncluttered cabin, and 3.5-litre M88/3 straight-six sending 286hp to the rear wheels, this 6 Series ‘M635 CSi’ is a great example of the quintessential modern classic GT.

Originally serving as a prototype vehicle for BMW, this M635 CSi was finished in the refined hue of Graphite Metallic with three-tone BMW Motorsport side decals over a pearl beige leather-trimmed interior with a contrasting black dashboard and upper door panels.

Starting life as a 628 CSi, records indicate that BMW Motorsport equipped the car with an 'M88/3' straight-six in its early life, before subjecting it to testing throughout 1983 to refine the chassis and engine for the M635 and improved CSi.

Representing a significant piece of BMW M-Sport history, this M635 CSi prototype attracted significant interest, with more than 80 bids placed and a hammer price of €67,500 in April 2023.

21st-century Porsches are renowned for mixing everyday usability with engaging chassis and impressive performance, and in 1978 the Stuttgart manufacturer launched a 2+2 coupe that was certainly developed with grand touring in mind.

The 928 boasted a comfortable and well-thought-out cabin, and featured a naturally aspirated V8 coupled to either an automatic transmission or a five-speed manual gearbox.

Listed on Collecting Cars in December 2022, this Porsche 928 GTS was equipped with the model-specific 345bhp 5.4-litre V8, and the now sought-after manual transmission.

Finished in handsome Midnight Blue Metallic and fitted with 17-inch ‘Cup’ alloy wheels, as well as the heated ‘comfort seats’, this Mallorca-based 928 GTS was sold with a hammer price of €77,500, ready to be savoured as a stylish yet engaging retro daily driver or long-distance cruiser.

Another modern classic grand tourer, this R129 SL70 AMG was a highly specified example of the rare convertible. Showing a modest 84,138 km / 52,280 miles on the odometer, this left-hand-drive German-market car was one of just 150 examples built, housing a mighty, upgraded 7.1-litre V12, coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission through which 489bhp and 531lb-ft of torque was sent to the rear wheels.

It was equipped with a host of desirable conveniences, including xenon headlights, self-levelling suspension, heated and electrically adjustable seats, a Bose sound system, and satellite navigation.

The SL70 AMG was perfectly engineered for cross-continental summer cruising, also accompanied by its body-coloured hardtop, offering its new owner the comfort of winter refinement too. This example saw a remarkable 116 bids, achieving £125,500 in July 2022.

This BMW Alpina Roadster V8 represented a striking, powerful, and stylish alternative in the coupe-dominated GT car segment.

With the Henrik Fisker-designed BMW Z8 as the basis, just 555 Alpina Roadster V8s were built, with 444 allocated for the US-market, six for Canada, and the remainder for other markets. Alpina replaced the car’s 4.9-litre S62 V8, with its own 4.8-litre M62 unit (as used in the B10 V8 S), which was tuned to produce more low-end torque. The suspension was also softened, and the car’s interior was retrimmed in more luxurious leather.

Number 307 of the 555 built, this example was finished in Titanium Silver paintwork with a black electrically operated cloth soft top over a supple black Nappa leather interior.

Representing a swift and stylish option for open-top grand touring, this Alpina Z8 Roadster achieved a strong sale price of €225,000 in July 2021.

Another impressive Mercedes-Benz, the CL63 AMG is a stylish coupe, combining a graceful silhouette with a luxurious interior and a powerful 6.2-litre V8.

Offered for sale on Collecting Cars in April 2022, this W216-era CL63 AMG had covered just 21,992 miles in the care of its three registered keepers from new. Specified in the ever-popular hue of Obsidian Black, the car boasted heated and ventilated front seats with massage function and three-position memory, double glazed windows, a premium Harman/Kardon surround sound system, and a 0-60mph time of just 4.5 seconds.

Accompanied by an excellent service history and an original bill of sale for £108,000, this CL63 was ready to be enjoyed as an opulent daily driver for its new owner, who secured the car with a hammer price of £26,500.

Moving away from more refined and cossetting coupes, this SLR McLaren 722 Edition was a 209mph ‘super-GT’.

The SLR’s continent-crossing capabilities were famously showcased in a London-to-Oslo race in a 2005 episode of Top Gear, when Jeremy Clarkson navigated the car across six countries and 1,320 miles, beating James May and Richard Hammond to the Norwegian capital.

Built to commemorate the Mercedes 300 SLR driven to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia by the racing legend Sir Stirling Moss and his co-driver Dennis Jenkinson; the 722 Edition featured several upgrades over the standard SLR, including a modified engine, a carbon-fibre front splitter and rear diffuser, 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels, uprated suspension with lighter Koni dampers, a 10mm-lower ride height, revised aerodynamics, black tinted headlights and tail lights, and carbon-ceramic brake discs.

Just 150 examples were produced worldwide, all featuring a 5.4-litre supercharged V8, generating 650bhp and 605lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shift.

Showing approximately 7,415 kilometres on the odometer, this example was offered on Collecting Cars in March 2023, and was secured by its new owner with a winning bid of £420,000.

We conclude this list of German grand tourers with an excursion from the norm. This BMW i8 is not equipped with a thirsty, high displacement straight-six, V8, or V12. Instead, there’s a 228bhp turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels, and a 129bhp electric motor sending power to the front axle.

The i8 may not be the first thought when considering German grand tourers, but its comfortable cabin, modern conveniences, and impressive real-world economy make this head-turning sports car a serious option for those needing to cross large distances at speed.

This Australian-market example offered for sale in April 2023 was specified in Protonic Red with Frozen Grey metallic accents, and rode on the W-spoke ‘Style 470’ 20-inch alloy wheels.

Its factory specification included a host of road-trip enhancing features including cruise control, seat heating, automatic LED headlights, and a Harman/Kardon sound system.

One of just five such special-edition cars delivered to Australia, and with just 41,440 kilometres on the odometer, a sale price of A$125,000 secured this plug-in-hybrid for a new collection.