1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 by Joshua Vides at Auction

A 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 covered in hand-painted black-and-white linework by artist Joshua Vides has surfaced on the Bring a Trailer auction platform, offered with no reserve. The vehicle was one of three distinct cars transformed by Vides for his 2025 Los Angeles exhibition titled Check Engine Light.

The automobile body was initially wrapped in white film before the artist painted across its familiar curves, transforming the physical car into an oversized automotive sketch. Beneath the artwork lies an SL500 with 226,000 miles on the odometer, powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine, featuring a black leather interior and the broad proportions characteristic of 1990s Mercedes models. The auction is scheduled to officially close on August 29, 2026.

Thick brushstrokes trace the front grille, bumpers, body seams, and hood reflections across the vehicle, while irregular line widths and subtle drips expose the artist's manual touch. From specific viewing angles, the Mercedes appears flattened against the background, causing its volume to temporarily resemble an early designer rendering. Vides, born in 1989 and inspired by 1990s car culture, carefully selected vehicles that left a strong impression on him during his childhood.

"the SL500 was first wrapped in white before Vides painted directly across its surface"

Joshua Vides

Inside the Los Angeles installation space, the trio of vehicles—including the Mercedes-Benz, a Honda Civic, and a Porsche 964—sat within a room enveloped in matching graphic language. Black linework spanned across the walls and flooring, creating an illusion that the automobiles slipped between three dimensions and two. For the SL model, Vides focused heavily on reflections and glare, translating moving patches of light on metallic bodywork into static painted shapes. The car originally left the factory painted in Brilliant Silver Metallic prior to receiving its white vinyl wrap and custom painting.