Image: IFCAR
Ray Horton was the secondary coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, until he recently accepted a job as defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals. A cross-country move usually involves shedding things like cars, bikes and furniture, and an NFL coach selling a used Mercedes-Benz roadster isn’t exactly headline news. How Horton sold his car, on the other hand, is worth mentioning.
On his last day at his old job, Horton went down to say goodbye to the cafeteria staff at the Steeler’s offices. When he ran into Maurice “Mo” Matthews, a 20-plus year Steelers employee, Horton approached his and asked a favor.
“How much money you have in your pocket?”, Horton asked.
“I got $20,” was Matthews’ reply.
What happened next is almost enough to restore your faith in humanity. Horton took the $20 bill from Mo, reached in his pocket and tossed the cafeteria worker the keys to his 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL500. “Sold for $20,” was Horton’s comment.
The next day, Horton had Matthews drive him to the airport and handed over the title to the car. It’s not a new Mercedes, and the twelve-year-old car has some 64,000 miles on the odometer, but it still has a retail value far in excess of the $20 Mo paid for it. If Mo were to list it on eBay, I suppose he could get at least $10,000 for it, possibly more now that the car has celebrity status. Somehow I doubt that car is ever getting sold again, at least not while Mo Matthews is still alive.
Source: Motor Authority
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
