With a classic collector car like the 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, there's always a good reason to buy the car: the car itself. But this time, there's an additional incentive to keep bidding, and it doesn't have anything to do with collectibility or simple aesthetics. The proceeds will go to benefit the tornado-stricken town of Joplin, Missouri.

For those that don't remember (or weren't aware) Joplin was laregly destroyed by a massive tornado earlier this year. The damage was incredible, essentially leveling the town's business district.

This year's Gooding & Co. auction at Pebble Beach hopes to help repair some of the damage with the proceeds from the auction of Sheryl Crow's 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster. A stunning classic in white, the 190 SL also features a white hard top, optional black soft top, and a new suspension, brakes, and a new black leather interior. The car was fully restored in 2005.

Crow is a Missouri native, so the disaster in Joplin strikes close to home for her. "After the tornado in Joplin I was moved to help rebuild a city so close to where I grew up in Missouri," says Sheryl Crow. "My hope is that the auction of my 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Roadster will bring in funds to help rebuild the schools in the area."

Gooding & Co. estimates the Roadster will sell for $50,000-$80,000, but generous bidding in the name of charity may drive the price higher. The car crosses the block August 21, on the second day of the auction.

For more details, visit the official auction site at the link below.

[Gooding & Co.]